Vendôme Metro station to get protected bike lane

Cyclists are welcoming news that a new protected bike path will be built in front of the Vendôme Metro station.

The stretch of the de Maisonneuve Boulevard bike path in front of the station is notorious among cyclists for the high volume of STM buses constantly entering and leaving the Metro station.

The City of Montreal is now planning to improve the stretch between Claremont Avenue and Décarie Boulevard by eliminating parking spots and dividing de Maisonneuve Boulevard into three lanes — a one-way lane for buses, a two-way lane for bikes and a two-way lane for cars.

In a novel twist, the bike path will run up the centre of de Maisonneuve Boulevard. Concrete curbs on either side of the path will protect cyclists from bus and car traffic in the outside lanes.

Notre-Dame-de-Grâce City Councillor Peter McQueen says addressing the dangers for cyclists at the spot is long overdue.

“The Vendôme danger zone has been a horrible place for cyclists for decades now,” he told CBC News.  

The protected bike path will only be ready for the summer of 2015. Until then, the current bike lanes will get a fresh coat of paint.

A two-way path marked by plastic pylons is in the works for August.

Bike ride to borough council meeting

The NDG Cyclist and Pedestrian Association is planning an evening ride tonight to raise awareness about the need for better cycling paths in the borough. 

The ride is the fourth annual ride to the Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Côte-des-Neiges borough council meeting.

The ride sets out from Notre-Dame-de-Grâce Park at the corner of Marcil Avenue and and Côte-Saint-Antoine Road tonight at 6 p.m.