A dedicated bicycle lane next to a busy multiple-lane road is often better than a service road because it's (hopefully) properly maintained, not strewn with bit

A dedicated bicycle lane next to a busy multiple-lane road is often better than a service road because it's (hopefully) properly maintained, not strewn with bits of broken cars and doesn't stop suddenly at each junction. I would ride in such a service road if the alternative was a freeway but only as the lesser of two evils. There's also the problem of busy junctions within settlements that are designed around cars. This is another example of where alternative bicycle-centric lanes and signalling are much better suited than the regular road.