Montreal faces significant challenges in snow removal due to careless behaviors from citizens and obstructive drivers. Observations reveal that impatient motorists can block operations, leading to frustrating delays. Snow removal teams struggle to clear streets efficiently while navigating around vehicles and pedestrians who disregard safety. With recent heavy snowfall requiring simultaneous clearing efforts, maintaining distance from snow removal vehicles is essential for smoother operations and safety.
Exploring Montreal’s Snow Removal Challenges
In the vibrant city of Montreal, journalist Louis-Philippe Messier prefers to navigate the urban landscape on foot, with his office packed in a backpack, constantly on the lookout for intriguing stories and diverse individuals. His urban column reflects a genuine curiosity about the lives and backgrounds of the people he encounters.
The Impact of Reckless Behaviors on Snow Removal
Ever wondered why it takes so long to clear the streets after a major snowstorm? Recently, a snow removal team was observed in action in Hochelaga, revealing a frustrating truth: careless citizens and obstructive drivers significantly delay the process.
During my observation of snow removal operations at the intersection of De Rouen and Bennett, I witnessed an impatient delivery driver who halted his truck, inadvertently blocking several cars behind him. He then attempted to negotiate with a flagger and even took a photo of the street being cleared, likely to justify his delivery delay.
As a police car arrived, sirens blaring, it too became ensnared in the traffic jam caused by the obstinate driver, who eventually moved aside.
Section chief Christopher Casseus was seen instructing a driver to proceed straight, as the street was blocked ahead. Ignoring the guidance, the driver turned right only to be confronted by another car, creating a backup. After some maneuvering, the obtrusive vehicles were finally cleared.
Other drivers attempted to squeeze their cars between the large snow removal machines. One frustrated motorist, unable to access the cleared street, returned only to face the same blockage again. Will she attempt a third time?
Maxime Masse, the snow removal foreman for the borough, expressed his dismay, stating, “This kind of interference wastes our time and creates dangerous situations.”
On the pedestrian front, individuals hurriedly dart past heavy machinery, seemingly oblivious to the potential hazards. Their blind trust in operators, who endure long workdays, is concerning. Tom Lapointe, who operates a Bombardier-type snow-clearing machine nicknamed a “candy,” emphasized the need for heightened awareness, stating, “You have to have eyes all around your head!”
Just moments later, a pedestrian, engrossed in her phone, stood in the path of Mr. Lapointe’s machine, halting sidewalk clearing for nearly twenty seconds—an unnecessary delay.
Mr. Masse explained that the recent 72 cm snowfall necessitated simultaneous street and sidewalk clearing, resulting in many machines occupying the same space. The takeaway for Montrealers? To ensure a smooth snow removal operation, it’s best to stay clear of streets when the flashing lights of snow removal vehicles are visible.