Same thing happens over here. The usual process is for local councillors to be bombarded (3 emails, 2 phone calls and a letter) with accusations that it will allow thieves acess to their houses (you can carry a lot of VCRs TVs, computers, etc on the back of an MTB), perverts will use it to kidnap schoolchildren, unsuitable (have less money than us) people, peeping toms will stare into our bedroom windows, society as we know it will fall into criminal anarchy, blah, blah, blah.

Then it gets built. Kids use it because parents (sometimes same as above) think it's great to have somewhere safe for them to ride, families use it (ditto), NIMBYs use it to exercise their dogs, some commuters find it handy, people use it to get to local shops, the odd idiot gets onto it with a trailbike and society does not fall into...etc., etc.

Ho hum