Plateau introduces more speedbumps, closed-off alleyways

Montreal's PlateauMont-Royalborough is introducing new measures to make alleywayssafer following an accident earlier this month that put a six-year-old boy in hospital.

The measures include installing more speed bumps and blocking off some of them entirely using flower planters and other gardenlandscaping structures.

• Accident that put boy in hospital puts spotlight on alleyway risks
• Sharp increase in major injuries and deaths for Montreal cyclists

Borough mayor Luc Ferrandezsaid in a statement Tuesday he wants to make sure alleyways aresafe for children and adults, whether on "foot,bicycle or scooter."

Pedestrians and cyclists in the area seem open to the new plans.

"There have been many issues with cyclists in the streets in the past years so maybe putting greener alleys for cyclists and the people is a good idea,"Maxime Lavoie said.

Resident LauraCerminarahopes new regulations will be implemented to make alleyways safer for young children.

"Me now with the stroller its okay because I know to look out," Cerminara said. "But with my two-year-old who doesn't want to be in the stroller I have to constantly tell him to look and wait."

A push for better measures across Montreal

Ferrandezencouraged other boroughs, including the Southwest, where the accident occurred,to follow suit.

The boy, who remains in hospital in critical condition, was riding his bike May 1 when he was struck by a truck coming out of an alley.

The accident happened near the corner of Laurendeau and de Biencourt streets in the Cte-Saint-Paul neighbourhood.

On Monday, some residents held a protest to call on the city to make alleyways safer.

In a press release issued Tuesday afternoon, Southwest MayorBenoit Doraissays, since 2009, the borough has implemented additional measures to make alleyways more safe.

The borough has reconfigured certain alleyways to discourage drivers from using them and has also introduced green alleyways.

"The day after the horrible accident, I contacted the director of public workers to ask him what changes can be quickly made to prevent any more incidents in similar alleyways," Dorais said.

"I have also asked for a complete inventory of all alleyways to be done and presented to council members."