In Montreal, cycling has been at the heart of the city’s urban transformation for several years. But since the election of Soraya Martinez-Ferrada and Ensemble Montréal, whose ideology favours the car, several setbacks have been announced.
In its video Montreal Elected a Pro-Car Mayor. Here’s What’s Happening., the popular Montreal-based channel Oh The Urbanity! offers an initial assessment of this change in direction.
A change in tone
The video’s conclusion is clear: Montreal is not dismantling its cycling network overnight, but:
→ The mayor seems allergic to the word “bike” and instead speaks more broadly about “mobility.”
→ The administration avoids addressing criticism and acts as though its decisions have broad consensus.
→ Cycling projects now appear to be pushed to the background, behind the priority given to cars, parking and through traffic.
For Oh The Urbanity!, this shift in language is concerning. It gives the impression that progress on active mobility is no longer being fully embraced.
Concrete setbacks
The video points to several recent decisions that fuel these concerns:
→ the budget for expanding the cycling network has been reduced;
→ one third of the Hochelaga Street project has been cancelled;
→ BIXI funding has been cut in half;
→ the planned express cycling corridor on Lacordaire Boulevard has been suspended;
→ an audit has been launched on eight streets and could lead to the removal of bike lanes;
→ on Atateken Street, sections of sidewalk were removed to recreate unnecessary parking spaces, purely for ideological reasons.
These decisions do not necessarily mean the end of cycling in Montreal, but they do show a weakening of the political will to transform public space.
Backlash as an excuse
Oh The Urbanity! acknowledges that there is criticism of bike lanes. But according to the channel, this discontent is often used as a pretext to slow down necessary projects.
However, any urban transformation creates resistance. Redistributing public space in favour of pedestrians, cyclists and public transit inevitably means reducing the space given to cars — but ultimately, it benefits everyone.
Conclusion: The end of a decade of progress?
Montreal remains a North American reference point for cycling. The network exists, it is used, and it continues to be part of the city’s identity.
But without a clear vision, these gains become fragile. The next major tests will be corridors such as Jean-Talon and Henri-Bourassa.
For Oh The Urbanity!, the question is simple: will Montreal continue moving forward as a cycling capital, or is it entering a period of stagnation?
Who is Oh The Urbanity!?
Based in Montreal, Oh The Urbanity! is a YouTube channel specializing in urbanism, sustainable mobility and urban design. Its team analyzes cities through field observations, data and concrete examples.
Watch the full video:
Source :Montreal Elected a Pro-Car Mayor. Here’s What’s Happening. par Oh The Urbanity!
