I look at it this way, how many cyclists die as a result of vehicles on the road, and how many pedestrians die as a result of cyclists on the sidewalk? I'm sure there is an incredible disproportion.  So that being asked, I will take my chances and fight a potential ticket for the occasional hop up onto a sidewalk, to avoid a situation with possibly distracted, rushed, angry and even drunk motorists.  I can't even give the number of close calls with simply distracted drivers.  If your text is more important than my life, then we're all safer if I ride on the sidewalk.  Until something is done about distracted driving, I'll continue to take the odd sidewalk to avoid what looks like--in my opinion--a potential situation.