The Route Verte network is great, but just like Germans wanting better trains, I want better cycling infrastructure too. Most of the dedicated network is made out of rail trails. Even new stretches that are opening are because of disused rail lines being converted to rail trails, which in a way does make excellent bike paths. However there's a lot of parts shared with cars and you have to be very careful with the network and the map. Sharing with cars to connect two parts is fine in small residential streets, but not on provincial roads in rural areas.

For example, there's a Route Verte between Montréal and Gatineau but it's just an itinerary on provincial route 148 where cars are zooming around you. There's three Route Verte itineraries between Montréal and Québec City, but none are entirely dedicated. And yet, I know that a network like this is not very common in North America, or even in other parts of the world. I'm very grateful to have what we have. Some parts are beautiful and very much worth cycling. Just choose carefully.

Also, what's helping me a bit is being in Montréal, I can take advantage of the suburban Exo trains to access paths that are a bit far. The St-Jérôme line is very popular for that reason and there's always a few cyclists with panniers in every train. So I'm wondering, is this something also possible from Toronto? Is it possible to take a GO train to Barrie or Hamilton and explore a few paths from there?