A citizen group intends to file a lawsuit in the coming weeks, among others, against the City of Montreal, which it accuses of having harmed the quality of life of residents by “imposing” cycle path projects.
“It’s necessary, because the City has decided not to listen to citizens,” insists Marc Perez, spokesperson for the Coalition Démocratie Montréal.
At the beginning of November, it hired the law firm Bergman & Associates to take legal action against the City of Montreal, the agglomeration council and the Villeray—Saint-Michel—Parc-Extension borough.
The Coalition Démocracy Montréal brings together citizens exasperated to see new cycle paths being “imposed”, according to it, in different neighborhoods of Montreal.
For Mr. Perez, several of these projects have had negative impacts on communities, such as the loss of parking, the drop in traffic in businesses and the slowdown in automobile traffic.
“I have three children with my wife. Traveling by car is very important to me because I have to take them to school and I work,” he says.
The Coalition Démocratie Montréal deplores the negative effects of several cycle path projects.
Photo Agence QMI, MARIO BEAUREGARD
“The City says: “We don’t care””
Me Michael Bergman, who runs Bergman & Associates, told the Journal that the motion he is currently working on must be filed in Superior Court “in the coming weeks.”
“In this case, we are asking that the regulations and resolutions which led to the creation of cycle paths be overturned. In addition, we will request a court order to stop the construction of cycle paths in this borough. We are also studying the possibility of obtaining damages,” explained M in writing.e Bergman.
According to Mr. Perez, these cycle paths would be “better accepted” if the City and the boroughs consulted the population more and took their concerns into account in the developments.
“What I noticed while going from borough to borough is that citizens give their recommendations, but the City says: “We don’t care. We won the election, it’s our choice and we don’t need to hold consultations.” They are holding information sessions and we are faced with a fait accompli.”
“There is a total lack of consultation according to the law and according to case law,” adds M.e Bergman.
Photo Agence QMI, JOEL LEMAY
$32,000 raised
You should know that this lawsuit stems from fundraising initiated in the fall of 2023 in the wake of a movement of opposition to several new cycle paths developed in the Parc-Extension and Saint-Michel districts, among others on the avenue Querbes and rue Legendre.
At the time, these new bicycle lanes led to several demonstrations by angry citizens, notably at having lost parking spaces.
The collection, which aimed to finance legal action to oppose cycle paths, raised more than $32,000 in one year.
“We need $60,000 in total, but we had to reach $30,000 for the lawyer to start the procedures. All the money comes from citizens and businesses, particularly those living in Parc-Extension and Ahuntsic-Cartierville,” said Mr. Perez.
Called to react on Sunday, the City of Montreal and the Villeray—Saint-Michel—Parc-Extension borough did not respond to requests from Journal.
