Well, I'm going to use the bike paths because they aren't just for pedestrians but also for cyclists. Either way, if people (bicyclists and pedestrians included) were just a little more cognizant and considerate of people around them, it would be a lot more enjoyable for everyone to use the paths.
Regardless, I use them because they are safer than riding on the street. I'd rather run over someone's dog than get run into by a car. Besides, I'm not going to surrender one of the few paths designated as a 'bike path' to selfish pedestrians.
It just sucks because everytime this sort of stuff happens to me, the less and less tolerant I become of such selfish behavior. If these folks didn't have kids with them, I would have had some pretty choice words for them (I actually said nothing in response).