I'm all for recreational trails, too, like the Luce Line and the Paul Bunyan. They're the thin asphalt line that separates us from places like, say, Texas, where they expect your full support for the oil bidness. At no less than 75 miles an hour, partner. But the true essence of bicycling, I think, lies elsewhere. Out on the side of the pavement.
Bicyclists have the same right to the road and the same responsibilities.
Stay to the right. Signal your turn. Don't go against traffic. Stop at the light. But bicycles are more than just transportation.