Street vs Sidewalks
1. As has been mentioned, blacktop is much easier on the runner than concrete.
2. Most of my running has been done in the wee hours of the morning, before sunrise. Even with street lights, many of the surface irregularities common on sidewalks are difficult to discern before you end up sprawled out & bleeding.
3. Whenever I run in the dark, at the very least I will don a white t-shirt.
4. Whenever I ride my bike in the dark, I am a regular carnival of reflectors & blinking lights.
School Zones
Live diagonally across the street from a school. Lots of kids walk to school, so there are lots of the buggers about at start/let out times. Also, lots of evening functions, so the kiddos can be seen leaving up until evening time. There is a 4-way stop intersection, but some folks manage to miss the entire school, the stop signs, the signs with flashy lights, and the reflective graphics affixed to the street. Just blow on through if no kids are in the cross walk or skid to a stop.