This depends on the path we're talking about. The ones who say the street is safer, that is because they're talking about the paths that run right next to the street.

When I posted about MUPs, I was thinking about the ones that go through fields & forests, not next to streets. Crossing a street on a MUP that goes through a field is very different than crossing one on a MUP that parallels the road.

My local MUP crosses a lot of streets. But it goes through fields, and they are only residential streets. Most of the time, I don't even have to slow down to cross them. I just look both ways and fly across.

This depends how safe your street is and your confidence level. Some street that are safe can be dangerous to beginners. Some of us started on trail, path and even sidewalk because the road looks dangerous. Eventually after more rides, you will define your personal comfort level.

If you have any doubts about the road right now, then take the path. Live another day so that you can decide again tomorrow.

All of the MUPs I've used for commuting in the last five years cross zero streets.

They get moderately busy and have somewhat reduced sight-lines in the summer, but are wide open and fast in the winter.

Some of my local roads are also excellent commuting options at some times of the day/year and very poor options at other times.

not enough info. trust your judgment, but know that your judgment may change over time. my 1st commute was by paved trails and sidewalks ... brutal. my boss advised I take the road and I've grown into a decent road cyclist because of that. lots to deal with - no doubt about that

I started out with mups and such, i just got so fed up with the daily interactions with dog walkers, baby gangs and such that i went to the road.

In general on the urban road you should worry more about what is going on in front of you, hit from behind accidents are more common in the country-side. No guarantees.

Please take the mup though, when you get more experience then ride the road... one has to build up a thick skin to the motorists.

I have bike paths on my way to work, but thees are not usable (lots of pedestrians, and parked cars, also it's narrow (1m) and it's on the sidewalk, so it has lots of kerbs)
It's like this:

And it could be worse.

I ride only on road.

My commute is about 60% on residential streets, 10% through a park with bike path, and 30% on busy road. The bike section through the park is by far my favourite.
I would happily add 2 miles to skip the busy road, but it's not possible in my case.
Ride on path for a while, and if one day you feel like you want to take the road, take it.

Listen to Frapples.

^^^ this is why some people need to wear helmets to ride a bike.

That's the silliest thing posted in this whole thread. Just like only bad drivers "need" to wear seatbelts, only bad machinists need to wear safety glasses, and only careless construction workers need hardhats.

Also, you shouldn't judge until you've seen the paths I'm talking about. Most of us have learned from this thread that not all MUPs are created equal.

Wow. Looking at that, it is not a multi use path. It is actually dedicated for bicycles. The problem is that the dedication is completely ignored and apparently not enforced. It's a shame.

In my experience, the MUP's in my city tend to be pretty empty before/directly after work. They usually don't start filling up until weekends, and later in the evening once the days are longer.

If I was the OP - I'd stick to the MUP until I felt confident riding on the road. When I got my first 'adult' bike, I was scared to commute on the streets also, so I'd tack on a few extra KM to use a bike trail that got me most of the way there. Also, if going at 'commuter pace' and not 'speed pace', its not that difficult to use the MUPs safely.

I'm now fine sticking to the road on my way to/from work, although on the way home I'll occasionally take the bike path, simply because I want to go on a longer / more scenic ride and it's a relaxing route home.

Looks like a piss poor design for cycling path. And this is in europe too! FAIL.

If you think the rules of the road are only for "bad" cyclists or bad drivers, and if it took this thread for you to figure out that all MUPs and paths are not created equal, my advice stands, wear your helmet, you need one.

No, they seem to attract boxes of tacks, purposely smashed bottles, and wires strung across the path at neck level.

My MUP attracts none of these things. I will purposely take a 7.5 mile section of the MUP when it's nice out. On a nice day, I know the trail is going to be crowded. I also know that there will be plenty of eye candy.

Sansa - I am with the bike path crowd. You'll find out quickly that 2 miles is nothing.

I remember when I first started, I completely ruled out the bike path, because it would have increased my commute from 6.8 miles to 7.3 miles. Now I am just laughing at myself on how silly I was.

I mix it up, I do find that the MUP is a little more relaxing than being on the road. Being on the road is more interesting.

Thank you all for the advice!! I think I'm going to take the road in the morning when there is less traffic and the bike path home in the afternoon. The bike path is nice with trees almost forest like and I hardly see anyone on it.

Sounds like the MUP is a great ride, I often commute on such a MUP... seven miles. One problem is that the MUP runs along the edge of a creek which floods regularly. Also in winter, the trail isn't regularly plowed. Recently it was completely shut down to help with bridge work over the Interstate.

So you might have to shift over to the road at some point. So, it's good to keep riding it once in a while.

One thing I have noticed about MUPs is that they let you drop your attention more easily. Especially if you have a headwind and it's 50 degrees out and you happen to live in LA and so commute in shorts and a t-shirt. You just let your head drop to looking at the floor to lessen your drag and all the sudden something is coming up infront of you and you have to swerve to avoid it.

Then again the constant vigilance required on roads can be tiring as well.

Sounds like a perfect solution to me. Enjoy the ride!

Sounds like a great MUP. Have fun commuting on it but don't forget to work on your road skills to help you on the commutes that don't
have a MUP nearby. That way you'll build more confidence to ride them.

I do both. For a visual comparison go for a virtual ride via youtube.

Most of the time I prefer the bike path. But in the good weather it can be crowded to the point of frustration.

Both.

I spend a lot of time avoiding traffic when riding in an area I'm not familiar with. When I first started riding again in 2008, that meant riding sidewalks, cutting through parking lots, seeking out bike lanes. Eventually I tried this "taking the lane" thing and let me tell ya, if you do it assertively, it really works, especially on roads with speed limits up to about 40. And yet, I still (selectively) will ride the trails, get on the occasional sidewalk, etc.

Bike lanes & paths are tools. So is vehicular cycling (riding on the road like a full-fledged vehicle). The way I see it, I like to have as many tools available as possible and use the one that's best suited to the job.