We've all heard the quote «If you build it, they will come», a derivation of the famous quote from the American film Fields of Dreams. In the world of cycling, this quote has long been associated with the development of bike lanes. If we forget the thankless period of trails that led nowhere in the late 70s and 80s, this image is indisputable. As soon as a path is deployed, it is truly taken by storm. A few years ago, during paving work on the Véloroute de la Chaudière in Beauce (Route verte), workers had a hard time keeping cyclists who couldn't wait any longer behind the steamrollers... It was the same scenario in 1999, when the Corridor des Cheminots was inaugurated in Quebec City. And the list could go on. In Montreal last summer, cycling congestion on certain stretches of downtown even made the headlines!
Even if the results of several automatic meter readings are not yet complete, 2012 confirms that the significant increase in cycling noted in L'état du vélo au Québec in 2010 is truly an underlying trend. Increases have already been noted on the Véloroute des Bleuets, the P'tit Train du Nord, the Estriade and several other sections of the Route verte. In Montreal, the compilation to date again reveals spectacular increases on several routes, up to 29 % on the Berri trail between De Maisonneuve and Ontario. The trend towards increased use of bicycles for transport purposes is once again confirmed. The same is true of our neighbors in Ottawa. With the installation of the separated lanes on Laurier Street, it was noted that cycle traffic had tripled on this axis, that the number of cars had decreased, as had the number of accidents involving cyclists and motorists.
We're talking about lanes here, but there are also all those traffic calming measures deployed in several Quebec cities, which also benefit cyclists. Next spring, our eyes will be riveted on the bicycle boulevard Père-Marquette, in Quebec City, which is nearing completion. In addition to calming an entire neighborhood, and inspired by what is being done in Vancouver, this development will give cyclists a real priority. It's a safe bet that cyclists will be out in force!
In view of the general increase in bicycle traffic, we are asking municipalities to step up the pace when it comes to developing bicycle-friendly infrastructure. To achieve this, the Quebec government must renew its Green Fund and substantially increase its budget. This would certainly be a highly profitable investment!
