Indeed. To me, the difference between the road the the MUP isn't that one is safer or more dangerous, but rather that each has its own set of hazards that have to be taken into account to ride safely. The local MUPs tend not to have huge amounts of traffic, and the majority is bicycles, so pedestrian problems are minimized, although a sharp eye for dogs on 30-foot leashes is always a good idea. Most of the problem cyclists are the slow wobblers, and it's easier to take ownership of the situation and make sure that I can pass them in a safe manner when I'm the overtaking vehicle.

I was glad not to be on the road for a lot of the time - I couldn't see anything behind me with the pack. My riding partner was quite good about calling out things behind me, though, so I was never surprised by anybody overtaking us. Given the choice, though, I'd rather hear him say, "Bike back!" than "Car back!"