However, I don't ride in either of those situations. If a road is crowded with bumper to bumper traffic, I find another parallel route. If a MUP is crowded, I do the same. It's not an "all or nothing game".
I agree. There is a tendency on this board for knee-jerk reactions to someone suggesting riding on a bike path.
They through out "facts" such as MUPs are more dangerous than roads (Hence the avalanche of killed on a bike path threads).
MUPs are too crowded (general sweeping statement that may or may not be true).
There is a bit of roadie elitism hidden in these non-facts.