I don't know the actual best practice, but my 2 Canadian cents:
For complex intersections I personally cross on foot both ways. I'm not a particularly experienced street cyclist so whenever I come to an intersection that's not well designed for cyclists I tend to take the safest option.
Depending on the speed limits and personal abilities I think we should be able to take the intersection as a street vehicle but in my neck of the woods people don't know what the heck to do with a cyclist and can make some poor decisions.
Better to be slow than flattened by a lifted pickup that didn't even see you lol
Heck yeah, it feels very meh for the first couple hours, if you're doing all the side quests and stuff.
I recommend either sticking with it, or skimming through till you get to the main city (Grand Soren) and then see if you like it from there.
I know that's like telling someone the show gets good after the first 4 hour long episodes, but it's actually really good and nothing has really matched it since.
Man I'm hyped for the new game.