SAINT-LAURENT, QC, Aug. 16, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ - For over 10 years, Saint-Laurent, in collaboration with Mobilité alternative (MOBA, the Transport division of Développement économique Saint-Laurent - DESTL), has introduced a series of measures within a strategy to promote alternative, active, sustainable transportation. This strategy is producing results with the upcoming opening of self-service bicycle stations in the Borough, within a positive context from now on. All this is part of the BIXI network expansion planned for 2019 by Ville de Montréal in 5 more boroughs, including Saint-Laurent. Working in close cooperation with BIXI Montréal, the Borough has opted for 7-speed bicycles, unlike the traditional BIXIs, which have only 3.
"Welcoming more and more new residents and workers to our borough, the Saint-Laurent Administration must respond to the new mobility needs," emphasized Saint-Laurent Mayor Alan DeSousa. "We also wanted to prepare well for the REM electric transit network in 2020. We are therefore continuing our efforts to offer the best possible quality of life, and so for the past few years, we have been focusing on the importance of developing an alternative to single-occupancy vehicles on our territory. This policy is part of our Transportation Plan (2009-2011) and our Local Mobility Plan adopted in 2017 and will also enable our residents and workers to access the network already covered by BIXI. Moreover, it will better connect the major centres of interest in Saint-Laurent to the other sectors of Montréal."
The Borough has gained significant experience from the first pilot project to introduce BIXIs in Saint-Laurent, which tested the installation of 5 stations in 2010 over a period of several months. Among the measures put in place since then is the expansion of the bicycle path network, from 2 km in 2009 to 55 km today. In 2016, Saint-Laurent also launched the development of a véloroute (bicycle route) that will provide a nearly 10-km bicycle link along the Deux-Montagnes railway line, thereby improving access to the Borough of Ahuntsic-Cartierville and the Town of Mount Royal.
In addition, safety has been increased at the crossings over Sainte-Croix and Montpellier overpasses and since 2017, a poster campaign also been encouraging motorists to maintain a safety distance from cyclists. And lastly, Saint-Laurent is taking part, at the present time, in the electric BIXI pilot project, from August 15 to November 15, 2018, with a view to a possible larger-scale roll-out of these bicycles.
The Borough's commitment to sustainable development and active transportation is not new, however. Since 2004, in collaboration with MOBA, Saint-Laurent has provided its employees with access to self-service bicycles through the AccèsVélo program.
These measures have developed a true cycling culture in Saint-Laurent. The Borough is consequently participating in the VÉLOSYMPATHIQUE movement launched in 2015 by Vélo Québec and for which 5 Saint-Laurent establishments have already obtained certification. All in all, this strategy is in line with the present outstanding enthusiasm for new mobility trends in the use of active and collective transportation.
SOURCE Ville de Montréal - Arrondissement de Saint-Laurent
Source: Marc-Olivier Fritsch, chargé de communications, Direction d'arrondissement, Division des communications et des relations avec les citoyens, 514 855-6000, ext. 4342, [email protected]; Information: Marc-Olivier Fritsch, Media lines: 438 368-3318 or 514 825-6231
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