1124 replies to this topic

[Bingo]

Yes, I think we are doing a pretty good job on the local E&N Tail which is costing 36 million.

There has been plenty of debate on possibilities on VV for a number of years, but I do agree that the whole island corridor needs to be saved.

But there is more in the TC article here. http://www.timescolo...rail-1.23170422

[VicHockeyFan]

I'm not entirely sure the most remote areas of the E&N need to become a trail.  It's not like many are gonna hike from Victoria to Courtenay.

[Bingo]

I'm not entirely sure the most remote areas of the E&N need to become a trail.  It's not like many are gonna hike from Victoria to Courtenay.

 

I think you under estimate what folks will do.

The local communities will use their section of the trail, and like the West Coast Trail built to rescue ship-wrecked sailors, the E&N Trail could be a life-saver for those attempting to get out of the city when the Malahat is plugged up.

[splashflash]

I'm not entirely sure the most remote areas of the E&N need to become a trail. It's not like many are gonna hike from Victoria to Courtenay.

The Duncan - Lake Cowichan trail on the former railway bed has local users, and currently no good connection exists to the Galloping Goose further south. Victoria is not needed for a multi-user corridor to work, but of course it would generate sa few more users on the corridor further north. What works for the Cowichan Valley would work for Nanaimo to Courtenay.

All that would be needed is fine crush, not asphalt, similar to the western portion of the Galloping Goose. The key to building the bike path cheaply is to use the rail bed and existing structures. Safety barricades on trestles would be needed, similar to those on trestles north of Sooke in Sooke Potholes Provincial Park, on the Galloping Goose.

The E & N trail in the Capital Regional District is about as costly a trail as one can get, as a completely new parallel path and bridges were built. A Courtenay to Duncan trail would just need fine crush and safety barricades for trestles. Rail removal could provide salvage funds to pay for both rail and old tie removal and disposal.

Edited by splashflash, 12 February 2018 - 12:57 PM.

[Kikadee]

I'm not entirely sure the most remote areas of the E&N need to become a trail. It's not like many are gonna hike from Victoria to Courtenay.

If they don’t, VHF, it’s because the island hasn’t adequately developed and marketed it. Think of the Camino across Spain, which attracts thousands and thousands (and growing) each year, or that walking tour across Northern England. People travel the globe to walk 20-30 kms per day, for days or weeks at a time, and if tourism operators were smart they’d be catering to those who would LOVE to walk all the way to Courtnay, and beyond. That’s my two bits.

[VicHockeyFan]

The E & N trail in the Capital Regional District is about as costly a trail as one can get, as a completely new parallel path and bridges were built. A Courtenay to Duncan trail would just need fine crush and safety barricades for trestles. Rail removal could provide salvage funds to pay for both rail and old tie removal and disposal.

 

I think if we looked at a map of all the property available, we'd see that there would be lots of opportunities to sell land for money to build the trail.

[DustMagnet]

"Ads on Goose a bad trail mix" - http://www.timescolo...-mix-1.23271644

Any idea what this writer is talking about?  The only ads I have seen are for businesses directly off the trail (e.g. The Nest Cafe out near Burnside/Watkiss) and the only "set-ups" have been community things, such as Bike To Work Week.

[jasmineshinga]

I'm not entirely sure the most remote areas of the E&N need to become a trail.  It's not like many are gonna hike from Victoria to Courtenay.

 

I absolutely would, sounds like a fun weekend on my bike. Right now the only thing stopping me from biking up to Nanaimo and beyond is the damned Malahat. What's the grading on the E&N like anyways?

[DustMagnet]

I absolutely would, sounds like a fun weekend on my bike. Right now the only thing stopping me from biking up to Nanaimo and beyond is the damned Malahat. What's the grading on the E&N like anyways?

 

Why not cycle to Brentwood Bay and take the ferry to Mill Bay?

[jasmineshinga]

That's an option? Good to know (new to the Island). Gonna check that out right away!

Edited by jasmineshinga, 18 April 2018 - 10:53 AM.

[DustMagnet]

That's an option? Good to know (new to the Island). Gonna check that out right away!

Well, I've never done it.  But I am going to do it this weekend (to Chemainus, not Nanaimo).

 

And plenty of others have done it and paid the $2 surcharge for... nothing? (On that run at least.) See: https://thetyee.ca/N...rries-Bike-Fee/

[nerka]

That's an option? Good to know (new to the Island). Gonna check that out right away!

You can make a good ferry bike loop using the Mill Bay ferry.  Ferry Brentwood to Mill Bay. Bike to Crofton. Ferry to Saltspring. Bike to Fulford Harbour. Ferry to Swartz Bay. Bike back to your start point

[sdwright.vic]

Pretty awesome car ride too!

[VicHockeyFan]

You can make a good ferry bike loop using the Mill Bay ferry.  Ferry Brentwood to Mill Bay. Bike to Crofton. Ferry to Saltspring. Bike to Fulford Harbour. Ferry to Swartz Bay. Bike back to your start point

 

That sounds very nice actually.  

Edited by VicHockeyFan, 18 April 2018 - 04:27 PM.

[DustMagnet]

Pretty awesome car ride too!

"Name something a dog would say." 

[sdwright.vic]

^My dog does like it and all the stops and parks.

Edited by sdwright.vic, 19 April 2018 - 08:54 AM.

[DustMagnet]

This is the infrastructure the $2 bicycle surcharge is paying for (yeah, yeah, I know it's fleet-wide but still...)

Of course, if you buy tickets ahead of time there is magically no bicycle surcharge as well as the discount, so it's about 50% what a cyclist pays at the dock.

Attached Images

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[Bingo]

Future of E&N rail up in the air at Hallowell Road crossing.

 

 

 

 

[DustMagnet]

You could still run light rail on it.  Very light rail.

[Linear Thinker]

MagLev

You could still run light rail on it.  Very light rail.