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Trans Canada Trail Experiences?

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    Trans Canada Trail Experiences?

    Hello,

    Sorry for the off topic post, it was suggested I
    might get more response in this forum.

    I would like to hear from people who have
    property adjacent to a public trail system/Trans
    Canada trail. What is your experience? Any
    problems? What kind of an operation do you have?
    Please feel free to send your comments privately to
    me at ap98rd@aol.com

    There is a trail proposed to go adjacent to my
    property. Myself and my neighbors have various
    concerns regarding this trail. Our local trail society
    brushes off our concerns as "myths", and in general
    have a negative attitude which doesn't foster much
    trust on our part. Following is a direct quote from
    a representative of our local trail society, just to
    show you what kind of attitude we are dealing with.

    "But "urbans" using those trails will be walking with
    respect and care. And those concerned about who
    will pay for these trails should not lose sight of the
    fact that, for the most part, it's the urbanites' tax
    dollars that prop up the agricultural community
    when it faces tough times."

    So we decided to try and gather our own
    information from people who have direct
    experience. If you can share you experiences we
    would appreciate it, and if you know of someone
    who does, please feel free to forward them my
    email address. Or if you are in the same position
    as us, with a trail proposed in your area, we would
    welcome hearing from you as well.

    ap98rd@aol.com

    Thanks, Anne

    #2
    I'm not going to be much help here. The trans Canada trail runs a couple of miles north of us, but it's seldom used. I've seen snowmobile tracks on it, but I've never seen a real person.

    I guess your experience would probably depend on how close to larger urban centers you are.

    Comment


      #3
      Just curious do you get compensated for a
      trail running through your property? If
      it splits a piece in 2 are they then
      separate titles? (thats more important as
      you get close to cities)
      What if somebody wanders off the trail
      onto your property? Who is liable if they
      hurt themselves or damage your scenery?

      Comment


        #4
        I'll try to answer your questions based on what I've
        been able to find out.

        There are different agreements that can be made,
        from outright purchase of the land to access
        agreements. Don't know if there would be
        compensation with an access agreement.

        I would think if the land was sold, then there would
        be two separate titles if the trail were to split it up.

        I see liability as a huge issue. Trail societies are
        supposed to carry insurance for their trails, but
        apparently it is getting so expensive (having
        doubled and tripled over the last few years) many
        are not. And some of these trails don't have a
        society operating them. Alberta trailnet and Central
        Alberta Regional Trail Society do not build, maintain
        or insure trails, they exist as lobby groups and
        support for local trail societies.

        So what does this mean to landowners? Will
        insurance go up? I guess wandering trail users
        would be considered trespassers, but good luck
        with that. And if one of them hurts themselves, I'm
        sure lawsuits would follow. Even if they didn't win,
        the cost of litigation to defend yourself would hurt.
        As far as I know you don't get awarded court costs
        if you win.

        As far as someone damaging something on your
        property, I guess first you would have to catch
        them in the act, call the RCMP, try and get them to
        actually respond and do something about it, (if you
        could keep the person there) and then I guess you
        would have to sue them. I read about a case in BC
        where a trail user started a fire that ultimately
        burned down a nearby farm. The farmer tried to
        sue the trail society but it had gone defunct and the
        news article I read didn't say what the end result
        was.

        So here we are looking at going from years of
        peaceful living to what I see as a constant nightmare
        of problems with little to no recourse when there is
        a problem.

        This is how I understand things, but I could be
        wrong on some of it.

        Comment


          #5
          You know, I realize that unless you have a trail by your
          place or a proposed trail, that this probably doesn't
          interest you much. But try looking at it this way, the
          money spent on these things is ridiculous. As an
          example Lacombe County recently approved spending
          $700,000 on a mere 6 km of trail. They plan at least
          another 20 km. Seriously, think how far that money
          would go to maintain our roads, something we all use,
          and by the way can be walked on too.

          Comment

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