NDG Bike Lane Report (2024-05-22)

Wednesday's Bike Lane Report
Spring Edition
Today's BLR takes us from Draper and Terrebonne into the hinterlands of Snowdon.
With the start of the construction season, congestion is picking up again on Terrebonne and Isabella.
At BLR we advocate riding at a "respectful" speed when overtaking gridlocked cars, keeping in mind that a cyclist doing so will be responsible for any damages arising from contact while overtaking another vehicle. This morning we encountered a rider we nicknamed the "Terrebonne Cowboy" who adopted a somewhat more cavalier attitude to overtaking (and stop signs) while riding his e-bike.
Also a reminder that cyclists are required to respect the flashing stop lights used by school buses when they pick up or discharge children. In this situation we generally dismount and walk the bike past the school bus, although there are cases where it is more prudent to simply stop and wait until the bus proceeds.
We also advise respecting the law against cycling on sidewalks, particularly for adults. If you feel you must ride on a sidewalk, we strongly urge the "respectful speed" approach. This generally means no faster than a slow jog, and dismounting when approaching a pedestrian.
None of this costs much time, as can be seen from the fact that the BLR cameraman catches up with the Terrebonne Cowboy despite stopping when required and walking past the school bus. When it was mentioned to the gentleman that the SPVM is ramping up enforcement, he couldn't hear because of his ear buds. Upon removing them, the response was an indignant "vous essayez de me dire quoi faire."
The near-tragic incident last week in which a young girl was hit by a cyclist ignoring school bus signals should serve as a reminder that this kind of riding is unsafe. The other problem with riding like the Terrebonne Cowboy is that it impacts all riders, undermining public support for cycling infrastructure needed for the benefit of road users who may not wish to visit the Wild West.
The cyclists featured in this video are using studded winter tires and riding in compliance with all traffic laws. If you do choose to ride, please respect your limits, obey traffic laws, and wear a helmet regardless of the conditions. For more news, tips, and discussions on winter cycling please visit our local FaceBook group: "Vélo d'hiver - Montréal" (20.6K members and growing!)