I concur. I just got done living in the Phoenix area, (BillyBobs in pickups).
I got hit twice in Phoenix, once by a rear view mirror, and once as I was
standing still at a red light. Neither resulted in injury, but the overall
consensus in those parts, is that bikes belong on the sidewalk. The ACTUALLY
believe that. Anyone who commutes, knows how absurd that is.
As cyclists, it is incumbent upon us all to hang on to what little we have
out there.
DT