I carry a glass waraxe with me for dragons, the power attack knocks their head down giving you some time.

As far as fast traveling goes, yeah it stinks to lure a dragon into a city or town. You can travel somewhere near and walk the rest of the way.
Stables are usually far enough away that you won't get anyone worth a poop killed.

I found out with my Test character that fast traveling in and out of the College ment every time I got there I was fighting a Dragon. So I stopped FT, I use the carrages when I need to get somewhere in a hurry, IF I really want to FT then my end point is alway's a stable or a nearby farm, fort or anything but the town itself! Nothing like getting your vendor's killed off.....now if it was only Nazeem!