Things may have been different in the 50s, but when I was growing up in the 70s we 'stealth camped' on both bicycle and motorcycle trips. Easy Rider images aside. We didn't think of it as stealth camping, or even camping. We were just sleeping for the night. As AFAIK no one ever cared. The few landowners ever encountered were always friendly. And the roles were reversed at times. We had a vineyard and on more than one occasion we arrived to find bike tourists who had spent the night there getting ready to depart on their next leg. We didn't care that they used the property. And who knows how many others did that we never saw. If they leave no trace, we don't know and why would we care? But I guess that was an odd period in which people were trying not to be so hostile to their fellow man. And everyone liked bike tourists back then.

I find the current attitude sanctifying the absolute exclusivity of private property to be disheartening. I'm guessing they don't allow the full lyrics of "This Land is Your Land" into schools.

Having said all that, a public trail is a whole different matter. I understand land owners wanting to be more restrictive when there is the potential for much greater use. Such use would lead to a host of potential issues and who needs the headaches. I would be hesitant to buy property abutting a public trail for that reason. Once you transition from 'a guy laying down a bedroll for the night' to 'public use', the rules of accommodation change a great deal in my view. A bike tourist in that setting should be cognizant of the realities of a public trail and stay off private property. Being accommodating to your fellow man goes both ways.