Ivana, I was born and raised in Philadelphia. I have a brother who lives there and the notion of actually stopping at a STOP sign in that city, is quite a novelty. It seems a STOP sign (at least in Phila.) is only a suggestion ... it just means, slow down. I don't like driving a car in Phila. let alone biking.
I feel much more protected on a bike over here. Drivers here are more accustomed to bikers. Since I grew up in Philadelphia, without any bike paths that I'm aware of, the notion of having your own traffic lane ... and your own stop light on occasion, is very attractive to me.
I've thought about moving back to the US, but the thought of fighting traffic really frightens me. I personally find bike paths (especially in this very densely populated country), a mark of civility.
It's interesting - the grass is always greener on the other side! You're Dutch, live in the US and hate bike paths; I'm an American, live in the Netherlands and love those same paths.