It’s an issue that has residents in Montreal’s Parc-Extension neighbourhood divided – bike lanes.
Last year, the city announced plans to install bike lanes on Querbes and Ball Avenues, which would remove 250 parking spaces.
A group called the Coalition for Democracy Montreal is launching a lawsuit against the city, stating that the bike lanes have removed much-needed parking spaces in the area and are impacting residents and businesses.
“What were trying to say to the city and to everyone else is that we are not anti-bike path, we want the bike paths. We want the bike paths and we want them built in such a way where we keep our parking and the bike path to be secured,” said Marc Perez from the Coalition for Democracy Montreal.
On Friday, the Coalition for Democracy Montreal held a meeting discussing where they’re at with the legal proceedings. The group already raised $20,000 and they’re hoping to raise another $25,000.
“We’ve already started the process by interviewing plaintiffs and stuff like that. So some of the stuff has already started on the end, but once we get the money, we’re going full-fledged, we’re getting all the support and everything that we need from the lawyers,” said Perez.
Sia Spanoudakis’ parents, who live in Parc-Extension, had their handicap parking spot replaced by a bike lane, last year.
“Parking has been very difficult, even for us to come and visit. My parents have been basically stayed in the home most of the winter because of the fear of not being able to safely get from one place to another.”
Adding, “We’re not an anti-bike group. We’re a group that wants a democratic voice. We want the public to be represented in the solutions that the city is presenting that impact their daily lives.”
The group is asking for more transparency in the implementation of the plan saying that residents in the area were not consulted.
“They have no place to park. Handicap people who had handicap park in front of their homes now have to walk across the street or down the street to another corner. They’re having difficulties,” said Mary Deros, city councillor of Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension.
In a statement to CityNews, Laurence Lavigne Lalonde, borough mayor of Villeray-Saint-Michel-Parc-Extension, writes, “The bike path on Querbes is implemented because, before our administration, Parc-Extension had no protected bike lanes. With 50% of households not owning a vehicle and bike lanes making up only 1.3% of road infrastructure, it was essential to provide a safe, year-round north-south bike path. Residents had requested such infrastructure during public consultations held in 2019 leading up to the adoption of the borough’s local mobility plan. Querbes was chosen for its safety and for the direct north-south link it creates between Ahuntsic-Cartierville, Parc-Extension and Outremont. We recognize that this may disrupt some residents’ routines, but we believe it will be a valuable addition over time. For businesses concerned about parking or deliveries, we encourage them to reach out to our borough team: we will work with them to find possible solutions, like we do in all the projects that we implement. The borough is currently finalizing the implementation schedule of the bike path. Notices to residents living on Querbes and on neighboring streets will be sent in mid-August to provide them the details of the project. We will not be commenting on the legal proceedings for the time being.”
“We’re here to live together, work together and ensure that there’s a place for everyone,” said Spanoudakis.