Plante announces plans to ban cars from certain streets on summer Sundays

Montreal is aiming to be as pedestrian and bike friendly as possible and has launched another project tailored to cyclists.

Shortly after the City of Montreal announced a plan to add close to 1,000 bike racks to the downtown Montreal area, Mayor Valerie Plante announced her newest initiative: Cyclovia 2018.

Aujourd’hui nous annonçons la programmation #Cyclovia 2018, sous le thème « La rue pour tous » et qui permettra à 10 reprises d’ici octobre de redonner qqs kms de rues aux piétons, cyclistes, planchistes, joggeurs et marcheurs de Montréal! #polmtl pic.twitter.com/hsKGubErHr

— Valérie Plante (@Val_Plante) May 8, 2018

According to Plante, the program falls under the theme of Montreal’s roads being “the street for all” and will open street space back up to pedestrians, cyclists, joggers, and walkers in the city.

She revealed in a press conference that for ten different dates, there will be a complete ban on cars in separate areas, for several hours at a time.

Pendant 10 dimanches avant-midi, une partie de la voie Camillien-Houde et du boul. Monk seront transformées en aires d’animation et seront réservées à celles et ceux qui se déplacent en transport actif #polmtl

— Valérie Plante (@Val_Plante) May 8, 2018

Cyclovia 2018 will take place on both Camillien-Houde Way on Mount Royal, as well as and Monk Boulevard in Verdun. During the course of each event, cars will be prohibited in the specific areas from 7:30 am to 12 pm on the designated Sundays. The events will run from May to October of 2018.

Camillien-Houde Way will be closed on May 20, June 17, July 15, August 19, September 16, and October 7. Half of those days will be designated for sports and competitive use, while the other half will offer recreational activities for families, says Plante.

On Monk Boulevard, closures for Cyclovia will take place on June 17, July 15, August 19, and September 16.

Plante comments that the Cyclovias are not only an excellent opportunity for physical activity but an “extraordinary occasion for Montrealers to reclaim the streets and their city.”

The further closures to Mount Royal follow earlier plans for a pilot project that will prohibit through traffic through the Mount Royal area.