A few years ago, the city of Portland (Maine) built a connector roads project involving a series of bridges which a.) provided more a more direct route over the Fore River for trucks from an industruial area, toward the interstate, b.) aleviated car traffic in that area of the city, and c.) provided a route to and from a nearby hospital. Along with this, they decided to add a nice little path for pedestrians and bicyclists away from the streets along one side of the river in this area. The intention of this path for pedestrians was to connect one part of the city to another away from traffic. It was nice...until it abruptly ended at a bridge abutment where all motorized traffic crossed over the bridge and the river met the Atlantic Ocean. All bicyclists and peds were forced to turn around and go back. They couldn't cross the congested streets. What a waste.

There are bike paths and MUPs that are worth the money, though. There is one currently being built along an abandoned rail line on which large sections have been completed and in use. When finally completed, It will be a 50 mile long MUP, connecting over nine towns and cities and running from the town of Fryeburg (ME) on the New Hampshire border to Portland, Maine. It's being made possible through the Maine DOT and contributions from a private non profit group. To learn more, see www.mountaindivisiontrail.org.