Originally Posted by Machka
However, IF a city built a MUP (or prefereably a Bicycle Path that banned all other uses) that went straight from one end of the city to the other, bypassing traffic lights and all that sort of thing, and through the downtown so that downtown workers could use it ... I might actually use them. They'd be a quick way to get through a city and back onto the country roads where I like to ride.
That is how many of the mup's around DC work. C&O, W&OD, Capital Crescent/Rock Creek, Mount Vernon Trail, etc. go from the heart of the city, thru the suburbs and out to the countryside. Given how bad DC area traffic is, and that the roads that run in these directions are mostly busy highways and interstates (bike prohibited or not bike friendly) using mup's to get to the good riding roads is a good option. Alternate would be to drive past the suburbs to start your ride, or deal with the lousy roads and lousy traffic.