My experience with the more rural trails in Vermont (CV, D&H, Barre & Chelsea)is that they are very lightly used in warm weather. The main users are snowmobilers in winter - a very powerful lobby force in Vermont. Of course, if used only as a tourist RR in warm weather, the LVRC and snowmobiles could co-exist nicely like they do in New Hampshire and New York, and in fact cooperate with maintenance. Snowmobilers didn't want to hear that, even though they have used it as a defacto trail for several years now.

The more urban and paved ex-Rutland line along Lake Champlain (probably the most beautiful bike path in the US) sees a lot of non-motorized use and almost should be widened to accommodate it all. Taken up in 1965 after the Rutland's demise, it was a test case for the Rails-to-Trails legality and there are efforts to extend it up through the Champlain Islands on the old right-of-way.

ryarger@rypn.org

Anyone know how the project is coming along. The site hasn't been updated in a while and i was just wondering if anyone had any new info on whats going on.

Regards,
Brian


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