Ensuring Safety of the Community's Citizens Remains the European Parliament's Responsibility

Debate over cycling paths sparks heated responses, illiciting strong, sometimes hostile feelings.

, and Administrator

2025 September 14 . 12:47 AM

3 min read

Ensuring the safety of Community citizens is a responsibility borne by the European Parliament.

Ensuring Safety of the Community's Citizens Remains the European Parliament's Responsibility

In the bustling city of Montreal, a contentious topic has been making waves among its residents - the implementation of bike lanes. The debate, often heated, revolves around three main concerns: safety, parking, and traffic congestion.

Recent studies have shed light on the issue, challenging some long-held beliefs. For instance, the rate of road capacity utilization between Laval and Montreal reaches only 6% over a 24-hour period, indicating that there is ample room for alternative modes of transportation.

One such mode is cycling. Cyclists are not only contributing to the reduction of cars in cities, thus alleviating traffic congestion, but they are also aiding in the promotion of a greener and more sustainable urban landscape. During peak periods, nearly 90% of cars have only one person on board, making cycling a viable and eco-friendly option for many.

However, the topic of bike lanes sparks strong reactions, including aggressive ones. Critics often accuse cyclists of recklessness, citing examples such as going the wrong way, using electric scooters unsafely, and using phones while riding. Yet, a study by Martyna Kluska, Isabel R. Fischer, and Lukas Wintsche titled "Cars or bikes? Surprising results of study reveal who breaks more road laws" suggests that cyclists commit fewer infractions when riding on bike lanes than on the street.

Another concern is the loss of parking spaces due to bike lanes. While it is true that creating bike lanes often results in the loss of on-street parking, the City of Montreal claims that 27% of bike lanes are created without removing parking spaces. Moreover, the number of parking spots lost due to bike lanes, even if tripled, would still represent less than 2% of the city's total parking spots.

Catherine Morency, an expert in mobility at Polytechnique Montreal, calculated that two parking spots benefit an average of 12 drivers per day, compared to 400 daily users of a BIXI station. Furthermore, services like Communauto serve 150,000 households in Montreal, 82% of which don't own a car, freeing up tens of thousands of parking spots.

Jérôme Laviolette, a postdoctoral researcher at McGill University's geography department, has documented the phenomenon of focusing on lost spots while overlooking gained ones, particularly with BIXI stations. He also points out that cyclists commit fewer infractions when riding on bike lanes than on the street, according to a Danish study.

The massive arrival of SUVs, with an increase of 50 cm in the average size of vehicles resulting in a 10% reduction in parking spots, poses a more threatening phenomenon for parking than bike lanes.

In an effort to promote peace regarding bike lanes, the writer makes a plea for understanding, stating that the interests of cyclists and drivers are less opposed than people say. The writer acknowledges the inconvenience of losing parking spaces but argues that each citizen giving up owning a car because they can travel otherwise (bike, public transit, car-sharing) frees up a parking spot.

Closing a lane on the highway to make room for a bike lane might improve traffic flow if the removed lane was used for parking. For instance, a two-way bike lane can accommodate 7500 people per hour, compared to 600 to 1600 for the same space reserved for cars.

As the city continues to evolve, it's crucial to consider all modes of transportation and strive for a balance that benefits everyone. After all, the goal is to create a city that is safe, sustainable, and accessible for all its residents.