Montreal cyclists create ‘human bike lane’ to raise awareness about safety

On Saturday, cyclists and their supporters formed a row along the street, beginning at the crossing of Parc and Mont-Royal avenues, where a memorial “ghost bike” stands in memory of Andrea Rovere. Rovere was a cyclist who tragically lost their life in September 2021 when they were struck by a truck, according to a report in the CBC.

The group of demonstrators occupied one lane of Parc Avenue, effectively transforming it into a makeshift bike lane for a limited time.

The improvised “human bike lane” extended a few blocks to the north, aiming to reach another bicycle entirely painted in white and adorned with flowers. This particular bicycle commemorated the location where Suzanne Châtelain was killed ten years ago while cycling.

Châtelain’s death marked the inaugural ghost bike installment by Vélo Fantôme, the organization that organized the protest on Saturday.

Photos de l’événement
Lëa-Kim Châteauneuf > https://t.co/39Unyv11yK
Zvi Leve > https://t.co/ER4QvfJFYE

Vélo Fantôme existe depuis 10 ans et c’est un rappel que les décès de piéton•nes et cyclistes sont évitables et nous avons les solutions. Rappelons-le aux décideur•ses

— Coalition mobilité active Montréal (@CoalitionMAM) July 23, 2023

“We talk about these collisions and then nothing happens so it has to change,” a spokesperson for the organization, Séverine Le Page, said.

She said she feels unsafe while riding along Parc Avenue and would never allow her children to ride on that road alongside vehicles.

Plateau-Mont-Royal councillor Marie Plourde spoke with demonstrators while holding her own Montrealers form ‘human bike lane’ to raise safety concerns for cyclistsbike. She conveyed her understanding of their concerns, acknowledging that some of those concerns resonated with her as well. However, she couldn’t confirm whether a dedicated bike lane would be implemented on Parc Avenue.

“This is really a complicated issue, but we really want to do something and something permanent,” she said.

According to the city’s cycling infrastructure plan, typically revised every four years, does not include any indication of a new bike lane being introduced on Parc Avenue north of Mont-Royal Avenue.