Montreal cycling up in arms about new fines.

Montreal cycling groups are concerned that the new changes to the Quebec road safety rules, jeopardise the cities cycling culture. The Montreal government has been petitioning provincial authorities to change traffic rules to benefit cyclists.

Credit: Bixi

Montreal’s government wants to see bicycles treated differently to cars, allowing cyclists to go through stop signs, and pedestrians’ lights, (at least legally). The Quebec government has not relaxed rules on cyclists, instead increasing fines on current offences by up to 400 per cent.

“If everyone had to stop at stop signs no one would cycle” Says … an anglophone pensioner, who has cycled in Montreal most of her life Such and such says that the fines have improved some things, she has noticed more lights and reflectors.

Magali Bebronne of Velo Quebec says the group is concerned about Montreal’s cycling following the Australia model. In the 1990 Australia introduced mandatory helmeting laws, with a raft of new fines designed to protect Australia’s large cycling population. The result was a massive drop in cycling rates across Australia.

Brebonne doesn’t believe these changes will lead to a drop in cycling rates, “we don’t think that Montreal will lose its cycling… however we will fight against these changes”

Jason Madger transport reporter for the Montreal Gazette says that Montreal city government needs to take more responsibility in protecting cyclists that it is the cities duty to provide better infrastructure in Montreal something the provincial government can only take a limited part in.

Valerie Plantes administration which has portrayed itself as a cycling administration has been unable to change the provinces mind on this issue.

“Voters are mostly car drivers” said Madger summing up the problem in Quebec.

Peter McQueen, city councillor for NDG, says that the government is prioritising improving infrastructure and that Montreal will fight against the changes. As a cyclist McQueen dislikes the hikes in fines and says they are doing little to stop infractions. McQueen believes the administration is funding expansions in the segregated cycling pathways.

“Personally I would like to see the maissoneuve path become one way, with another path located on a parallel street”

George Iny of the Association pour la protection des automobilistes agrees that a focus on greater infrastructure is a step in the right direction. However to protect cyclists currently wants cyclists to be taught defensive cycling especially in regards to trucks and buses

“You might have right of way, but if a truck doesn’t see you.”

Many of Montreal’s cycling fatalities are caused by cyclists going under the wheels of large vehicles while in their blind spots.

Despite the changes to the road rules, not much seems to have changed on Montreal’s bike paths and the city seems a long way from the Australia model.

McQueen has a message for other cyclists “Please be careful…”