Cycling advocates in Montreal are calling on mayor-elect Soraya Martinez Ferrada to provide clear direction regarding the city's bicycle network, expressing concern over what they describe as mixed signals from the incoming administration.
Advocates Plan 'People's Inauguration'
In response to the uncertainty, cycling group Vélorution Montréal is organizing what they term a 'people's inauguration of the project' this Sunday. Cyclists will gather at the partially completed Réseau express vélo (REV) on Henri-Bourassa Blvd. to both celebrate the protected bike lane and demonstrate support for its completion.
Mathieu Murphy-Perron of Vélorution Montréal expressed the concerns shared by many cycling enthusiasts. 'There are a lot of people concerned that some hard-fought-for infrastructure might go away or might not ever be fully completed,' he stated. 'When mixed signals are being sent out, all we want is clarity and clarification.'
Conflicting Messages During Campaign
The call for clarity follows what cycling advocates perceive as inconsistent messaging from Martinez Ferrada's team during the recent election campaign. In early August, the mayor-elect promised to launch an audit of Montreal's bike path network within her first 100 days in office.
The situation became more complex in late September when Claude Pinard, Martinez Ferrada's chosen deputy at city hall, indicated that an Ensemble Montréal administration would not construct any new bike paths during its initial 12 to 18 months in power.
Further concerns emerged last week when Maude Théroux-Séguin, the newly elected borough mayor in Ahuntsic-Cartierville, told La Presse she was open to reviewing the Henri-Bourassa Blvd. project and didn't rule out removing the bike lane, noting it currently sees limited use.
Future of Key Cycling Infrastructure
The REV Henri-Bourassa project represents a significant sustainable mobility initiative begun under the previous Projet Montréal administration in 2023. When fully completed by the end of next year, the project will span 18 kilometres and feature one-way bike paths on both sides of the boulevard along with an express bus lane.
Murphy-Perron drew a compelling comparison to illustrate the current situation: 'People like to talk about whether infrastructure is being used to its full potential without recognizing that it's not done yet. It's as if you were to half build a bridge and then wonder why everybody fell in the water.'
Since her election victory, Martinez Ferrada has acknowledged learning about two existing studies of the city's bike network that could potentially serve as the audit she pledged to conduct.
Speaking at city hall on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, the mayor-elect confirmed she is reviewing these studies to determine how to proceed. Regarding the Henri-Bourassa project specifically, she recognized the disruptive impact of ongoing roadwork in the area but emphasized that no plans exist to remove the express bike lane.
'I understand the need to clarify what we want to do,' Martinez Ferrada stated, addressing mobility concerns broadly. 'But I want to be very clear: I believe a city like Montreal needs bicycle paths. They have to be secure, and they have to be planned.'
The cycling community now watches closely as the new administration prepares to take office, hoping for definitive action that will maintain Montreal's reputation as a bicycle-friendly city while ensuring the completion of vital cycling infrastructure projects.
