BY Joshua Loon & Matthew Daldalian
A year after a bike path was installed on Terrebonne Avenue in NDG, Irwin Rapoport still isn’t convinced it’s necessary.
“Our group supports bike lanes, but the borough must follow the public consultation process,” he says.
Rapoport is part of the Terrebonne Neighborhood Association. He highlights the problems of the bike path on a narrow street like Terrebonne.
“It’s tough for people to pull over and get out of their cars with cyclists coming from both sides,” he says, and that emergency vehicles also have a hard time on the street.
Cyclists travel along the disputed bike path on Terrebonne Street. The bike path receives support for safety improvements, but faces opposition because it disrupts traffic movement and parking availability. Photo by Joshua Loon.
The community consultation process for this project launched in October 2023, and it included parties such as local schools, the church, and neighbourhood residents.
“Many residents backed the project. But several people had doubts about how changes would affect traffic patterns and accessibility,” says Despina Sourias, a city councillor in the Loyola District. “The church of St. Monica Parish began its participation in discussions at a slow pace before expressing its requirement for funeral hearse access through designated routes.”
Sourias says the borough is working with the church and schools to develop solutions that enable access while preserving the bike lane. But those institutions aren’t impressed with the
St. Monica Elementary and the Mackay Centre Elementary School have been against the bike path since it was first proposed. School representatives expressed their concerns during consultations, which the borough administration did not heed.
“We were against this bike path from the beginning,” says Michael J. Cohen, communications manager of the EMSB. “Even our chairman asked to have it removed during the winter, but the borough did not even think about it.”
The new bike path has caused St. Monica Elementary School staff and parents to express safety concerns about students and bus operations. Photo by Joshua Loon.
St. Monica School has expressed worries about student safety since children now have to cross the bike path to get to the sidewalk. The narrow roadway has been a problem for school buses, especially when it is difficult to manoeuvre during heavy snowfall. No major accidents have been reported, but things like a bus tapping an open car door can be costly for the insurance. The parents have also expressed their anger at the fact that the bike path has reduced the parking available for community events at St. Monica’s Parish Church nearby.
However, Cohen says the borough has not yet responded to the requests for changes. Some parents and school representatives hope a new administration will come in after the upcoming election and revisit the issue. In the meantime, they encourage caution and patience when navigating the congested area.
Catherine Mother says the Terrebonne bike path has made a difference for families like hers, giving her peace of mind as her son Sam bikes home safely from school. Photo by Joshua Loon.
Considering these challenges, the opposition councillors in the borough suggested that the bike path be closed from late October to April 15, 2025. Still, both the city and borough councils refused the motion.
“What’s most disappointing is Projet Montréal’s refusal to consider any adjustments to the current bike path plan,” Sonny Moroz, opposition city councillor for the Snowdon district. “Even though several of the proposed changes are reasonable and would increase safety for all users.”
Many in the neighbourhood say there is a need to foster a better understanding of transit matters through discussion.
“Discourse on the subject of transportation is multifaceted because every person brings unique experiences to the table,” says Rapoport. “Without proper conversation and understanding, it becomes almost impossible to come up with solutions.”
Painted bike lanes have also been put into question for their safety. Video by Matthew Daldalian.
Rick Hoge became concerned after cycling with his son and encountering issues like drivers still driving the wrong way. He installed Telgraam, where people can view the streets and check the data online.
“The idea to get the detector was to help analyze and communicate the results,” says Hoge.
Rick Hoge installed a device that monitors traffic for all users, not just motorists.
Hoge and his partner also created a Facebook group, Terrebonne Bike Path Open Discussion Group. The purpose is to receive bike path traffic updates from Hoge, who continues to track the path along Terrebonne Street.
The data shows that bike traffic varies seasonally with summer to early fall producing the highest numbers. Hoge compared 2024 bike traffic data to a 2022 city study and discovered equivalent or slightly higher bike counts. He says we need annual data comparisons to achieve meaningful results.
An overview of August 2024 road traffic in the area. Infographic by Joshua Loon.
The system has captured more than 2,000 weekly trips near Wellington School, contrary to the claims that the route is underutilized.
Critics claim the device does not correctly capture the number of cyclists. So Hoge tells them they are welcome to check the results for themselves.
“If you think these numbers are bogus, get yourself a clipboard, go to this location, and you can test it yourself anytime,” he says, adding that people can go online and check the data themselves.
Sourias says borough staff will continue to track street usage patterns on their terms by collecting data to evaluate street performance.
“Stakeholders maintain an open dialogue,” says Sourias, to balance safety with accessibility while adapting to changing community requirements.
