I think recreational cycling is the main driver of longer distance bike paths. Although I personally bike for everything, e.g. transportation, utility, recreation, etc., I see it as a way of integrating recreation and utility. Part of the reason I try to raise consciousness about things like multiday bike camping is that I see it as a way to further integrate recreation and travel. I think there is this cultural aversion to integrating utility and leisure that biases people against the convenience of just biking to a recreational ride instead of driving to a trailhead and then biking. I don't do group rides but I can just imagine showing up at a group ride by bike and having everyone who drove there look at me like I was trying to show off by going above and beyond or something. It's like people expect you to contain the effort of exercise and/or the recreation of cycling instead of expanding it to the maximum by simply normalizing it in your life.