Montreal lacks infrastructure for “micromobility”, according to a study

A new study carried out by researchers from McGill University reveals that the space intended for “micromobility” – in particular the bicycle, the scooter and the roller board – covers a significantly lower proportion of Montreal territory than its weight in the trips of residents of the metropolis.

In the city, the road space dedicated to micromobility occupies just over a square kilometer, compared to 42.8 km2 for the car.

Thus, according to researchers’ calculations, 98 % of road infrastructure is devoted to motorists, while users of active means of transport share the remaining 2 %.

However, micromobility represents 5 % of trips to Montreal, report the authors of the study (new window)which based on the data of the Origin-Destination survey of 2018.

The cycle infrastructure, we may multiply them, they do not follow the growth of the popularity of this mode of transportreacted the director of program organizations of the Vélo Québec, Magali Bebronne, in an interview on the program Midi info.

We saw with the results of the survey [métropolitaine 2023] Mobility perspective that the share of cycling in the last five years has almost doubled at the Montreal scale. So, probably that if we were doing the exercise again today, the observation would be even more strikingshe added.

Significant differences between the districts

The Plateau-Mont-Royal is the arrondissement where the gap between the weight of micromobility in the movements and the space devoted to it is the largest.

Almost 22 % of journeys are made by active transport, even if the cycle paths occupy less than 5 % of the roadway.

According to Ms. Bebronne, the popularity of the Express Vélo Network (Rev) on rue Saint-Denis demonstrates the attraction of active transport. There would even be traffic bulletins to do so the REV is occupied in Saint-Denisshe illustrates.

On the other hand, Rivière-des-Prairies-Peinte-aux-Trembles is one of the districts where active transport is the least popular, with 0.48 % of the trips, while it is in the middle of the peloton in terms of cycle infrastructure.

The authors of the study calculated for each district a index of equitable distribution of infrastructure (REI)in order to assess the metropolitan sectors where needs for cycle infrastructure is the most important.

The REI aims to help urban planners, political decision -makers and activists to communicate with the public about reallocating proposals [des infrastructures routières]by positioning research on the allocation of urban space in response to citizen opposition to the reorganization of streetscan we read in the study published in the Journal of Cycling and Micromobility Research.

In recent years, the development of the cycle network in Montreal has sparked many residents that denounce in particular the loss of parking spaces and the slowdown in car travel.

Double the extent of cycle paths without major impacts for cars

The authors of the study also note that Montreal could double the space devoted to its cycle infrastructure without substantially affecting that intended for cars.

The space of road by motorist would be reduced by a little less than 5 % in Rosemont-the little-country, which would make it the most affected arrondissement.

The proportion of the space for cars would not drop below 90 % in any districtcan we read in the study.

According to Vélo Québec, such research allows to get out of perceptions and really based on data When you evaluate the possibility of reorganizing road infrastructure.