As the world’s best cyclists are competing for rainbow jerseys in Montreal, there’s a whole slew of locals complaining about bike lanes. Ah, the symmetry. Funnily enough, some of those top cyclists were complaining about the state of some of the roads in town, although there was quite a bit of work done on Montreal’s famous potholes leading up to the big event.

But back to the bike lanes

A new section of the Henri-Bourassa Blvd. mobility corridor is open, but the project is facing plenty of opposition in Montreal’s Ahuntsic-Cartierville borough.

According to the Montreal Gazette, more than 3,200 residents have signed a petition calling for the city to dismantle the corridor. The redesign leaves drivers with four general traffic lanes, while two lanes are reserved for buses and cyclists get protected paths running along both sides.

The latest in Montreal Bike Lane Drama™

Residents who spoke at a recent borough council meeting raised concerns about parking and access. Others questioned why another cycling route was needed when the Gouin Blvd. path is already nearby, about two blocks away.

Not every international rider hates the roads of Montreal’s time trial route

The project was launched under the previous administration in 2021. The original plan calls for an 18-km cycling and transit corridor stretching from Highway 40 in St-Laurent to Albert-Hudon Blvd. in Rivière-des-Prairies. So far, construction has so far produced about seven kilometres of the planned route.

That was in the days of bike-friendly Mayor, Valérie Plante. Some of the new leaders of the city…do not exactly share some of her positions that led to Montreal being one of the top cycling-friendly cities in North America, after a ton of hard work.

The changing of the guard in Montreal

Mayor Sorraya Martinez Ferrada said earlier this year that the project was too far along to abandon, despite not being something her administration would have designed itself.

Ahuntsic-Cartierville Mayor Maude Théroux-Séguin said officials are still looking for tweaks that could make the corridor work better, with U-turns and lane layouts already among the changes made.

Parking problems

Local business owners have also complained about the loss of parking. One barber told the Gazette that repeated construction and the removal of parking have made it harder for customers to reach his shop. He said he supports the bike path but wants the city to find a better parking solution.

Supporters of the corridor, meanwhile, argue that dedicating space to buses and cycling will improve transportation and reduce congestion once the full project is completed.

Across Canada, there are similar battles for bike lanes going on. Ontario has been in a seemingly never-ending debate about bike lanes–present and future, and Alberta has also jumped in.

Anyway, back to them thar road worlds. Btw, if you’re a fan, be sure to check our site and Instagram for a lot of content. The gang from Canadian Cycling Magazine is in Montreal covering the week of races (and using the bike lanes to get around, thankyouverymuch.)