I live in an area where some roads have no shoulders and blind curves. Cars come flying around those curves sometime just inches away. I am always scared to death on those roads but I don't have many safer options near me. So I more often throw my bike in the back of my truck and take it somewhere safer, like bike trails and the shore boardwalks near me. I guess since you do not have a vehicle that option is not open to you, but I fully understand your concern from my experience.