Bummed about trail conditions

[e.e.cummings]

I was in Newfoundland over the Christmas holidays, visiting my parents. There is something called the Trans Canada trail that is essentially the old railway bed turned into a path that can be used by cyclists, hikers, etc. My husband and I were thrilled to hear that it was (supposedly) now usable and that we could actually entertain the thought of going from one end of the island to the other by bike. However, once we started researching it, the thing that crops up over and over is that ATVs are chewing up the trail and that it is even a hard ride for motorcycles, let alone bicycles. So disappointing! This could have been a fantastic journey. I spoke with a tour operator who said that only a scattered person 'from away' does this trail from start to finish, and that is probably because they don't realize how hard it is.

Any similar experiences with your local trails? Or has anyone tried this trail?

[shootingstar]

Perhaps you may be aware of the Trans Canada Trail main website:
http://www.tctrail.ca/home.php

Not familiar at all with Newfoundland for that part of the trail.
The trail is envisioned to cross the whole of Canada west-east whichever direction. I haven't looked recently how far north it jogs up and down to south.

Surely pieces of the Trans Canada Trail exist in Montreal area, are paved/ not so rough. I know in Toronto, whole sections are along the well-known Waterfront bike route along Lake Ontario. I've seen the signage as a cyclist from years ago.

And there is a whole book just exclusively on the Trans Canada Trail for British Columbia with detailed descriptions of trail route and pics. It was a gift to dearie one year from moi. The piece through Metro Vancouver which includes the suburbs is abit complicated and goes through some forested hiking areas that would not be accessible to bikes. (or it would be downright dangerous by falling off a mountainside cliff)

So it varies in terms of pavement/surface quality, signage across Canada. Some sections aren't connected since dependent on funding and work effort.

[e.e.cummings]

I've even heard that some parts of the trail in the Maritimes are under dispute as some farmers are claiming that if the railroad no longer runs through, that the land that was once in their family reverts back to them and some have actually planted crops on the trail! Seemed like such a lovely thought to have a coast to coast trail from BC to Newfoundland but not as simple as it sounds.

I have seen the web site but not the book - I will check it out. Here is Quebec we have some nice dedicated paths to ride on; we did Le P'tit Train du Nord last year from end to end and I would love to try something similar elsewhere. I really like riding dedicated trails - not that fussy about riding on roads with the drivers as crazy as they are (I am in Montreal where we seem to be home of the crazy driver...)

[shootingstar]

Looks like even the Olympic torch relay run across Canada, has traversed parts of the Trans Canada Trail and more sections heading to Vancouver.

http://www.tctrail.ca/blog/?p=2417&language=en

The trail also covers multipurpose bike/walking paths here near our home. Yes, I know, am such a duh. But there's no Trans Canada Trail sign that I've noticed around here in abundance. So one needs to be armed with maps from website/book(s).

There are other local paths named signage posted by the paths which you can see under the descriptions in "Trail" section at top of the main website page. Really, the whole national trail, is a whole series of interconnected (ideally) individual bike/walking paths/trails hooked together. Just doing Metro Vancouver, you would get some beautiful and contrasting views.

It's a serious feat coordinating a trail over 5,000 kms. long with standardized signage and so many different parties on building it on probably different funding sources.