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MONTRÉAL, CITY OF CYCLISTSCycling Master Plan: Safety, Efficiency, Audacity

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Our actions and clear commitment in favour of more sustainable mobility have helped consolidate Montréal’s position as a North American leader when it comes to cycling. Already, our streets are used by about a million cyclists, and more and more Montrealers are choosing to cycle year-round. Our collective hearts are set on stepping up our efforts to give Montrealers more effective and innovative infrastructures adapted to the new realities of urban transportation. That, in essence, is the driving force behind our ambitious Cycling Master Plan, entitled Montréal, City of Cyclists.

With Montréal, City of Cyclists, the Cycling Master Plan, the municipal administration is intent on offering its citizens a safe four-season mode of transport, accessible to all. Our city is thus adopting the means to create a pleasant and effective human-scale environment within city limits, by favouring a timely, affordable, environmentally friendly and healthy mode of transport adapted to city life.

Our objective is ambitious. We hope to increase cycling’s modal share by 15% in central neighbourhoods over the next 15 years. In order to achieve this, investments of $150 million will be made over the next five years.

The Cycling Master Plan is consistent with the major shift in favour of safety for cyclists and pedestrians, reflected in our adoption of the Vision Zero approach to road safety. In this regard, Montréal is more determined than ever to get things done, change the way we think, and play its part as a major international metropolis. The Cycling Master Plan, I’m convinced, is sure to exert a positive influence on the quality of life of all our citizens.

M. Denis Coderre Mayor of Montréal

Message from the Mayor

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The mobility of citizens and users is among our city’s core activities, whether it relates to work, study or leisure. In this regard, further developing the practice of cycling and working to enhance its comfort becomes an essential asset, one we can draw from to improve the daily lives and mobility of Montrealers, not to mention the environment.

More than ever, Montrealers have access to modes of transport other than cars thanks to our investments in public transit and our efforts to promote walking and cycling.

By making a priority of expanding and improving the bike path network and services for cyclists, the municipal administration is committed to making changes and shaping the way we design mobility in the city. Montréal, City of Cyclists encourages cycling, a mode of transport that is a reliable and effective means of facilitating the mobility of residents and users in the downtown area and in the city’s busiest sectors.

The municipal administration and its partners are extremely proud, therefore, to present the Cycling Master Plan, entitled Montréal, City of Cyclists, to all its citizens.

Ladies and gentlemen, fellow Montrealers, straddle your bicycles!

M. Aref Salem Montréal executive committee member responsible for transportation

Message from the Executive Committee Member Responsible for Transportation

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Montréal is known worldwide as a cycling city, and more and more cyclists are choosing the travel the city by bicycle year-round.

With this Cycling Master Plan and its various projects and programs, Montréal has given itself a mission to increase cycling’s modal share to 15% in the city within 15 years. This objective could not be achieved without buy-in and support from all the city’s partners, who have rallied behind this project to ensure its success.

The municipal administration thus extends a heartfelt thanks to all the members of the Comité consultatif sur le vélo de Montréal. Your participation and involvement have served to lend renewed impetus to this mode of transport and, by extension, to the entire community.

Together, we will make Montréal a leader among the world’s cyclable cities and a model of collaboration sure to inspire other large cities around the globe.

M. Marc-André Gadoury Member of the Coderre administration responsible for the cycling file President of the Comité consultatif sur le vélo de la Ville de Montréal

Message from the President of the Committe

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Today, cycling is more popular than ever in Montréal. There are now more than one million cyclists in the city. By the end of 2017, our bike path network will span close to 850 kilometres, with half of it accessible in winter. Without a doubt, BIXI’s popularity has contributed greatly to this newfound enthusiasm. With 6,200 bicycles serving 540 stations, more than four million trips were taken using this self-service bike-sharing system in 2016, an increase of 16% compared to 2015.

Montréal can pride itself in having one of the highest modal shares for biking among cities in North America. Its bike path network surpasses those of most large Canadian cities. Montréal, Cycling City proposes to take this to the next level. Despite the enormous progress made in the area of active transportation over the last few years, plenty of work still lies ahead. This plan shows how the city can accelerate the development of its cycling infrastructure with projects that call for ingenuity, audacity and creativity.

According to a recent survey1, in 2013, an average of 116,000 bicycle trips were taken per day on the island of Montréal, an increase of 57% since 2008. With more people cycling than ever before, however, the current rate of cycling infrastructure growth is insufficient to meet demand.

In this vein, numerous projects and programs will have to be developed to lend renewed impetus to cycling in Montréal and promote it as a fast, practical and safe mode of transport. With this in mind, the city’s priorities for further promoting cycling include improving traffic conditions and safety, adding new bicycle parking spaces, and completing a number of cycling projects.

Finally, the safety of cyclists has always been a core part of Montréal’s actions. For this reason, cycling will form a key part of the VISION ZERO serious or fatal accidents approach, which the city adopted in September 2016. This new approach coordinates the efforts of all actors towards the same objective: safety.

With these orientations, Montréal is betting that its population of cyclists will continue to grow in years to come. That’s why an increase in biycle usage is expected across the Montréal agglomeration, particularly in the central boroughs, where the goal is to have 15% of all trips taken by bicycle within 15 years. Montréal, City of Cyclists will allow the metropolis to assume its rightful place among the model cities where cycling constitutes an attractive and effective transportation choice.

Preamble

1 Vélo Québec, L’état du vélo au Québec en 2015, 2016, 15 pages.

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Montréal’s Cycling Master Plan is made up of 10 orientations:

1. Deploy Montréal’s bike path network, with a focus on greater connectivity, better access to centres of economic activity, and improved integration with public transit

2. Make Montréal’s bike path network safe and accessible year-round

3. Develop a bicycle accessibilty plan for downtown

4. Implement bold, large-scale cycling programs at the metropolitan level

5. Improve the quality and supply of bicycle parking across Montréal, particularly in central neighbourhoods

6. Integrate the needs of cyclists into the current road network as well as road construction and reconstruction

7. Install infrastructure and equipment that use innovations and new technologies and thus reflect the functionalities proper to an intelligent and digital city

8. Implement projects and programs geared to organizations or cultural communities with the goal of supporting and promoting initiatives that encourage cycling

9. Develop partnerships with sporting associations, schools, leisure groups, etc.

10. Promote cycling as a safe, effective and comfortable means of transport

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Deploy Montréal’s bike path network, with a focus on greater connectivity, better access to centres of economic activity, and improved integration with public transit

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Montréal’s bike path network will span close to 850 kilometres by the end of 2017. On average, 50 kilometres are added to the network each year. The network is composed of exclusive bike paths (36%), bike lanes (29%), designated shared roadways (24%) and on-street paths (11%). Though cyclists travel on all Montréal roadways, close to 60% of them prefer to make their trips on bike paths. This explains the popularity of some of the main cycling routes like the Berri path, which recorded close to a million trips in 2016.

Despite the extension of the bike path network across the island of Montréal, and its continued popularity with cyclists, improvements must be made in infrastructure quality and the way its future development is ensured.

For example, bicycle access to downtown — a principal destination for many cyclists, who travel there for work, leisure, or studies — could be improved. Only a few protected bike paths exist, including the Claire Morissette path along Boulevard De Maisonneuve, as well as the paths along Rue Berri and Boulevard Robert-Bourassa, which are often packed at rush hour.

The city intends to:• Focusonthequalityofnewcycling

infrastructure and the real benefits it brings to cyclists;

• Improvebikepathconnectionsbetweenindividual boroughs and between municipalities;

• Promotebetteraccesstodowntown;

• Enablesmoothermodaltransfersfrombike paths to public transit at train and metro stations, etc.

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Make Montréal’s bike path network safe and accessible year-round 2

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Winter biking is no longer the exclusive territory of a few diehard cyclists. Last winter, several paths, notably the Claire Morissette path along Boulevard De Maisonneuve and the path on Rue Rachel, registered a daily average of about 600 trips between December 2016 and March 2017.

In order to facilitate this growing practice, Montréal plows a large part of its bike path network. Last winter, several important bike paths remained accessible to cyclists, with more than 430 kilometres or 62% of paths cleared.

The level of maintenance varies from sector to sector, however, since boroughs are responsible for snow removal. Generally, protected bike paths are easier to clear, while plowing on-street bike lanes is more complex.

The city intends to:• Improvethequalityofsnowremovalon

bike paths;

• Ensurecomparablemaintenancelevelsfrom borough to borough;

• Agreeonastandardforwinterbikepath maintenance.

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Develop a bicycle accessibility plan for downtown3

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Downtown Montréal records a very high volume of bicycle traffic. The heart of the city is home to some 100,000 residents, and each day it also welcomes some 300,000 workers, 150,000 students and thousands of visitors. Its bike paths are among the agglomeration’s busiest. In 2016, two bike paths in the heart of downtown — the Rue Berri path and the Claire-Morissette path on Boulevard De Maisonneuve — recorded close to 990,000 and over one million trips, respectively.

Yet, the current downtown bike network is not continuous, and even incomplete in places. Several sectors, such as the western part of the Ville-Marie borough, have no bike paths at all. The scarcity of north-south paths also discourages bicycle transport between downtown and peripheral boroughs. Not to mention that the thousands of existing bicycle parking spaces are still not enough to meet the demand.

The city intends to:• Facilitatebicycleaccesstovarious

economic, tourist and institutional activity centres downtown;

• Promotethedeploymentofnorth-southbike paths spanning the downtown area;

• Increasethenumberofbicycle parking spaces;

• Developcyclinginfrastructures.

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Implement bold, large-scale cycling programs at the metropolitan level 4

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While it is necessary to continue developing Montréal’s bike path network by adding on-street infrastructures, such as bike paths, bike lanes, and designated shared roadways, more is now required to stand out and meet the ever-growing needs of cyclists. By favouring a mode of active transportation, cyclists are searching for timeliness, comfort, safety and flow, which are not always possible when using other modes of transport.

A more effective bike network is sure to be a success with cyclists, who will no doubt make full use of it. That’s why it’s essential to take advantage of major urban redevelopment projects by integrating quality cycling infrastructures that will have a significant impact on the practice of cycling.

The city intends to:• Mobilizeallpublicandprivatepartners

for purposes of implementing major projects;

• Acceleratethecompletionoflarge-scalecycling projects.

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Improve the quality and supply of bicycle parking across Montréal, particularly in central neighbourhoods5

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The development of new bicycle parking spaces must be done on par with the corresponding rise in bicycle usage, which is far from the case, unfortunately. Too often, still, the shortage of bicycle racks obliges cyclists to lock their bikes to lampposts, signage posts and even trees. This situation is particularly evident downtown, where there are more cyclists.

With the exception of private bicycle parking spaces inside buildings — which offer protection against theft and bad weather — it is practically impossible to find public bicycle parking that offers the same advantages. Only two bike shelters have been built to date, at the Lionel-Groulx and Longueuil-Université-de-Sherbrooke metro stations.

Bicycle parking is a crucial consideration, therefore, one that must be part of an effort to promote active transportation and increase cycling’s modal share on the urban transportation landscape. It’s important to encourage initiatives that include an adequate supply of bicycle parking spaces.

The city intends to:• Improvethesupplyofsafebicycle

parking spaces across the city;

• Getpublicandprivatepartnersinvolvedin deploying bicycle parking spaces.

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Integrate the needs of cyclists into the current road network as well as road construction and reconstruction6

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Bicycle travel on a quality bike path network helps to ensure comfort and safety. However, some itineraries require that cyclists share the road with cars, trucks, etc.

The municipal administration is well aware of the issues underlying cohabitation with other modes of transport and the risks that it entails.

The city intends to:• Improvebicycleroutesinthevicinityof

road building sites;

• Promotethegreaterintegrationofcycling infrastructures in conjunction with road reconstruction and urban redevelopments;

• Improvethesafetyandcomfortofcyclists through inftrastuctures that are better adapted to their needs;

• Continueworkoperationsintendedtosecure intersections.

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Install infrastructures or equipment that use innovations and new technologies and thus reflect the functionalities proper to a smart and digital city7

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Recent innovations and technological advances have considerably altered our lifestyle and consumption habits and the way that we get around. Geolocation applications and the use of smart phones to pay parking fees are two prime examples.

In the case of BIXI, to cite another example, an application lets users purchase short-term access, rent a bicycle without a key, renew a membership, and so on. New applications could be developed to further benefit cyclists.

The city intends to:• Promotetheemergenceof

development concepts or equipment that use innovations and new technologies to improve the cycling experience and thus reflect the functionalities proper to a smart city.

• Makeaspecialefforttocollectandanalyze information and data on cyclists in Montréal so as to tailor the bike path network’s development to the needs of cyclists and their active transportation habits.

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Implement projects and programs geared to organizations or cultural communities with the goal of supporting and promoting initiatives that encourage cycling

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Montréal receives close to 76 % of the 50,000 immigrants who come to Québec each year. Immigration makes an undeniable contribution to Montréal’s demographic, social and economic develoment.

Cycling can also play the role of catalyst and social development tool, provided that the basic conditions for its use as a means of transport are adequately integrated. Immigrants are quickly confronted with language difficulties and a poor knowledge of the resources and services available, for example. These difficulties hinder their integration. In order to meet the specific needs of immigrants, the city is already developing and supporting numerous projects with its community and institutional partners.

The city intends to:• Promoteaccesstocyclingforallby

adopting new programs geared to cultural communities.

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Develop partnerships with sporting associations, schools, leisure groups, etc., with the goal of meeting the needs of all clienteles9

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Cycling in Montréal is generally used as a mode of transport to get to work or school or run errands. For many, cycling is also a leisure or fitness activity, and these people tend to gravitate to sites geared specifically to that purpose: circuit Gilles-Villeneuve or the Camillien-Houde roadway are two examples.With the proper infrastructure, mountain biking could also be popularized in urban areas.

The municipal administration recognizes that cyclists have a variety of needs, and it intends to work with them to ensure that they can safely practice their activity.

The city intends to:• Reconciletheneedsofallbicycleusers

through partnerships with sporting associations, schools, leisure groups, etc., with the goal of promoting the emergence of conditions favourable to the safe practice of cycling in all its forms.

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Promote cycling as a safe, effective and comfortable mode of transport10

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To date, little has been done at the international level to promote Montréal as a cycling city. While public transit is an excellent means of transport for tourists, cycling is an ideal way to explore a city well worth discovering. For example, a better job must be done of promoting the BIXI bike-sharing system with visitors.

Montrealers, meanwhile, could also turn to cycling in greater numbers. Many daily trips done by car could easily be done by bicycle. Over short distances, cycling is often faster and more effective, to say nothing of the health benefits and the benefits for the environment and quality of life.

The city intends to:• Stepupitspromotionand

communications efforts in order to increase the use of cycling as a means of transport;

• PositionMontréalasaleadingcyclingdestination.

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Implementation

Cycling has never been so popular in Montréal. Close to a million cyclists now use Montréal’s 850-km bike path network. Yet, cycling’s history in Montréal is relatively recent, compared to many European cities, where the cycling culture and tradition have profoundly shaped the urban pandscape. The growth of this activity can certainly be attributed to Montrealers’ love affair with the bicycle, but it also reflects the municipal administration’s unflagging efforts to meet the needs of cyclists and promote active transportation.

Sustained growthIn 2008, Montréal had 400 kilometres of bike paths. By 2017 that figure had more than doubled. It’s hardly suprising, therefore, that cycling’s modal share, in Montréal, is one of the highest among cities in North America.

The BIXI bike-sharing service is among the various Montréal-based initiatives that have spurred this continued growth. More than four million BIXI trips were recorded in 2016. Designed in Montréal, manufactured in Québec City, and inspired by several goundbreaking innovations, BIXI was an immediate hit with users, as it allowed them to combine public transit with bike-sharing.

Measures have also been taken to further promote the growing practice of winter cycling. In 2016, some 62% of bike paths were cleared and maintained in an effort to allow cyclists to travel safely in winter. Finally, several kilometres of bike path are added to the network each year, and the network is constantly being redeveloped. And through periodic counting in specific locations, the city is able to collect data on the usage of the network in order to better plan its development.

The 15-15 target: 15% of the modal share of trips within 15 yearsMontréal is adopting the means to make cycling, as a mode of transport. more and more accessible to everyone. With this plan, the city, drawing on the same determination and effectivenes it has shown from the outset, intends to increase the practice of cycling across the island of Montréal. The objective is to increase cycling’s modal transportation share to 15% in central beighbourhoods within the next 15 years.

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MEASURES HORIZON

1. Deployment of the Montréal bike path network with a focus on greater connectivity, improved access to economic activity centres, and greater complementarity with public transit

• Continuetoexpandthebikepathnetwork• Secureat-risksectors• Developasignageplan• Implementpreferentialmeasuresforcyclists• Allowcycliststousereservedbusandtaxilanes• Secureundergroundandabove-groundpassageswithprotectedcycling

infrastrucutres• Deploycounterswithdisplaysforbicycles• Developprotectedbikepaths• ContinuouslyimproveMontréal’sbikepathnetwork(upgrading)

ONGOING

2. Conversion of Montréal’s bike path network into a safe and accessible network year-round

• Establishaservicestandardforwintermaintenanceofthebikepathnetwork

• ModifytheINFO-NEIGEapplicationsothatitprovidesinformationonsnowremovaloperationsonthebikepathnetwork

2017 - 2021

3. Development of a bicycle access plan for downtown

• Developnewprotectedcyclingcorridors• Addbikeboxes• Increasethenumberofbicycleparkingspaces• ConsolidatetheSaint-Urbainbikelane• RedeveloptheVigerandSaint-Antoinebicyclelanes

2017 and beyond

4. Completion of bold, large-scale cycling projects at the metropolitan leve

• Deploybikeway-typeprojects• Implementnew“cyclingstreets”• Developprotectedbikepathsbetweendowntownandthe newChamplainBridge

2018 and beyond

5. Improvement of the supply and quality of bicycle parking spaces across Montréal and particularly in central neighbourhoods

• Reviewregulationspertainingtotheminimumnumberofbikeracksinnewconstructions

• ImplementsafebicycleparkingspacesatmetroandtrainstationsincollaborationwiththeSTMandARTM

• Implementbikestations

2018 - 2021

The Cycling Master Plan will be accompanied by an action plan to be executed according to the following schedule:

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MEASURES HORIZON

6. Integration of cyclists’ needs into the current road network and in road construction and reconstruction projects

• Implementprotectedbikepaths• Secureintersections• Launchinformationcampaignstoraiseawarenessofcardooring amongdrivers

ONGOING

7. Implementation of developments and equipment that use innovations and new technologies and thus reflect the functionalities proper to a smart and digital city

• Developasmartparkingconceptforbicycles• Synchronizetrafficlights(greenwave)

2020 and beyond

8. Implementation of various projects and programs geared to organizaitons or cultural communiities with the aim of supporting and promoting initiatives that encourage cycling

• Supportinitiativesthatencouragethepracticeofcycling

2018 - 2021

9. Development of partnerships with sporting associations, schools, leisure groups, etc., with the goal of meeting the needs of all clientele

• ConductastudyonthepracticeofurbanmountainbikinginMontréal• Analyzeandassesstheneedforbicycletrainingsites• Developbikepathsforchildrentoandfromschool

2017 and beyond

10. Promotion of cycling as a safe, effective and comfortable mode of transport

• Presentationofcampaignspromotingthepracticeofcycling

ONGOING

Members of the Comité visant à promouvoir la pratique du vélo

Coalition vélo MontréalCommission scolaire de MontréalCommunauté métropolitaine de MontréalConseil régional de l’environnement de MontréalCopenhagenize Design Compagny - MontréalDirection de la santé publique de MontréalDirection des transports de la Ville de MontréalMinistère des Transports, de la Mobilité durable et de l’Électrification des transportsService de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM)Société de transport de Montréal (STM)Vélo Québec

Published by the Ville de Montréal Division des transports actifs et collectifs Direction des transports Service des infrastructures, de la voirie et des transports 801, rue Brennan, 6e étage Montréal (Québec) H3C 0G4 ville.montreal.qc.ca/transport

Graphic design:Ville de Montréal, Service des communications 18050 (09-17)

Printed in Canada This document is printed on recycled paper.

ville.montreal.qc.ca/velo