"Given this my preferred solution (probably unwelcome on this forum) is to make all shared paths desegregated with no 'calming' measures,"
This is clearly a 'debate' worth having.
There is a thread on 'shared use', but this may be the time for a new variant(?)
There is undoubtedly a 'dualist' element to this - a desire/need for 'fast' direct routes for bicycle riders - particularly commuters (who are well represented on CCE), and also a general desire for 'safer' ways of getting about by people who may not have 'time pressures' and may or may not have children with them. (People who started PoP - and those who turn out in their thousands - mostly understand this and are altering the 'agenda'.)
Of course this leads to the danger that 'cyclists' are seen (by some) as 'like motorist' expecting free and unrestricted use of the routes they choose. Which seems to be an element in some CEC actions of the past couple of years. Some say 'such people' people 'should use the roads'. A response is 'that's fine, tell us when they are suitable. (There are some 'cycle campaigners' who think that people should just get used to riding on the roads as they are - though obviously 'things could be improved'...)
At the same time it's hardly reasonable that 'cyclists' are 'catered for' by sub-standard round the houses routes.
I have no wish to pre-judge the Innocent to Canal route, which will be part delivered very soon. It should be useful to cycle commuters and also be an enabling 'family' route. It 'must' be expected to increase bike traffic (including across the MMW/NMW junction). Is 'everyone' ready for this??