Imagine a bicycle route that primarily uses rails-to-trails pathways through the historic countryside between two major European capital cities.
That's the Avenue Verte between London and Paris.
Right now, it is little more than a dream, according to a BBC reporter who rode his bicycle along the 250- to 290-mile route through southern England and northern France. Originally proposed for a big launch for the 2012 Olympics in London, the route suffers — at least in the UK — from funding cuts that make that an unlikely deadline.
Reporter Stephen Mulvey wrote at “The London-Paris cycle route that keeps getting you lost”:
“Could the lush Avenue Verte reclaim London-Paris for the pleasure-seeking cyclist? I think it could.
“But if it's to become pure escapism, a lot of work needs to be done. The original hope was that the route would be given a fanfare launch in 2012 – but council spending cuts mean that's unlikely on this side of the Channel at least.
“For now, it remains the domain of the more committed cyclist. A shortage of signposts means anyone embarking on the journey ought to go equipped with a GPS unit or, like me, be prepared to stuff their rucksack with a wad of detailed maps.”
Rails to trails
So, loaded down with maps of the proposed route, Mulvey left London on his road bicycle to follow the future Avenue Verte. He found the route-finding often confusing, even with the maps, because of the lack of signage.
In England, the route incorporates abandoned railways on the National Cycle Network 21 — the Worth Way, the Forest Way and the Cuckoo Trail.
In France, a 25-mile stretch follows a trail already named the Avenue Verte. Where that ends, one option to Paris follows the Voie Verte from Gisors to Gasny.
Conditions improve
Although a greater proportion of the Avenue Verte in Englad is off-road, Mulvey notes that once you cross the channel, the condition of the trails improves. Also, the bike route through northern France is on lightly traveled roads.
Mulvey prefers the French trails, as they are wider and better landscaped to offer views of the surrounding countryside. The English trails are largely overgrown so the cyclist feels like he's riding through a tunnel. Also, few trails in the UK are paved.
Resources online
The Mulvey article is accompanied by a Q&A that lists mileages, maps, and resources for overnight accommodations. It's definitely the place to check until some future date when this dream of a largely off-road London-Paris route becomes a reality.
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