Montréal Bike Network Expansion Faces Uncertainty Under New Leadership
A newly completed section of Montréal’s Express Bike Network (REV) was inaugurated Sunday amid growing concerns its future is at risk following a recent shift in local political leadership.
Around one hundred cyclists gathered in the Montréal-Nord borough to celebrate the opening of a new 2.3 kilometer stretch of the REV on Henri-Bourassa Boulevard, a project intended to improve cyclist and pedestrian safety and promote sustainable transportation. The completed section extends from Avenue des Récollets to Rue Saint-Firmin. “We absolutely must not slow down the progress we have made,” stated a spokesperson for Vélorution, emphasizing the importance of continuing to build out the network.
Just ten days prior, maude Théroux-Séguin, the new mayor of Ahuntsic-Cartierville elected under the banner of Ensemble Montréal, publicly announced her intention to review the sustainable mobility corridor project, which is ultimately planned to connect Lacordaire Boulevard to Highway 13. She has not ruled out dismantling the existing cycle path, citing concerns about low cyclist usage.
This proclamation has sparked immediate backlash from cycling advocates and residents. “We must not give up, we must continue, we must make the missing links,” urged a Vélorution representative. Local resident Julie Allard expressed cautious optimism, stating, “Maybe we could give her a chance, she’s not open [completely], but we’re already talking about closing it, we can just try it.” Allard highlighted the critical need for improved public transportation options in the northern parts of Montréal.
Othre residents echoed the sentiment that the project deserves time to prove its value. “We must give people time to discover, to adapt before starting again to redo another whole project,” said a local resident who regularly commutes by bicycle. “It’s so premature, the track has just been made.”
The REV on Henri-bourassa boulevard is especially vital, according to Jean-François Gagné, spokesperson for the Association for Safe Mobility of Montreal-North, as it represents a rare instance of prioritizing cyclist and pedestrian safety on a major thoroughfare. “Accidents in Montreal-North, they all happen on main arteries,” Gagné explained, citing data from his association which indicates approximately 200 accidents involving pedestrians, motorists, and cyclists occur annually on Henri-Bourassa Boulevard.He argued that the REV effectively encourages motorists to reduce their speed, thereby enhancing safety.
However, the project is not without its detractors. A recent city survey revealed a near 50/50 split in public opinion, with 47% of citizens supporting the project and 49% opposing it. The primary concern among opponents centers on the loss of parking spaces for businesses.”We talk a lot about traders, but there are a lot of residents, people who live here,” a Vélorution spokesperson acknowledged, while also pointing to the availability of alternative parking options nearby.
Nathalie Goulet, a municipal councilor for Ahuntsic-Cartierville representing Projet Montréal, who attended the inauguration, emphasized the need for a holistic approach to mobility. “We need to think about mobility as a whole today: active mobility and collective mobility must be integrated into sustainable mobility,” she stated. Goulet affirmed her commitment to collaborating with the new mayor to demonstrate the project’s benefits and prevent the reinstatement of parking spaces that were removed during implementation.
The current phase of the project, extending 4.8 kilometers between Rue Lajeunesse and Avenue des Récollets, began in the spring. The ultimate vision is to transform Henri-Bourassa Boulevard over a total of 18 kilometers across three boroughs – saint-Laurent, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, and Montréal-Nord – by removing parking spaces and reducing the roadway to one lane per direction.
As of today, the Ahuntsic-Cartierville district has not responded to requests for comment regarding the future of the REV on Henri-Bourassa Boulevard, leaving the fate of this enterprising sustainable mobility project hanging in the balance.
