Bike Lane Controversy Continues as Winter Approaches
In a decision that contrasts with recent actions in neighboring Outremont, the new administration in Côte-des-Neiges—Notre-Dame-de-Grâce has confirmed that the contentious bike lane on Terrebonne St. will remain operational throughout the winter months. This announcement comes just days after Outremont's borough council voted to remove a bike lane on Lajoie Ave. for the winter season.
New Administration Pledges Thorough Review Process
Borough Mayor Stephanie Valenzuela, part of the Ensemble Montréal administration that defeated the incumbent Projet Montréal party on November 2, 2025, emphasized that while the current configuration will remain for winter, her team plans to conduct a comprehensive review of the bicycle path. "Our priority is to review the process that led to the current configuration, which was implemented without the level of community dialogue that residents rightly expect," Valenzuela stated in an email to The Gazette.
The mayor outlined that her administration will launch an audit to fully understand the impacts, concerns, and operational issues identified by residents along the corridor. Additionally, she committed to re-establishing structured communication with key local stakeholders including St. Monica's Church, St. Monica Elementary School, the Mackay Centre and Philip E. Layton Schools, Habitations de Terrebonne, and nearby residents.
Community Reactions and Safety Concerns
The current configuration of Terrebonne between Girouard and Belmore Avenues features the street as a one-way artery that switches directions at Cavendish Boulevard, with bike lanes on either side. This redesign eliminated parking on both sides of the street, creating significant challenges for residents of homes without driveways.
Paul Wong, warden of the 75-year-old St. Monica's Church parish, expressed disappointment with the decision to maintain the bike path through winter. "Well, it is a disappointment because I figured they would have removed the bike path during the winter," Wong said. "During the winter on school weekdays, it's going to be a driving hazard to go through."
Wong recalled a recent incident highlighting safety concerns: "He forgot to shut his door and a bus passing by took the door off" after a frustrated motorist left his car blocking the driving lane with the door open.
Longtime resident Valerie Keszey, who identifies as an avid cyclist herself, also hoped the path would close for winter. "I wish it would go away this winter and we could park our cars because, honestly, there's like one or two cyclists using it in the winter," Keszey noted. "It's ridiculous. How can you justify keeping that bike path open in the winter, for you know, a couple of cyclists?"
Despite her concerns about winter maintenance, Keszey supports keeping Terrebonne as a one-way street, though she questions the logic of splitting directions east-west from Cavendish. She suggests the new administration consider reinstating parking on both sides while maintaining a single bike lane as a potential compromise.
Looking Forward: A New Approach to Urban Planning
Mayor Valenzuela summarized her administration's philosophy clearly: "Our approach is simple: listen carefully, rebuild trust in the process and make decisions based on facts, safety and community needs." This statement signals a potential shift from the previous administration's approach, which critics had characterized as prioritizing ideology over practical considerations.
The Terrebonne bike lane has become symbolic of broader debates about urban planning in Montreal, representing both the vision of a pedestrian and cyclist-friendly city and the practical challenges of implementing such changes in established neighborhoods. As the audit proceeds and winter arrives, all eyes will be on how the new administration balances these competing priorities while maintaining its commitment to community engagement and evidence-based decision making.
