This thread has been an eye opener for me. The fact that bikes are treated differently depending on whether they're on the street or taking a MUP along the street pretty much changes everything. My original question (why MUPs are considered automatically inferior) has been answered with that. I have to say I wouldn't advocate MUPs on a large scale with that kind of legislation either.

We have one particular glitch in our own legislation on this same issue but nothing as drastic. It's been my pet peeve since that part of legislation was passed, but I guess we're doing OK after all. Generally my rights and obligations are the same on the street and on a MUP.

One long-standing issue has been construction work on MUPs. It seems we're slowly, slowly getting to a point where it is taken seriously. Someone actually considers alternative routes and posts directions, construction sites have more and better traffic signs and also info on what's going on and how long it's estimated to take. And, after the work is done, the MUP is sealed fairly quickly. You know, the kind of stuff that's taken for granted on any road / street construction site.

--J