I visited Quebec’s most populous city this June to attend Tour la Nuit and Tour de l’Île, Montreal’s largest group rides that are all about sharing the joy of cycling on local streets, which are closed off to automotive traffic for the events. There were cyclists of all ages and riding abilities, some wearing costumes, some dressed in fashionable everyday clothes, some sporting spandex. There were hoots and hollers from volunteers who came out to encourage us as we pedaled and prattled. A total of 17,000 people registered for the nighttime ride (2,000 more than last year!) that ended at Jeanne-Mance Park with a free concert, food, beverages and admission to a giant Ferris wheel. The 27th annual “Tour” of the island of Montreal brought together around 25,000 cyclists for the 32-mile (52-kilometer) ride.
Outside of these mainstay events of Montreal cycling culture, I traveled around the city, speaking with locals, members of the provincial cycling advocacy organization, Vélo Québec, and tourism reps. I couldn’t help but notice that there were cyclists everywhere. Literally, the streets teemed with people riding their own bicycles and one of the over 5,000 BIXI bike share bicycles (see our bike share feature on p. 32).
The message that came back to me again and again was that cycling is a normal and completely accepted part of the Montreal lifestyle. As Jean-Fançois Pronovost, vice president of development for Vélo Québec, explained when I asked him why there wasn’t more push-back from motorists with the creation of yet another separated bike lane: “We’ve had separated bike lanes for a long time now, at least since the early 1980s. It’s normal for us.” Another key factor seems to be having access to bike share. Pronovost said the downtown bike lanes and BIXI bike share have both helped to boost the number of cyclists he sees on the streets.
Going to Montreal was like traveling to the future of cycling in other major metropolitan centers. I can see it happening in New York City, Minneapolis, Seattle, San Francisco, even Toronto (see our feature on p. 38). And I can tell you, after having experienced riding with other cyclists in Montreal’s separated bike lanes and integrated cycling routes, when it happens in your city, it will be a welcome sight indeed.
Catch you in the bike lane,
Sarah Ripplinger
Editor, Momentum Magazine
Momentum editor, Sarah Ripplinger, at the start of Tour la Nuit in Montreal, QC, June 3, 2011.
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