As part of a pilot project, dogs on a leash will be allowed in the Montreal metro starting October 15, the Société de transport de Montréal (STM) announced on Wednesday. However, travel with dogs will only be authorized outside peak hours and they must be muzzled.
Last April, the municipal council had approved the holding of a pilot project after the tabling of a motion by the opposition. Ensemble Montreal then argued that several cities around the world, including Copenhagen, Amsterdam and London, already allowed dogs on a leash on public transport.
However, the STM issues certain instructions for dog owners. They must be held “firmly” with a leash no longer than 1.25 meters and they must wear a muzzle at all times. From Monday to Friday, trips must be made between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. and after 7 p.m. Access to the metro will be possible at all times on weekends and statutory holidays, but prohibited during major events.
For the moment, the Longueuil–Université-de-Sherbrooke station is excluded from the pilot project and it should be noted that dogs will not be allowed on the buses.
Owners will be required to clean up any damage that may be caused by the animal and the animal may not climb onto the seats and benches. Only one dog will be allowed per passenger. The STM also recommends avoiding the lead metro car.
Previously, only guide and assistance dogs were allowed on public transport. They will continue to be used throughout the STM network.
“We will rigorously and continuously evaluate the results of the pilot project in order to make an informed decision on the implementation of such a measure in the métro network”, commented the chairman of the STM board of directors, Éric Alan Caldwell. , in a press release.
During this nine-month pilot project, the City intends to assess certain elements, including passenger and staff safety, cleanliness and the impact on service quality.
This project follows a campaign led by the Montreal SPCA, which launched a petition that collected nearly 18,000 signatures.