Roger-Luc Chayer (Image : Meta AI / Gay Globe)
Inequalities and Responsibilities of Cyclists in Montreal: Cost, Safety, and Regulation During an Election Period
In this election period, both for the city of Montreal and for the whole of Quebec, it is essential to revisit certain facts related to the quality of life of Montrealers, especially regarding the coexistence of cyclists, pedestrians, and motorists, as well as cycling safety and the management of bike lanes in Montreal. The famous coexistence between bicycles, pedestrians, cars, and other means of transport is simply no longer viable. The current administration has not only lost control of the situation as a whole, but it also demonstrates a great incompetence in managing the quality of life of all Montrealers. After all, it is not only about bicycles in the city.
Main Issues Related to Cycling in Montreal
The most concerning aspects of the issue of bicycles in Montreal, which we will develop further below, are as follows:
- 100% of the city’s expenses for bike lanes and other equipment are not assumed by cyclists
- 800 million dollars spent in 7 years on bike lanes in Montreal
- No mandatory helmet
- Cycling on the pedestrian section of Sainte-Catherine Street
- Cyclists pay no parking fees
- Cyclists pay no registration fees
- Cyclists pay no transport tax
- Cyclists are not subject to fuel taxes
- Cyclists are not subject to the carbon tax
- Cyclists are not subject to fines for excessive speed
- Cyclists are not subject to mandatory mechanical inspection
- Cyclists are not required to take driving courses
- Cyclists have no driving records
- Cyclists do not have liability insurance
- Cyclists weaving between cars
- Cyclists not stopping and not respecting municipal regulations
- Cyclists parking anywhere without penalty
- No mandatory winter tires
- Cyclists are not covered by SAAQ compensation
Montreal Municipal Budget and Bike Lane Costs
One of the major irritants for many Montrealers is the huge share of the municipal budget dedicated to cyclists, for whom bike lanes are built at the cost of millions, and all without public consultation. Yet these same cyclists do not make any direct contribution to these expenses.
It may be argued that cyclists, like all citizens, pay municipal taxes, whether they are tenants or owners, and that these include a share for bike lanes. But this argument does not hold. The reality is that all Montrealers pay property taxes, while a tiny minority benefits from bike lanes. Motorists, on the other hand, also pay registration fees, insurance, fuel, and parking, which largely finance the maintenance and development of the road network.
In short, cyclists ride for free on infrastructure paid for almost exclusively by others.
800 Million Dollars in 7 Years for 200 km of New Bike Lanes
The news is full of articles and editorials on the exploding costs of municipal infrastructure. Earlier this year, the mayor of Longueuil denounced the price of one million dollars for a single streetlight, calling it absurd. The situation is similar in most cities in Quebec.
Can it really be considered reasonable to spend 4 million dollars per kilometer of bike lane while Montreal is going through one of the most serious social crises in its history?
By examining the numbers closely, we realize how unreasonable it is to spend such amounts to pave corridors intended for cyclists who contribute very little, if anything, to these enormous expenses.
Cycling on the Pedestrian Section of Sainte-Catherine Street
Another privilege considered absurd by users, merchants, and residents of Sainte-Catherine East Street in Montreal’s Gay Village: cyclists, although perfectly aware that cycling is prohibited there, persist in riding in the pedestrian section, with total disregard for the safety of pedestrians.
Yet every time an accident involves a cyclist, there are protests denouncing the lack of safety they suffer from, even though they are the first to continuously violate road safety rules and regulations.
Road Safety and Cyclist Violations
I cycle every day in Montreal. As a true Montrealer, I witness hundreds of violations of the Highway Safety Code committed by cyclists: they ignore mandatory stops, ride at excessive speeds, run red lights — even those specifically intended for them.
Some will argue that police give tickets. This is false. Sometimes, on Facebook, we see pictures of police talking to cyclists, accompanied by claims that they were fined, but without proof. Too often, on the orders of the city, law enforcement limits itself to information campaigns that cyclists openly ignore once the police leave.
This summer, we have indeed seen cadets or police stop a few cyclists in the Village to force them to walk beside their bike. But except for a few anecdotal cases, tickets are never issued. Above all, Projet Montréal’s electorate should not be upset!
Unequal Financial Responsibilities Between Cyclists and Motorists
Another great inequity lies in the fact that cyclists, although riding on the same road network as other vehicles, do not pay the fees that motorists must pay.
While motorists must pay parking fees in most Montreal boroughs, via meters or permits, cyclists can attach their bikes almost anywhere without any financial contribution. Worse: if a cyclist decides to lock their bike to your fence or property, there is no recourse — no police or municipal intervention to remove the offending bike or issue a fine. Try doing the same thing with your car, scooter, or truck: you will see the difference.
Registration, Insurance, and Cyclist Accountability
Cyclists pay no registration fees to ride on the same road network as other vehicles, which must pay substantial fees to register their vehicles. Yet there are reasons and advantages to registration.
Montreal is the North American city with the highest number of bike thefts. Registering a bike would make it easier to identify if the police recover a stolen bicycle, which would greatly improve the recovery of property and fight against theft.
According to the SAAQ, in Quebec, vehicle registration serves several essential purposes, mainly related to safety, identification, and regulatory management.
Bicycles pay no transport tax, no fuel tax, and no carbon tax. Yet these contributions are required for cars and other vehicles and serve to maintain the road network used by cyclists.
Driving Courses, Records, and Insurance for Cyclists
Bicycles are not subject to speeding fines, mandatory mechanical inspections, driving courses, or driving records. Yet these are obligations imposed on all other vehicles — motorcycles, cars, tractors, trucks, etc. — and not without reason.
When a car is so damaged and poorly maintained that its body is barely held together, it becomes dangerous for others and can cause accidents, sometimes fatal. This is why, in some cases, police remove such vehicles from circulation.
Imposing a driving course aims to teach drivers the rules of traffic. But there is great inequity when, beside me, rides a cyclist who has absolutely no knowledge of the rules to follow. This can also be a source of accidents, notably due to the excessive speed of some cyclists who use streets as their personal “Tour de France.”
Every driver has a driving record managed by the SAAQ. Mine is impeccable — obtained free via SAAQ Clic, by the way. Yet no cyclist has a driving record. Such a record is essential when renewing a driver’s license or obtaining insurance.
Liability Insurance for Cyclists
Every road vehicle must, by law, be covered by basic liability insurance. Obviously, accidents caused by cyclists that do not involve other vehicles are generally not covered by the SAAQ. But cyclists are not required to have insurance to cover damages they cause, whatever their degree of responsibility.
This happens very often. Collisions between cyclists, or with pedestrians, caused by excessive speed or failure to obey traffic lights, can cause bodily injury or damage to vehicles and property.
Obtaining compensation in such cases is often pure naivety. To ride on public roads, regardless of mode of transport, everyone should be required to have insurance covering potential damages caused to others. This is elementary.
Winter Tires: A Safety Issue
Finally, what is good for dogs should also be good for cats. Winter tires are mandatory for vehicles for safety reasons. Yet bicycles are excluded and can ride with any tread at will, increasing the risk of accidents.
Conclusion: A Necessary Reform for Montreal
This substantial report highlights the inequalities and lack of accountability for cyclists. The fault lies with authorities who refuse or neglect to impose on cyclists the same financial burden and obligations as those required of other vehicles.
Such favoritism — or apparent discrimination — is a constant irritant for Montrealers who travel differently than by bike and who feel disrespected, even though they assume significant responsibilities.
Could a future municipal administration improve some of the issues raised in this report? With political will, it is entirely possible.
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