After 20 years of demands by local cyclists, and a construction process that inadvertently cracked a tunnel beneath the street, the de Maisonneuve bike lane is finally open. Spanning the entire length of downtown, from Berri St. in the east to Atwater Ave. in the west, the lane buckles a huge gap in Montreal’s bike network, giving cyclists a crosstown alternative to busy streets such as Sherbrooke. Also, unlike the bike lanes on Rachel or Brébeuf, this one will be open year-round.
By next summer, the bike lane will extend all the way to Lachine, passing through Westmount, NDG, Montreal West and Ville St. Pierre. The only problem is that, at the moment, Westmount is dragging its heels on extending its own de Maisonneuve bike lane, which stops at Greene Ave., to Atwater. Even then, unlike the downtown stretch, it won’t be open year round.
I’ve seen the lane in its final state and it’s awfully good-looking. Well-marked and separated from other traffic by a concrete median, it not only serves as a bike path but as a traffic-calming device that narrows de Maisonneuve and forces drivers to slow down. But I haven’t used it and I probably won’t in the near future, since I only ride my bike around my neighbourhood. So I’m throwing this out to all of you bike-riding Spacing Montreal readers: what do you think of the de Maisonneuve bike lane? Smooth riding or are there significant flaws? The Gazette photo you see here certainly seems to indicate that the driver-cyclist conflicts that plague the Rachel St. bike path seem to be a problem here, too. Let us know.
Photo by Pierre Obendrauf, The Gazette
12 comments
I visited Montreal a few weeks ago and was staying at a hotel on Maisonneuve. We saw this being constructed, didn’t really know what it could be, but thought it was probably a bike lane!!
At least you guys have a separated bike lane, Toronto still hasn’t got the balls to do this..it is still making bikes compete with cars, even if there is a designed “bike lane”.
God job!!
I think it’s great that it exists but I’ll probably continue riding on Sherbrooke rather than going down to de Maisonneuve and then back up. I ride from Pie-IX & Sherbrooke to University & Sherbrooke.
Westmount has actually finished their portion of the bike lane. It’s just painted like the rest of the lane that goes through Westmount but it doesn’t have the green polls yet.
Although it’s true that the bike lane gives more space to bicycles on the street, and will calm traffic, it is definetely very dangerous at numerous places. The first problem being that it is located on the south side of the street (most cars turn south, especially during high traffic times, because of the access to highway 720). Also, the path is cut off by tons of entrances, pedestrians walking everywhere. As a year-round cyclist, I will be taking good ol’ sherbrooke (tons of space if you are brave enough to take it and traffic lights that are always green). The one thing I recommend though, with regards to the de Maisonneuve bike path, is taking it late at night, it’s fun to have it all to yourself.
From pie-ix to univeristy? wow I wish i had that kind of dedication
Well, I’ve been using it a bit over the last week or so and overall it’s been a positive experience. There is one real problem just West of Guy due to the John Molson school being built, the construction occupies all but one lane of the street. I assume it is temporary of course. Other than that, the only issue is pedestrians standing in the bike lane unawares as cyclists come at them at speed as they wait to jaywalk :)
This is the kind of bike lane that ought to be built in downtown Toronto, particularly on Bloor Street.
Tried it out today from Berri to Guy. It’s nice to be able to bike downtown without cars hassling you. It’s also significantly wide, so it makes for a comfortable ride. Pedestrians still haven’t gotten used to the idea though, today i had to make my way around some who were blocking the path. But all in all, i love it. I think it will change the way we think of our downtown.
I’ve been on the path 3 times now and it is fantastic. Aside from a couple of drivers who turn left onto parking lots or whatever and practically plow right into me, it is the best downtown thing the city has done in YEARS. Also, bike posts are everywhere. The city has joined the 21st century.
Gotta say, Mayor Tremblay is getting things done. Ya gotta give him some props.
Wicked! As soon as drivers get used to it bikers won’t have to be worried about cars turning south. This is definitely a direction I would love to see our city moving in. Bike lanes should be the norm not the exception.
Did anyone see Tremblay on ‘Tout le monde en parle’ last night? (18 nov) He specifically mentioned bike lanes and seems determined to double the network from 400 to 800 km. Good news!
All in all, I was impressed with Mayor Tremblay. He was very passionate in his defence of the city and appears to love it very much.
I am a former resident of Montreal and visit only occassionally. I am also the past Chair of the Mississauga Cycling Advisory Committee in Mississauga, ON. MCAC is a Committee of Council com-prised of volunteer citizens who advise the City of Mississauga on the development of cycling facilities in our City. Mississauga is well in the back of the pack in the development of cycling facilities, trails, and the promotion of cycling and it will take “politic will” to make any real headway. What kind of political will? The kind that put bike lanes on De Maisonneuve Blvd. I saw these lanes for the first time in November 2007. They are courageous, insightful, and INCREDIBLE! Kudos to the City of Montreal. Quebec sais faire!