The Îles de la Madeleine cycling network has been lacking love for a long time, but major work planned by Hydro-Québec for 2025 presents the perfect opportunity to restore it, according to a committee of bike-loving Madelinots. Since the spring, these citizens have been mobilizing so that the archipelago gives itself the means to pedal in complete safety.
Bernard Vigneault is convinced of this: the gusts that sweep the Gulf of St. Lawrence discourage cyclists from venturing on the islands less than the forced proximity to cars. Regardless of the path where the amateur puts his little queen on the archipelago, he must necessarily share the road with motorized vehicles.
“Cycling with cars traveling at 90 or 100 km/h next to you is not easy,” says the owner of the Éco-Vélo des Îles shop, located west of Cap-aux. – Grindstones. Mr. Vigneault and the ten or so members who make up the Safe Cycling Paths on the Islands committee want the bicycle to also have its way.
“Every day, people come to me asking: ‘Where is the bike path?’ I have to tell them that we don’t have any, ”laments the trader. However, the demand is felt, explains the Madelinot owner. “For four years, the number of bicycles has exploded on the archipelago. I had to sell at least 600, calculates Mr. Vigneault. Right here, I have 80 bicycles for rent and they don’t provide. »
Too expensive, according to the City
Of the 146 km of cycle paths offered by Tourisme Îles, only a small section of a few kilometers is on a path reserved for bicycles.
The rest meanders in the company of cars, sometimes on gravel roads since, to complete the Route verte, “the road shoulders must be paved for about twenty kilometers here and there,” says Tourisme Îles de la Madeleine.
“The Green Route dates from 15 years ago, and some sections are almost no longer passable due to lack of maintenance and degradation caused by the elements, observes Bernard Vigneault. Several customers tell me of having had collisions or accidents with vehicles. In a word, he decides, it’s no longer safe. »
The bike has the wind at its back, but the lack of money is a stick in its wheels. The interim mayor of the Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Gaétan Richard, indicated Tuesday, during the most recent meeting of the municipal council, that the development of an off-road bike path “is not one of the priorities”.
“We can’t hide from you that a bike path on the islands is enormously expensive,” said the acting mayor, suggesting improving the signage as a compromise. Councilor Benoit Arseneau assured that the municipality was considering other solutions to secure the practice of cycling in the archipelago.
The Green Route dates from 15 years ago, and some sections are almost no longer passable due to lack of maintenance and degradation caused by the elements
“We are working to put something in place that can satisfy us a little. But for sure the bike path pure and hard…, he began, leaving the end of his idea in suspense. There are many holes to fill in our paths. Shared roads could be a solution while waiting to afford a good cycle network. »
Pressure Hydro
Bernard Vigneault and the citizens’ committee are asking elected officials to put pressure on Hydro-Québec to push for the development of a section dedicated to cyclists. The state-owned company plans to replace, by 2025, a line that goes from Cap-aux-Meules to Grosse-Île: this is the perfect opportunity, according to them, to build 40 km of a road entirely cycle.
“Hydro-Québec will have to build a secondary road anyway to access the site,” explains Mr. Vigneault. We could use that road to make a bike path. This would significantly reduce costs. »
The state corporation is considering the idea, without confirming its intentions. “It’s still too early to comment on the realization of such a project,” explains Laurie Sabourin, Community Relations Advisor for the Magdalen Islands. We are only at the beginning of the pre-project studies, and these must continue until the summer of 2023. We do not yet know whether this line will be overhead, underground or hybrid. »
Mme Sabourin affirms that Hydro-Québec has already participated in cycling development projects in the past. The Magdalen Islands, however, present particular challenges.
“There are several criteria to take into account: we cross several protected environments and we have had to deal with more frequent storms in recent years. It should also be mentioned, explains the councillor, that our right of way is located on private land. That complicates the process a bit. »
Mr. Vigneault, for his part, believes that there is no time to lose. “The file has been stalled for 15 years. Hydro-Québec has already begun to negotiate the easements with the owners. If we wait for the start of work in 2025, it will be too late because it will be complicated to go back to see them to talk to them about building a bike path on their land. »
Fifteen years on the spot
The city council on Tuesday promised to bring the committee’s request to the ears of Hydro-Quebec. Bernard Vigneault maintains that the islands have every interest in giving a large place to bicycles, at a time when the number of motorized vehicles registered in the archipelago has increased by 12% in 10 years, from 10,615 in 2012 to 12. 090 in 2021, according to SAAQ data.
“Many Madelinots live less than five kilometers from their work, maintains the trader, and they want to go to work by bike. There have been three studies done on the issue and they all point in the same direction: it would be beneficial if the cycle network made sense. »
The committee is currently conducting a survey of the citizens of the archipelago. Soon, he will also start a petition to allow people to show their support for the project. “If we wait, it will be too late, fears Bernard Vigneault. We’ve been talking about building a network off the road for 15 years and there’s been no progress. We’ve waited long enough, I think. »