Host Benoit Dutrizac did not go out of his way to express his thoughts to the mayor of Ahuntsic-Cartierville about the importance given to the Cycling network by the Plante administration.
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Mayor Émilie Thuillier was interviewed Thursday, on QUB radio at 99.5 FM Montréal, to defend a measure allowing citizens of her borough to receive free winter cycling equipment worth $200 $ for studded or studded tires, or mud flaps.
“It’s part of a subsidy that we have with the Ministry of Transport, a financial assistance program for activities to raise awareness of sustainable mobility, therefore to help people move towards sustainable mobility,” said explained Mme Thuillier.
“It’s a grant that is very sought after,” she added, mentioning that this program, which is in its third edition, benefits approximately 100 people per year.
Since demand exceeds supply, the borough is holding a draw to determine which citizens can receive this subsidy.
In addition to equipment, citizens have access to workshops to learn how to change their bicycle tires as well as two accompanied outings aimed at familiarizing them with cycling in winter.
Émilie Thuillier maintains that this type of measure helps reduce road congestion problems in Montreal.
“One more bike on the road is one less car,” she proclaims.
Joël Lemay / QMI Agency
“You’re making it a mental illness!”
For Benoit Dutrizac, however, the Plante administration has made cycling a real obsession.
“There, you impose a cycle path on Henri-Bourassa and all the merchants fail! There is no more room to park, and then you turn it into a mental illness! Cycle paths on residential streets are perfect and a very good idea, but to remove access to major arteries… You are killing business owners,” he says. he.
The mayor of the Ahuntsic-Cartierville district does not see things the same way. According to her, the development of cycle lanes is not to the detriment of traders and their customers.
“After the establishment of the sustainable mobility corridor, I can assure you – I put my hand in the fire – that there will be more people who will be in Henri-Bourassa than now and that is good for the merchants “, she says.
Mayor Émilie Thuillier also mentions a recent study by the Sustainable Mobility Agency according to which lost parking spaces on Henri-Bourassa can be replaced by spaces available on adjacent streets.
“We have to go on large streets, because that’s where there are viaducts that cross the railway tracks,” she adds.
The QUB radio host, however, criticizes the City of Montreal for spending $30 million on the bicycle network, but for not doing enough for social housing.
“For social and community housing, the City of Montreal invests hundreds of millions of dollars each year,” argues Émilie Thuillier.
The latter adds that hundreds of millions of dollars are also spent to develop and improve road infrastructure.
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