Montreal
Streetsblog Basics
Steal This Idea: The Larger the Car, the More You Pay to Park
Big news out of Montreal: Starting on July 1, drivers of larger, heavier cars will pay more for residential parking permits in one busy corner of town.
May 28, 2023
Cycling Through COVID-19: Montreal and Vancouver
How did two of North America's leading cycling cities take care of their riders during COVID-19? Hint: pop-up bike lanes, school streets, and other innovations — many of which are now being made permanent.
October 18, 2022
SEE IT! Montréal Offers Lessons for All Cities That Want Safer, Better, More Livable Streets
No wonder they call it the Great White North. Check out these two short films from the Paris of North America.
September 16, 2021
This Is Not an Opinion Column: New York’s Sidewalks Really Are Too Narrow
A transportation planner's maps show the perils of walking in the age of social distancing. Give us the space we need, Mr. Mayor!
April 23, 2020
Montreal’s New Mayor Orders Up a Big Increase in Bus Service
The city will increase the size of its bus fleet 16 percent, part of a plan to add service on existing routes, expand service to new routes, and prioritize buses with dedicated lanes.
March 15, 2018
In Montreal, an Electrifying Win for a Long-Shot Who Campaigned on Better Transit and Cycling
Valérie Plante, a political outsider, promised to add more bus service and protected bike lanes as mayor.
November 9, 2017
Montreal’s Car-Free Street Network Gets Bigger All the Time
Every year, Montreal transforms more of its streets into public spaces where people can rub shoulders with their neighbors without worrying about car traffic. Block by block, experiment by experiment, the city's pedestrian streets are growing.
January 23, 2017
How a Massive Bike Tour Inspired Montreal to Become a Bike-Friendly City
Especially in the warmer months, Montreal is simply alive with street life and, of course, lots of bicycling. Its car-free spaces are inviting to everyone, and there's so much art and interactive installations in public space.
June 12, 2014
A Montreal Intersection Morphs Into a Wonderful Neighborhood Space
On a Bixi bike excursion to get some ice cream in Montreal, my wife and I stumbled upon the intersection of Fairmount Avenue and Rue Clark, recently upgraded with colorful new street furniture, traffic calming treatments, and a two-way protected bike lane. The space is teeming with street life. When you arrive at this lovely place your first instinct is to stop, sit down, and enjoy.
August 28, 2013
Montreal’s Car-free Rue St. Catherine and Bustling Bike Rush Hour
While spending a week in Montreal, my wife and I stayed right along the Rue Sainte Catherine, which we discovered is closed to motor vehicles from May 15 through September 6 in two main sections. The first, a mile-long stretch that's been car-free in the summer since 2008, has a lot of restaurants and is filled with pedestrians all night long. The second, a more recent addition, is a smaller section to the west which features plenty of programming and music near the Place des Arts.
August 26, 2013