Montreal to review four bikes paths in ‘proactive’ audit amid ‘safety issues, complaints’

Montreal’s mayor is moving forward with an election promise to review the city’s bike network to determine if there are serious safety risks.

The Martinez Ferrada administration says it will launch an “in-depth technical analysis” of the existing network, beginning with four bike paths across the city.

It will also review bike path projects already under study or in the design phase “to ensure they meet best practices in safety, allow for smooth mobility, and are adapted to everyone’s needs.”

The mayor says the bike path audit – something she promised to undertake within 100 days of her mandate – follows “recurring issues” and “complaints received.” The goal is to assess safety issues faced by cyclists, pedestrians and motorists alike using data collection and on-site observation.

The four existing bike paths that will be reviewed are:

• Meilleur Street (Ahuntsic-Cartierville)
• Rachel Street (Plateau-Mont-Royal)
• Côte-Sainte-Catherine Road (Outremont)
• de la Commune Street (Ville-Marie)

Officials say the idea is to learn from each location, and use those lessons to improve bike lanes across Montreal.

“They were selected based on safety issues, complaints, petitions received,” said Alan DeSousa, the executive committee member responsible for mobility and infrastructure.

“Until recently, there was an evaluation, but it was only triggered when you had a fatal collision. And I don’t think anyone wants to wait for a fatal collision. So we would like to be proactive.”

The projects currently under study or in the design phase that will be reviewed are:

• Viau Street (Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve)
• Berri Street (Ville-Marie)
• Saint-Urbain Street (Ville-Marie)
• Bellechasse Street (Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie)

The city says it’s also working with several boroughs to improve safety issues on Hochelaga, Terrebonne, and Gouin streets, and Henri-Bourassa Boulevard.

“Everything we learn in doing whatever measures that are necessary to render the older bike paths more secure will feed our knowledge in terms of better conception, better design, better rollout,” DeSousa said, adding that the audit will begin after the end of winter.

No bike lanes being dismantled

Mayor Martinez Ferrada vowed the city won’t be looking to rip out any bike lanes in the time the audit is being carried out.

“Today we’re not announcing any (dismantlement),” the mayor said.

But opposition interim leader Ericka Alneus says her party is holding its breath.

“Okay, there’s an audit coming, fair enough,” Alneus said. “But, are we going to respect what it says?

“We probably know that there are some paths that need to be widened. Are we going to do it?”

Biking advocates argue the biggest problems are already well known, citing gaps in the city’s biking network.

They say instead of studying bike lanes again, the city could already be fixing what riders deal with every day.

“To single out a single type of infrastructure as needing an audit sends a signal that that infrastructure is dangerous,” said Mathieu Murphy-Perron with Vélorution.

“It needs to be widened, it’s a lot of people on it, the intersections need a bit of love, but nobody’s ever died on Rachel.”

What are Montrealers saying?

CityNews spoke to some bikers on Rachel Street who say they feel relatively safe.

“I wouldn’t say it’s the most dangerous bike lane I’ve seen,” one person said.

“Cars don’t really notice the bikes, but it’s not a regular thing,” said another.

“We’re separated from the cars, so that’s all I need,” added a third.

Other bikers pointed to familiar winter hazards as the real obstacles between them and a smoother ride.

“One week the bike lane is clean, the other week it is not,” one Montrealer complained.

“Too much snow, (and in) some places, ice,” said another.

Soraya Martinez Ferrada assumed the mayor’s office on Nov. 13, 2025, meaning she’ll have been in office for 100 days by Feb. 21.