Thank you Jorg for giving the River Valley Trails the call to attention that they need. Truely that trail system is an absolute city and heritage treasure, back in 2011 these were my playground. I bought my first mountain bike (used from a pawn shop) and began a healthy lifestyle that has been thrilling to say the least. I hope to one day return to the River Valley Trails and enjoy every moment on those beautiful trails that are dear to my heart. Stay safe Jorg and God bless you.
Man that's an ugly situation I remember back in the day I used to ride from Capilano freeway which is now Wayne Gretzky Drive all the way to Rundle Park and back . Sad State of Affairs hope it gets better thanks for sharing keep the cameras rolling from Florida
Holy hell that was crazy be safe out there. It really seems like the city let it get run down. Because I live in Ottawa and we had a flood a couple years ago and they rebuilt the flood damage and The erosion. They put in a new rock wall. If I ever get out there I'll show you some flood damage that's still in certain parts of the pathway. Oh and they also kept the old bike path and just made it to the footpath and repaved and made a new bicycle path. Oh congrats on getting the Drone the Drone footage was cool🤟🤟🤟 oh yeah you're absolutely right if they kept up with it that would have totally been preventable. What they did is they built it and then left it. But your Trails look really awesome and Technical😅
I've ridden to Ft Sask. The trail is really good all the way IMO. Just follow the paths / bike friendly sidewalks into Sherwood Park to Sherwood Dr then go north. It's part of the Great Trail (Trans Canada Trail), well marked and is either paved path or nice packed gravel trail. In the next couple of years, there will be a pedestrian bridge underneath the new Hwy 15 bridge being built right now. It would be really nice if they'd connect to Devon with trails.
One question has Edmonton placed any stupidly low speed limits on the trails? Ours (Moncton) has 10km in a few areas and 15km everywhere else! In Maine their trail speed limits are 25 mph (40km) and Rails To Trails sets their recommended maximum to 18 mph (~29km). Locally I am feeling 15 is too slow and that other trail users just need to clear their ears so they can hear my bell and permit me to pass (currently I resort to a very loud Airzound blast which I reserve for runners who can't hear my bell, or my colourful scream (without colourful language they ignore your request as just English or French.)
I think the current city administration is very "out of touch" with the way citizens use the trail system. It truly is one of Edmonton's greatest treasures and it's sad to see very little effort put into maintenance. The answer always seems to be put up a sign or close the trail. I have seen some nice things like the new stairs opened last year on the north end of the Capilano foot bridge, but for a while the only thing it was used for was the gate at the top of the stairs - the city closed the trail shortly after the stairs were built. The reason was what I would call "slight erosion" through a stretch of maybe 20 meters of the trail. Of course, citizens continued using the trail because they understood the hazard and treated it accordingly. The city made no repairs to the trail, yet they have re-opened it and posted two signs on either side of the problem. I hope the trails don't fall into further disrepair. Thanks for the video!
Hi Richard. Thanks for watching and the feedback. Hopefully something will change in the near future. We’re adding new trails while older ones are falling apart. So sad.
@@the1andonly Having worked for a civil/environmental company here in Edmonton, there is a lot of money to be made for these road projects, the allocation of funds for a long term trail system would cost a fraction of the cost of one road section but it needs public pressure to be realized.
@@hulluviking2055 Hi and thanks for commenting. Yes, I'm sure it all comes down to money. But more roads is not what we need for good quality of living. We can't even afford to maintain the ones we have.
@Jorg Schlagheck I completely agree. I've reached out to my Ward 4 city councilor to stress the need for a city wide bicycle infrastructure like a seperate river valley system and physically separated cycling lanes throughout the city that are well maintained and funded where it is safe, efficient and actively maintained to encourage safe travel by bike throughout Edmonton. He told me when he is mandated to do so he will.
@A Google User Yeah, I slipped and hurt myself on the north/west side of the river. The trail between MacKinnon Ravine Park and Mackenzie Ravine is completely washed out and almost unusable.
Dude, what do you mean Edmonton isn't very bike friendly, when I left Edmonton 15 years ago there were 2800 km of marked bike trails throughout the city, street level as well as the river valley. Thanks to those marked trails my buddy and I were able cover 5000 km on our bikes in one year. Our longest trip was from northeast Edmonton (Clairveiw) to Southwest (Terwillager), we covered 110 km that day. Those gravel trails were put in nearly 50 years ago and thanks in part to beavers, they are collapsing . The paved trail in Forrest Heights is well over 30 years old and was in a deplorable state 15 years ago. By the way, unless the city changed the bylaw, those gravel trails are for walking only, no bikes allowed as bike riders were also adding to the destruction of the gravel trails.
Hi there, thanks for the feedback. I agree that the trails are awesome for cycling. However, not every destination in Edmonton can be reached via trails. Try cycling on a multi lane road. People get killed doing that. Bike lanes exist here and there, but don't connect in useful ways.
@@the1andonly Dude, I just checked the Cities web site and all those bike routes throughout the city as well as the river valley are still there, just download the bike route map. I spent over 30 years cycling around Edmonton using the bike routes and never had a problem. Most of the bike routes are planned to cross multi-lane roadways at controlled intersections and run parallel to those roads.
The city should of never paved those sections,,, they should of been left alone in there natural state... The city should let the locals and those of us from out of town to come pitch in 2 or 7 times a year to maintain and repair them... It's just that simple... Our small hamlet looks after its trail network fairly well keeping it simple... Pick a sort section that needs repair and ask folks to pitch in... A few shovels,,, racks,,, wheel barrel and gravel can path up a short section fairly fast... And its a good way too stay in shape and meet new pepole.... Food for thought...
Thank you Jorg for giving the River Valley Trails the call to attention that they need. Truely that trail system is an absolute city and heritage treasure, back in 2011 these were my playground. I bought my first mountain bike (used from a pawn shop) and began a healthy lifestyle that has been thrilling to say the least. I hope to one day return to the River Valley Trails and enjoy every moment on those beautiful trails that are dear to my heart. Stay safe Jorg and God bless you.
Man that's an ugly situation I remember back in the day I used to ride from Capilano freeway which is now Wayne Gretzky Drive all the way to Rundle Park and back . Sad State of Affairs hope it gets better thanks for sharing keep the cameras rolling from Florida
Yes, that trail to Rundle Park is very low as well and was closed much of last summer. It's one of my favourites.
Sad to hear thanks again for sharing
Holy hell that was crazy be safe out there. It really seems like the city let it get run down. Because I live in Ottawa and we had a flood a couple years ago and they rebuilt the flood damage and The erosion. They put in a new rock wall. If I ever get out there I'll show you some flood damage that's still in certain parts of the pathway. Oh and they also kept the old bike path and just made it to the footpath and repaved and made a new bicycle path. Oh congrats on getting the Drone the Drone footage was cool🤟🤟🤟 oh yeah you're absolutely right if they kept up with it that would have totally been preventable. What they did is they built it and then left it. But your Trails look really awesome and Technical😅
Hi and thanks for commenting. Yes, a solid rock retaining wall might have withstood the forces, at least a little better. 😉
I've ridden to Ft Sask. The trail is really good all the way IMO. Just follow the paths / bike friendly sidewalks into Sherwood Park to Sherwood Dr then go north. It's part of the Great Trail (Trans Canada Trail), well marked and is either paved path or nice packed gravel trail. In the next couple of years, there will be a pedestrian bridge underneath the new Hwy 15 bridge being built right now.
It would be really nice if they'd connect to Devon with trails.
Yes, I know that one and its great. More are being built and there will be a bridge from where the North side trail ends.
One question has Edmonton placed any stupidly low speed limits on the trails? Ours (Moncton) has 10km in a few areas and 15km everywhere else! In Maine their trail speed limits are 25 mph (40km) and Rails To Trails sets their recommended maximum to 18 mph (~29km). Locally I am feeling 15 is too slow and that other trail users just need to clear their ears so they can hear my bell and permit me to pass (currently I resort to a very loud Airzound blast which I reserve for runners who can't hear my bell, or my colourful scream (without colourful language they ignore your request as just English or French.)
I'm not aware of any speed limit on Edmonton's trails. Bikes don't have speedometers (some do). Just ban motorized traffic and all will be fine!
I think the current city administration is very "out of touch" with the way citizens use the trail system. It truly is one of Edmonton's greatest treasures and it's sad to see very little effort put into maintenance. The answer always seems to be put up a sign or close the trail. I have seen some nice things like the new stairs opened last year on the north end of the Capilano foot bridge, but for a while the only thing it was used for was the gate at the top of the stairs - the city closed the trail shortly after the stairs were built. The reason was what I would call "slight erosion" through a stretch of maybe 20 meters of the trail. Of course, citizens continued using the trail because they understood the hazard and treated it accordingly. The city made no repairs to the trail, yet they have re-opened it and posted two signs on either side of the problem. I hope the trails don't fall into further disrepair. Thanks for the video!
Hi Richard. Thanks for watching and the feedback. Hopefully something will change in the near future. We’re adding new trails while older ones are falling apart. So sad.
I love the trails but where do we get the money to fix this? What services can be taken away or removed?
Thanks for watching and commenting. I think that should be up for discussion. We are widening roads all over and even adding new ones. Just saying...
@@the1andonly Having worked for a civil/environmental company here in Edmonton, there is a lot of money to be made for these road projects, the allocation of funds for a long term trail system would cost a fraction of the cost of one road section but it needs public pressure to be realized.
@@hulluviking2055 Hi and thanks for commenting. Yes, I'm sure it all comes down to money. But more roads is not what we need for good quality of living. We can't even afford to maintain the ones we have.
@Jorg Schlagheck I completely agree. I've reached out to my Ward 4 city councilor to stress the need for a city wide bicycle infrastructure like a seperate river valley system and physically separated cycling lanes throughout the city that are well maintained and funded where it is safe, efficient and actively maintained to encourage safe travel by bike throughout Edmonton. He told me when he is mandated to do so he will.
@A Google User Yeah, I slipped and hurt myself on the north/west side of the river. The trail between MacKinnon Ravine Park and Mackenzie Ravine is completely washed out and almost unusable.
Beautiful trails
They are!
Dude, what do you mean Edmonton isn't very bike friendly, when I left Edmonton 15 years ago there were 2800 km of marked bike trails throughout the city, street level as well as the river valley. Thanks to those marked trails my buddy and I were able cover 5000 km on our bikes in one year. Our longest trip was from northeast Edmonton (Clairveiw) to Southwest (Terwillager), we covered 110 km that day.
Those gravel trails were put in nearly 50 years ago and thanks in part to beavers, they are collapsing . The paved trail in Forrest Heights is well over 30 years old and was in a deplorable state 15 years ago.
By the way, unless the city changed the bylaw, those gravel trails are for walking only, no bikes allowed as bike riders were also adding to the destruction of the gravel trails.
Hi there, thanks for the feedback. I agree that the trails are awesome for cycling. However, not every destination in Edmonton can be reached via trails. Try cycling on a multi lane road. People get killed doing that. Bike lanes exist here and there, but don't connect in useful ways.
@@the1andonly Dude, I just checked the Cities web site and all those bike routes throughout the city as well as the river valley are still there, just download the bike route map. I spent over 30 years cycling around Edmonton using the bike routes and never had a problem. Most of the bike routes are planned to cross multi-lane roadways at controlled intersections and run parallel to those roads.
The city should of never paved those sections,,, they should of been left alone in there natural state...
The city should let the locals and those of us from out of town to come pitch in 2 or 7 times a year to maintain and repair them...
It's just that simple...
Our small hamlet looks after its trail network fairly well keeping it simple...
Pick a sort section that needs repair and ask folks to pitch in...
A few shovels,,, racks,,, wheel barrel and gravel can path up a short section fairly fast...
And its a good way too stay in shape and meet new pepole....
Food for thought...