oenomaus:

Not at all. The bike lane is painted at regular intervals with "Bikes only" signage. I don't recall roads being for cars only.

I totally agree with you regarding bikers on sidewalks...I would never do that if there were pedestrians around.

I wouldn't agree that pedestrians would be the lowest members of the hierarchy. I think pedestrians are quite clearly a protected class...bikers are lumped in with cars and are expected to have the same legal obligations as car drivers while at the same time dealing with at least the same risk of injury and death as pedestrians.