Whether we use it for travel, relaxation or sport, whether it is powered by an electric motor or by our good old quadriceps – or both -, the bike is gaining more and more followers and occupies more and more space on our roads, to the great pleasure of some or the displeasure of others. Today, The duty presents its review of some of the most problematic bikeways in the province.
Some tracks are full of holes. Others end abruptly in places with heavy car traffic. Still others cross highway ramps in dangerous ways.
“The main barrier to cycling, when we survey cyclists, is the lack of safe infrastructure,” said Vélo Québec President and CEO Jean-François Rheault.
According to the latter, the cycle lanes developed twenty or thirty years ago are not in phase with the expectations of cyclists, whose number is constantly increasing, and the design standards, which have evolved considerably. However, too little money is invested in both building new facilities and updating existing infrastructure, believe several cycling advocacy groups. In some cases, compromises on the quality of new bike lanes are also made so as not to interfere with automobile traffic, believes Mr. Rheault.
Boulevard De Maisonneuve, Montreal
Cyclists taking boulevard De Maisonneuve, particularly between rue Frontenac and avenue Papineau, have to deal with craters and bumps in the road. Some sections are simply impassable. This is without mentioning the many roadworks, which almost always force you to take temporary lanes delimited by orange cones. Be careful not to get lost in thought, you often have to slow down to avoid ending up on the asphalt. “Road maintenance is even more important for cyclists than for cars. Cities should prioritize this,” says Jean-François Rheault. Special mention also, in this regard, to the trail that runs along Sherbrooke Street south of Maisonneuve Park.
Commune Street, Montreal
The bike path that theoretically connects the Old Port and the Lachine Canal suddenly stops between rue Bonsecours and boulevard Saint-Laurent. A few choices are then offered to the cyclist on busy summer days: get off his bike and walk through the crowd for about 500 meters, ride zigzagging between pedestrians, take an officially prohibited gravel road or try his luck in the car traffic of rue de la Commune. On the other side of this dilemma, the beautiful track resumes its course as if nothing had happened. Uncomfortable and frustrating, according to Mr. Rheault.
Boulevard Samson and Highway 13, Laval
Boulevard Samson, in Laval, is bordered by a cycle lane made up of simple markings on the ground, which are not always clearly visible. At the intersection of Highway 13, this marking indicates to cyclists to cross the entrance and exit ramps at places where cars accelerate or decelerate. It’s hard to feel safe there. At the intersection of Highway 25, in the east of Montreal, the picture is similar. Cyclists on the Sherbrooke Street bike lane find themselves right in the middle of speeding cars.
Quebec Bridge
The Quebec Bridge is the only link that allows you to cross the river on foot or by bike to get to the capital from the South Shore. A bike path also goes to the latter. However, on the bridge itself, the space for pedestrians and bicycles is so narrow that it is practically impossible for two bicycles to travel in the opposite direction at the same time. So you have to get off your bike. The situation is almost reversed on the Jacques-Cartier Bridge. The bike path there is a little more adequate, but to get there from Vieux-Longueuil, the options for paved roads are limited.
Boulevard de la Gappe, Gatineau
The two-way path that runs along Boulevard de la Gappe in Gatineau is punctuated by a large number of driveway entrances to businesses. Motorists arriving from all directions must cross it when parking to do their shopping. “The number of times I almost got hit is amazing,” says Laura Darche, president of Action vélo Outaouais. Pedestrians also tend to walk on the track, notes Mme Darche, since the adjacent sidewalk is closer to the road. On some sections, the track is even traced directly on the only sidewalk. The very busy and narrow two-way road on Rachel Street in Montreal also passes many intersections and driveways, which is “extremely uncomfortable”, according to Jean-François Rheault.
Notre Dame Street, Montreal
The bike path that winds along Rue Notre-Dame in the far south of Montreal is far from the road frequented by heavy trucks heading to the port. Cyclists therefore often arrive at intersections at a 45 degree angle, making it impossible for vehicles to see them. According to Mr. Rheault, the solution could be to transform it into one-way lanes or to make arrangements that protect cyclists at intersections, such as adequate traffic lights. Note also that the track is not lit at night and that, shortly after the intersection with rue Sainte-Catherine, it only becomes a marking on the thin sidewalk.
3rd Avenue, Quebec
This commercial artery of the Limoilou district is very busy. The cycle lane is painted to the left of the parking spaces, which forces motorists to cut it. “Cohabitation is extremely difficult,” said Angèle Pineau-Lemieux, spokesperson for the Accès transports viables organization, which defends public and active transit users in this region. “Most of the many cyclists do not even dare to ride on the cycle lane, because there is no space to protect against dooring, and we are in a commercial sector where there are many punctual stops, deliveries, double-file parking. »
Intersection boulevard des Allumettières/Promenade du Lac-des-Fées, Gatineau
To cross a ramp here, cyclists must complete a long downward sloping loop, pass under an overpass, and climb another loop. Motorized vehicles can simply continue straight on Boulevard des Allumettières or take the ramp that descends to Promenade du Lac-des-Fées. “This design serves to allow cars to descend from the viaduct without stopping. Note that this development is an important connector that connects a very large residential area to downtown. As an obstacle to the practice of the utility bike by Mr. and Mrs. Everybody, it’s hard to do better, ”says Laura Darche.
Intersection chemin de Chambly/ boulevard Vauquelin, Longueuil
At this intersection, two-way tracks meet on all sides. But to cross them, cyclists must go to a small island of sidewalk in order to press a button, then cross at the pedestrian crossing.