I ride where I feel safest...and in most cases I feel safer on the road than on some bike path. I've been riding on the roads for my whole life, in many cases long before there were more than a handful of bike paths in the entire country. I can see the usefulness of bike paths for those who are not comfortable on the roads...so I am not anti bike path - until someone tries to force me to ride on the bike path because it's there. That is my concern with the OP and so many noob riders who are afraid of the roads...your wonder about those of us who ride on the roads tend to result in governments attempting to require us to ride on paths if they exist. I don't try to force you to use the roads, so please, be careful about sharing your thoughts concerning forcing me to use the paths in public...where those nasty politicians might hear you.
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"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey