I like bike paths and don't think they are "ghettos". I especially like using the bike path down the main drag in town. I can go faster than all the cars and gleefully pass them all up.
Even nicer is when the bike path is completely separated from the street. Even a small distance separating the bike path reduces the noise considerably.
I'm lucky to live where there are lots of bike paths: a large network of separated trails, striped lanes, and posted routes. It really makes it much nicer to use a bike as regular transportation. Bike paths also accomodate those whose abilities are lesser due to age, illness or whatever. Not every cyclist is 20-30 something, male and at peak performance, and not every cyclist wants to battle it out in car traffic.
The way to get more bike paths is to have a strong bicycling advocacy presence, political support for alternative transportation, and a driving catalyst such as the horrendous traffic problems we have that cannot be solved by building new roads.