• Active transport and health

Bicycles are a key component of sustainable travel in an urban environment and serve as an alternative to cars.

The City is reaching out to cyclists by creating a favourable and safe setting and by providing traffic conditions to accomodate their everyday trips. In fact, the Plan considers bicycles to be a full-fledged mode of transportation for all kinds of trips, including work, school, shopping and recreation.

To achieve this, the Plan supports urban development focused on denser and more diversified neighbourhoods that foster bicycle use by bringing cyclists closer to their destinations. This strategy includes a plan for a continuous, efficient bikeway network designed to improve access to the City's main activity areas, particularly its schools and commercial and employment areas.

Bikeways must be integrated safely and harmoniously with the areas they cross, particularly along the road and rail networks. Bikeways are not always appropriate in the urban environment. Where they are, however, the Plan recommends a number of bikeway design solutions that are harmonious with their surroundings, like designated routes and on-street bicycle lanes. Traffic calming measures should go hand-in-hand with this bikeway concept.

The City also plans to establish adequate, safe parking facilities for bicycles, especially in workplaces and educational institutions, either inside buildings or in areas that are sheltered from the weather. Ideally, cyclists would also benefit from changing rooms and showers.

The City favours the integration of the bicycle and public transportation networks, by facilitating modal transfer through quality facilities that are adapted to the needs of cyclists (see Action 14.2). In light of this, the metro and commuter train stations that are served by a bikeway will have priority in the development of bicycle parking areas.

To encourage cycling and mode transfer, it is important that cyclists feel that their bicycles are safe from theft. Metro and commuter rail stations will receive priority consideration for lockers and secure enclosures for bicycles.

To better support connectivity between cycling and public transit, certain transit authorities have already equipped their buses with bicycle racks. Montréal can take inspiration from their experiences. Certain taxicabs in Montréal also offer this possibility to cyclists.