Montréal Feature

Stretches of what's called the most extensive route of biking trails in North America pass right through the very heart of downtown Montréal.

The Route Verte (Green Route) is a free 4,000-kilometer (2,485-mile) network of paths, shared roadways, and paved shoulders that traverse the province of Québec.

The cycling group Vélo Québec began first talking about the possibility of a province-wide bike network back in the 1980s, but it wasn't until 1995 that the government announced it would fund the C$88.5 million project to be built over the next 12 years.

More than 200 miles of the Route Verte cover the streets of the city. It passes through downtown, stretches up Mont-Royal, hugs the coast near the Lachine Canal, and extends out to Parc Jean-Drapeau, just to name a few of the major areas covered.

For more information, including maps, suggested routes, and other trip-planning tools, check out the website at www.routeverte.com.