With the exception of showers and possibly safe routes these problems are addressed by experience. Cycling is not something it takes years to be an expert at or gain fitness in. Biking to work once or twice a week for a month and you'll no longer be going 10 mph and you know what to look for in a route and you'll notice more route options as you get a chance to explore.

Experience can even over come the shower issue. As your fitness level increases you won't have to exert yourself so much and you can also figure out creative to freshen up to an acceptable smell level (i.e. a "sinker")