Seniors who want to walk to the grocery store or the pharmacy and families who want to walk or bike to school or daycare are at the heart of the objectives of the new Vision Zero 2022-2024 action plan. of the City of Montreal announced on Wednesday.
Posted at 1:47 p.m.
“Forty thousand students in Montreal have seen their path to school improved since 2020, said Marianne Giguère, the advisor associated with active mobility. This fall, we are expanding the program to secure other places that are very popular with senior pedestrians, such as seniors’ residences, grocery stores, pharmacies and recreation centres. »
On the children’s side, security projects will be carried out near daycare centres, CPEs and playgrounds. “We want to promote peace of mind for children and those who accompany them, such as parents or educators,” said Ms.me Giguere.
In concrete terms, the City will agree to fund the improvements requested by the 19 boroughs with the aim of promoting safety and fair sharing of the road, and upgrading intersections which are often legacies of a time when user safety of the most vulnerable route was little taken into account.
The question of left turns made by motorists increases the danger on public roads, and will be part of the concerns during calming interventions, she added. “We want to reduce the risk of collision as much as possible. »
An envelope of $15 million per year will be devoted to this program, an increase of $5 million compared to the budget of previous years. The Vision Zero approach aims for zero deaths and serious injuries on Montreal’s roads by 2040.
The City made the announcement of this program Wednesday morning in front of Armand-Lavergne Elementary School, in the borough of Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, an establishment that has recently been made safe with the addition of a widened sidewalk, speed bump and a cycle path.
Pierre Lessard-Blais, borough mayor, pointed out that this reconfiguration has significantly reduced dangerous behavior such as U-turns in front of the school.
“The number of children that we see arriving on foot, on bicycles and on scooters is huge now, and before there were almost none. It’s not perfect, there is awareness work to be done, but it’s a big improvement,” said Mr. Lessard-Blais.
The director general of Piétons Québec, Sandrine Cabana-Degani, was delighted with this announcement.
“The plan focuses on solutions to improve pedestrian safety. Every year, pedestrians represent the largest share of road users seriously and fatally injured in Montreal. »
Vélo Québec program director Magali Bebronne notes that the lack of infrastructure near parks and schools is hampering cycling, especially by children.
“When parents are asked why they don’t let their children cycle to school, they say it’s because they don’t trust the behavior of other road users,” she says.
The facilities must meet the needs of all cyclists, young and old, note Mme Bebronne. “That’s how we’re going to manage to change the modes of travel to school. »
Learn more
-
- 50%
- Percentage of people aged 65 and over in pedestrian deaths recorded in Montreal.
Source: City of Montreal