Montreal smashes cycling records during public transit strike

Montreal's transit strike has left some commuters stranded, but others took matters into their own hands — and feet — setting new records for the number of cyclists and Bixi users taking to the streets.

The Saint-Denis Street bike path — part of Montreal's Réseau express vélo (REV) — saw unprecedented use Wednesday, setting multiple all-time records with a 71 per cent surge over typical traffic, according to Eco-Counter, a company that monitors cycling activity in Montreal.

"I'm well aware of the numbers. It's something we track on a daily basis. I was still surprised at the number of cyclists at certain key points," said David Beitel, data services lead at Eco-Counter, discussing Wednesday's surge.

"All records were essentially shattered related to cycling in a specific day, cycling in a specific hour."

Jean-François Rheault, CEO of Vélo Québec, says devices installed by the city to count the number of passing bicycles are showing record or near-record levels since the strike began Monday. The strike has either scrapped or reduced service transit services outside of rush hour.

Rheault says a bicycle counter at the corner of Saint-Denis and Rachel Street recorded more than 11,000 trips on Tuesday — a first.

According to an Eco-Counter news release, the number at that same intersection climbed even higher on Wednesday, with 14,676 bicycle tips registered.

WATCH | Cyclists take to the streets as bus and Metro services stop: 

See Montreal’s streets and paths fill with bikes during transit strike

4 days ago

Duration 1:12

While reduced public transit has convinced many to seek alternative modes of transport for their commute, some say crowded bike paths can become a safety hazard.

The underpass at Saint-Denis and des Carrières Avenue saw 14,446 crossings, the company says. That figure marks a 36 per cent increase over the previous record of 10,642, set just over a week earlier on June 3.

Two other major cycling corridors also passed the 10,000 daily crossings mark:

• Berri Street–Maisonneuve Boulevard: 10,823 crossings
• De la Commune Street–King Street: 10,135 crossings

These numbers are well above the daily averages for these locations, confirming a widespread increase in cycling in Montreal amid public transit disruptions. The statistics, sourced from the City of Montreal's open data, were analyzed by Eco-Counter, the company says.

Peak rush-hour traffic 

Bixi Montréal told Radio-Canada it recorded a new daily trip record of 98,500 rides on Tuesday. This surpasses the previous record of 83,897 trips, set just one day earlier.

Beitel said the number of cyclists taking advantage of Montreal's busiest bike paths, like the REV on Saint-Denis, was already increasing. On peak days in the summer, it was already hitting 10,000.

He noted the REV consists of unidirectional bike paths on each side of the street, and the lanes are wide enough to allow cyclists to pass each other.

Just in the peak hour alone, from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., there were 1,761 bike passages recorded on Saint-Denis at the corner of Rachel, he said.

"Again, huge number," he said. "It really speaks to the efficiency of cycling in bike lanes. It can really move people much more efficiently at these peak periods."

Rheault said some bicycle paths are so crowded that riders have to wait through more than one traffic light cycle to cross the street.

STM negotiations continue

This news comes as negotiations continue between Montreal's public transit authority and its striking maintenance workers. The first mediation session is scheduled to begin on Monday.

About 2,400 maintenance workers have been on strike for four days after more than a year of negotiations.

The first three days of the strike limited bus and Metro rides to specific windows during rush-hour periods and late at night.

On Thursday, service frequency was increased, with bus and Metros doing half of the regular trips outside of those windows. On Friday, the service will return to normal for the Canadian Grand Prix weekend.

Bruno Jeannotte, president of the maintenance workers' union, told reporters that the mediator will meet separately with both sides to understand each party's position.

The strike is scheduled to end next Tuesday, but Jeannotte has said the union is prepared to escalate if a deal isn't reached.