I too would use bike paths in certain places (if they existed) to avoid certain heavily traffic roads.
I am not dead against bike paths, trails or lanes BUT they do need to be thought out VERY carefully.
They problem is they will
1) further enforce the incorrect idea that bikes do not belong
2) what about those places that DO NOPT have bike paths/lanes? What do those cyclists do? Get screamed at "go ride a bike path"
3) attract none bicycle traffic, dog walkers, pregnant people, etc to be fair I HAVE ridden on paths that had mixed traffic and had no problems
4) cross traffic is the big problem, kids and idiots will rip right accross the road to get to the other side without stoipping or looking - SLAM!! Hit by a car.
5) they are expensive when it would be least expensive, more enviromentally friendly, safer to motorists, peds and cyclists if they would SLOW THE CARS DOWN, GET THEM TO PAY ATTENTION, STOP BEING ANGRY, AND STOP BEING IN SUCH A RIP SNORTIN' HURRY. (must calm, remain calm....)
They need to be tought out is all.......