I hate it as much as you do but its MUCH safer on the sidewalk. The main reasons I do not have a mountain bike to ride in the warmer months is because I will not wear a helmet and I will not ride on the road. Too many cyclists get injured or killed on the road and you cant even see it coming since you're going with the flow of traffic. Fuck that shit. I'm not putting my life on the line because of a stupid law to ride on the street. No fucking way sir, no fucking way.
I'm going to contradict myself and say I'd ride on the sidewalk but I would not inconvenience the pedestrian walking along. I would get off or wait or move around whatever I need to do but I will not inconvenience the pedestrian. I've had assholes ring their little fucking handle bar bell at me to tell me to move and I stay put. Then they call me an asshole and ride on. Yah, I'm the asshole. Once again, it's a bullshit law.

I hope you don't get hit by a bike on the sidewalk when you refuse to move out of the way.