Since 1999, Montreal has regularly featured in various lists of the best cycling cities in America and the world. This time, it's Copenhagenize that has just included Montreal in its list. But what's in it for Montreal? Five things in particular: a coherent cycling network that covers the entire island, a well-established cycling culture, an effective cycling lobby, cycling events that make the city famous, and the commitment of the Quebec government and the City of Montreal to investing in the development of cycling infrastructures.
If Montreal is doing so well, despite the cycling craze in cities such as Vancouver, Portland (Oregon), New York and Chicago, it's because time has taken its toll here. Montreal has been cycling for over 30 years. The first bike path (Canal Lachine) was built in the late 70s, and the bulk of the cycling network was put in place in the early 80s, before being redeveloped in 2005. The Tour de l'Île, which helped get Quebecers back in the saddle, will celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2014, and BIXI is celebrating its 5th season!
No, cycling in Montreal is nothing new. The growing popularity of cycling over the past 30 years has given the city the legitimacy to integrate it into its various policies and action plans. This is the recipe for Montréal à vélo.
There's still work to be done to make Montreal even more cyclist-friendly and comfortable. But we're looking forward to what's to come, especially when we see how far we've come. We've been saying it for 30 years, and history proves us right.
