Cyclists find Avenue du Parc perilous, laments a collective statement

Tragedy on "Deadly" Parc Avenue: Calls for Bike Lanes and Road Safety

In the heart of Montreal, the intersection of Parc Avenue and Rue Bernard has become a site of sorrow, as yet another life has been lost to traffic accidents. Last November, an 11-year-old child was hit by a truck while crossing the street, marking the latest in a series of tragedies that have plagued this busy thoroughfare.

The death of Andrea Rovere, a cyclist fatally struck by a truck on Parc Avenue in September 2021, has reignited calls for action. Robert "Bicycle Bob" Silverman, a legendary figure in cycling activism and co-founder of the Monde à bicyclette group, had long advocated for bike lanes on Parc Avenue. Despite a promise from the Ministry of Transportation 40 years ago, the bike lanes have yet to be implemented.

Vélorution Montreal, an advocacy group for cyclists, has counted eight deaths on Parc Avenue in the last 12 years, including four cyclists and four pedestrians. The group organised a die-in to pay tribute to the victims and denounce the political inaction that puts lives at risk. A die-in is a form of protest in which participants lie on the ground to simulate death. The latest die-in took place at the scene of the collision and brought together nearly 200 people.

Le Page, a city councillor, has expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of bike lane improvements on Parc Avenue, despite changes made at Rue Bernard and Avenue du Mont-Royal. He suggested that a bike lane, even on one side, could be installed on Parc Avenue. Le Page credited Silverman for the existence of bike lanes in Montreal and emphasized the need for drivers to drive slower on Parc Avenue, which resembles an expressway with three lanes in each direction and lacks bike lanes.

In a symbolic gesture, the City of Montreal unveiled a segment of the Bixi network named in honor of Robert "Bicycle Bob" Silverman. A white "ghost bike" also commemorates the tragedies at the northwest corner of the intersection of Avenue du Mont-Royal.

However, the city has yet to announce when the bike lane on Parc Avenue will be installed. Meanwhile, the call for road safety and bike lanes continues to resonate among Montreal's residents, as they strive to make the city's streets safer for all users.