Cyclist safety in Montreal: What are municipal parties proposing?

The death of a young cyclist on Mount Royal this week has reignited calls for the city to introduce measures to protect cyclists on Montreal's streets.

Hundreds of cyclists rode up the mountain in a silent memorial on Friday to remember ClmentOuimet, 18, who was killed after collidingwith an SUV that made an illegal U-turn on Camillien Houde Way.

• Memorial bike ride honours young cyclist killed on Mount Royal

Cyclist safety is a longstandingissue in Montreal and it has now become a majortopic of debateinthe city'songoing municipal election campaign.

Here is what the mainmunicipal parties have proposed.

quipe Denis Coderre

Denis Coderre, who is running for re-election as Montreal mayor,said he's putting together a working group to look at the idea of limiting through traffic on Mount Royal.

That could mean vehicles would be able to reach the belvederelookout or certain places in Mount Royal Park, but not use Camillien-Houde Way as a shortcut to get over the mountain.

Coderre saidonly lettingbuses use the road as a thoroughfare may also be an option.

• Smooth operator: The Denis Coderre method to staying in power

The working group will include the city, cycling advocacy groupVlo Qubec andles Amis de la montagne, among other groups.

Unveiled last year, the city's Vision Zero plan includes measures such as lowering speed limits in certain residential areas and near schools, better road signaling,and refurbishing intersections deemed dangerous for cyclists.

Coderre has also said he wants cyclists to be able to more easily cross the TurcotInterchange.

ProjetMontral

Projet Montral mayoral candidate Valrie Plantesaid a low speed limit could make Camillien-HoudeWay safer.

She has proposed separating the bicycle path from vehicle lanes on Mount Royal.

Plantehas also promised to develop a 140-kilometre, city-widebicycle network that will be separated from vehicle traffic.

• The charm offensive: Valerie Plante's charge for City Hall

She said 35 kilometres of bike lanes could be built annually over a four-year periodto complete the project.

Plante has also proposed holding public consultations to look into making underpasses and overpasses safer for cyclists. That could include making bike paths one-way in the direction of vehicle traffic, she said.