I definitely have anxieties about touring, but it always ends up that the worrying is worse than the reality. The problem I have is more time to think than I have to ride. When I actually get out there and do it, even when things don't go as planned, they do work out. The trick is overcoming the anxiety enough to actually get out there, so you can see that the experience is worth it.

But if concerns about cars are keeping you from touring, there are ways to take some decent trips without sharing the road with a lot of cars. It won't take you coast to coast, but if you could spend a week or two riding the GAP, C&O, and/or Katy Trail, you could get a taste of touring while having large, car-free stretches.