Driving/Cycling, Montreal v. Burque: Another in a Series of Differences
I’ve spent the last few days compiling a list outlining how hard driving is in Montreal versus cycling, but the list has gotten too long for a single post. So I’ll do everybody a favor and post a few observations in a series that can easily be digested and/or ignored.
Let’s start with the positives, and look at cycling lights,, signage (yes, that’s a word) and accoutrement (that’s a real word “we” stole from the French):
Intersection lights solely for cyclists, here at Rue Boyer and Rue Villeray in Montreal’s Little Italy. By the way, “La Route Vert 1” is Quebec’s most famous bicycle route, going all the way up the St. Laurence from west of Montreal to Gaspé hundreds of Km away.Passenger-side Parking Protected Cycle Track (that’s a “PPPCT,” if you’re scoring at home), here on Rue Boyer. Boyer’s cycle track runs several kilometers and is equally urban-idyllic, if that’s a word/phrase, the entire stretch.Spot the bike route signage (yes, that’s a word). As in, this bike route signage is easily to see and follow. I believe this is along Boulevard Saint Joseph in Vieux-Rosemont, a busy road that still allow for bike routing due to the Bus lane (see symbol).Montreal has a FAR higher ratio of stop signs. Here on Saint Zotique, a fairly busy “collector” there’s a stop sign, immediately followed by a yellow sign warning of another stop sign a few feet away. And yes, if you’re wondering, Montreal police have stopped enforcing old laws forcing cyclists to stop at stop signs and instead called to change the law. To repeat, the Police told lawmakers to make it possible for cyclists to run stop signs.After riding that 50 lb. Bixi bike share, you need a rest at the red light (which cyclists do have to stop at). Here’s a hand-rail (unused as I needed a hand for the camera) and foot-rail at Boyer and Rue Jean-TalonWe’ll move on to how difficult driving is in Montreal next time, but as a teaser…here we are on busy Rue Jean-Talon Ouest near the famous market. Note the speed limit. 50 Km/hour…that’s 31 mph. In Burque, this road would be posted at 40 mph, maybe 45. Also note the on-street parking.
Alright, enough for now. We’ll move to the driving side of things in the next installment. Have a great weekend, everybody!
P.S.: You might have the impression based on the above that the “cyclists don’t have to stop at stop sign” thing was universally loved up here, unlike the seeming universal loathing about the idea back in ABQ. Au contraire…read the comments to this Montreal Gazette story.
The difference isn’t the level of loathing, by some/many. Oh, it’s still there. The difference…well more about that next time, too.
Better Burque 