WHERE TO RIDE YOUR BIKE! aka. "Why do we ride bikes on the road" aka. "Bike and their Invisibility Cloak"

Yes, cyclists ride their bikes on the road. And no, we really don't want to be near cars. The perfect scenario for cyclists would be to have a complete separate road system dedicated exclusively for bikes, but until that utopian dream comes along, we need to share the roads with cars. And since cars are much bigger, heavier and faster than cyclists, our first priority is safety. The first instinct then would be to stay on the sidewalk, as far away as possible from vehicular traffic. But quickly you find out that every intersection becomes a game of Russian Roulette, as cars can't see bicycles travelling down sidewalks when approaching a street corner, or even their driveway. Bicycles riding on sidewalks are just not visible to car traffic.

Dream Scenario - an exclusive bicycle road system throughout
the world (just substitute gas stations for coffee shops!)

In order to be visible to cars, cyclists ride on the road, where drivers focus their attention on (at least, we hope they do!) Regardless of safety though, it's also worth mentioning that the Law typically requires cyclists to do just that: ride on the road! Although every country, state or city has their own traffic code, generally, a cyclist is to be treated as any other vehicle and ride on the road while obeying all traffic laws. It also calls for cyclists to ride as far right as practical as they are slower traffic, but allows cyclists to take the entire lane for safety reasons. That's right, "Share the Road" is not a plea, it's the LAW!
When Bike Lanes are provided, cyclists are then typically required to ride in them, but only if they are unobstructed and in good conditions (safety again is the key).
As more communities accept and embrace cycling as a legitimate mode of transportation, more bike lanes are being implemented throughout the world. Bike lanes are a win-win situation as it allows for a safe environment for cyclists while allowing for free-flowing car traffic. But even bike lanes can be treacherous places to navigate, especially in high volume traffic areas on intersections or when bike lanes must interact with pedestrians. This is much more evident on bike lanes systems implemented on sidewalks or in conjunction with pedestrian infrastructure.

Even Bike Lanes sometimes can be treacherous places to navigate.

Other cycling infrastructures now being implemented include separate Bike Paths and Paved Trails. These are also ideal places to ride as cars are generally not allowed, but are expensive and not as practical for daily cycling use (unless you are lucky enough to commute or live near a paved trail.) If you own a Mountain Bike or a Cyclocross bike, bike trails on forests or secluded dirt roads become an option as well. Especially if you are riding for sport or pleasure, this is an attractive alternative - but beware, although you won't find cars on single tracks, trees don't give when you ride into them.

Riding a Mountain Bike on a Trail can be quite challenging, even
though no cars are involved. But getting lost in a forest can be a lot of fun!

But not all roads have bike lanes, and the dedicated paved trails are far and few between. So, which roads should we ride on that would provide the safest and most enjoyable experience. For this, we can look at Rule #4 - Look for the road less travelled. The key is to find roads with less traffic and lower speed limits - this strategy will also allow you to find some incredible places hidden in your backyard. 
There are a few strategies for finding such cycling gems. If you have joined a Cycling Club, you can go on their group rides or ask other members for good cycling routes. You might be surprised how some small unknown out-of-the-way roads are very known and popular to the entire local cycling community. Sometimes some cycling routes will feel like labyrinths in order to get from point A to point B without riding on high-traffic roads, but there are tools out there that can help you unlock the Marco Polo within you. Google Maps is a great tool to find smaller roads which may run parallel or adjacent to busy roads - sometimes you can even find some nice shortcuts too. Their "street view" tool allows you to check the road conditions, so you can check if the road has shoulders or if it is paved at all (although road bikes can handle lots of dirt roads as well). Strava , a cycling software which allows cyclists to track their rides, also compiles its users' routes and has recently released Strava Global Heatmap, which graphically shows which roads are more typically ridden by cyclists throughout the world.

This secluded country road is a local favorite with Cyclists.
Last time I rode here, it took over 20mins to come across a car!

Finding the right roads, however, is only half the battle when it comes to riding safely with traffic. Being visible, as mentioned before is crucial, so many cyclists like to wear bright colored jerseys to insure cars can see them. I've found that bicycle Tail Lights / Blinkers to be very effective. I ride with a rechargeable blinking tail light even during daytime every time I ride solo. Not only I am more visible, but somehow, motorists tend to be much more polite.
Safe riding should be a habit to all cyclists, and that goes far beyond which roads we ride on and how visible we are. Practicing strategies such as riding as if no one can see you, being predictable or avoiding sudden maneuvers, and being polite to all users of the road will also insure that your bike ride will be as enjoyable as possible! Ride on!