>>1) Bicycle lanes tend to accumulate a LOT of trash, some of it pretty dangerous.<<
I get that. I also know that if you’re on a contraption that’s about the substsance a couple of butterfly antenne and a shock of angel’s hair you’re going to be a bit more *ahem* sensitive to trash in the road.
May I recommend a mountian bike? You look less silly and can ride over more things.
If the bike lane was impassable I would be sympathetic. The spandex yahoos in my area however, would not deign to dip their precious wheels in our bike lanes, even when newly paved. The roads are theirs, and us car drivers are really inconsequential things in their quest to find their two wheeled bliss. It gets really ridiculous. Brand new bike lane: all the bikers ride 6 inches over the line into the street.
>>2) In Washington state, cyclists are by law allowed to ride two abreast<<
That’s really just stupid.
My road (commute) bike is a combo -- best of road bike, mountain bike, and retro-geek. I tried a mountain bike, but the need for road-worthy tires (for the long commute) was a disadvantage. My commuter bike has a road diamond-frame, randonee handlebars, friction shifters, mountain bike clip pedals (and shoes), a 3x7 geartrain of uncertain origin, lotsa fenders & accessories (this is rainy Seattle), and a whole lot of lights fore & aft.
Believe me, I've put lots of effort into this. I don't care much about "riding softly on Mother Gaia", but I do care a lot about what comes out of my wallet, and for what.