Citizens United
In the summer of 2023, residents of Parc-Extension were informed of new project in the neighbourhood. Querbes
avenue, a major street in the area with bidirection traffic would be transformed, updating the bike lanes
(already present) and adding barriers to improve safety.
This Project would also cause the removal of 250 parkings spots. Two hunderd and fifty spots.
For context, parc-extension is a densily populated immigrant/working class neighbourhood. Residents are
hard-working good people. There are a great many elderly residents, and many families, as the area is home to
multiple schools and parks. People here do not own 5 cars. There is easy access to bus and metro, but as
anyone who lives in Montreal knows, public transportation has limitations.
District Mayor Lalonde announced the project, claiming that 50% of residents do not drive, and that this
renovation would benefit all. There was no consulation with the public, there was no study done on how this
would effect the residents.
During a public q/a session a resident approached the microphone, a baby in her arms, the crowd falling quiet
and allowing her precedence, to accomodate the mother who would have to head home soon. She explained to
Lalonde, her representative, that she had multiple children and needed a car to pick up groceries with her
kids. She was concerned that the project would make it difficult if not impossible for her and her family and
asked what she could do. What accomodations would the city provide to the effected residents. Mayor Lalonde
simply said, "You will have to change your lifestyle", a sly grin on her face. The crowd errupted in
aggitation and frustration, some yelling, swearing. But who can blame a people when their elected
representative treat them with such contempt.
Concellor Mary Deros has repeatly asked Mayor Lalonde to bring forth the supposed study that had been made,
after all she claimed only 50% of residents drove. After over 3 months of asking, still no study has been
provided.
Residents of Parc-Extension have begun to organize and protest against the planed street project.
Let us be clear: WE ARE NOT AGAINST BIKES.
Bikes are fantastic, but they are not the solution to all our woes. You can not demand a young family to bike
to the grocery store in the dead of winter. You cannot expect workers to bike a hour to their job. You cannot
ask the elderly to bike to the hospital. Bikes won't fix the planet.
The city of Montreal's snow removal is barely able to clear the sidewalks but now they demand their residents
to bike everywhere.
We want safe streets for all. We want to improve our community. We want our representative to care about us.
In lieu of the current project we propose:
- A birectional bike path on the side of the Querbes with odd numbers
- Added speed bumps on Quebes - 3 for each block
- Additional bike signalling on street corners as we feel the current street lights are lacking
We propose that a proper study is done. That the residents are consulted. That the lives of those effected are
considered. That our Mayor is reminded: she is OUR representative. She is a public servant. Her job is to
serve the people's will, not to control them.