public function validatePath($path = null)
    {
        if ($path === null) {
            $path = $this->_path;
        }

        // If the path is empty, then it is considered valid
        if (strlen($path) === 0) {
            return true;
        }

        // Determine whether the path is well-formed
        $pattern = '/^' . $this->_regex['path'] . '$/';
        $status  = @preg_match($pattern, $path);
        if ($status === false) {
            require_once 'Zend/Uri/Exception.php';
            throw new Zend_Uri_Exception('Internal error: path validation failed');
        }

        return (boolean) $status;
    }