Westmount unveils 85 new bike racks
New spots to lock-up, to the relief of cyclists
Westmount cyclists searching for a safe place to lock up have a reason to celebrate this week as the city gets to work installing 85 new bike racks.
In May, Westmount shifted away from coin meters to a pay-by-plate parking system. As the new system does not require parking meters, the city has been pulling them off the streets. The problem? Cyclists no longer have a place to lock up.
- Westmount's pay-by-plate parking comes into effect
- New Westmount parking system creates mass confusion, merchant says
Westmount is removing its all of its 689 parking meters, but 85 of them have been repurposed into bike racks.
"What was a parking meter is now being decapitated, and on top of that we stuck a bike rack," explains Westmount mayor Peter Trent.
The bike racks are being installed on Greene Avenue, Victoria Avenue, Sherbrooke Street and other nearby streets. The racks have two rings, and each can hold two bikes.
Trent says the installation should be complete in two days.
The removal of parking meters was initially met with discontent from cyclists, who complained there was no space to lock-up.
Trent thinks the discontent stemmed from a lack of knowledge about the city's plans, and hopes that cyclists' concerns are assuaged now that the racks have been introduced.
"I would hope that we now get some bouquets instead of getting some brick bags," said Trent.