Montreal bike path network spreads

Montreal is adding 60 kilometres of bike paths to its existing network.

The new paths will be built across the island, including the Plateau Mont-Royal, Pierrefonds, Baie-d'Urfé, Ste. Anne de Bellevue and Villeray.

They include a leg between Des Érables Street and Marquette Street near the Rachel Street bike path.

"It's the missing link," said Plateau Mont-Royal borough Mayor Helen Fotopolos.

"When the Rachel path was originally inaugurated in the '80s, it was there, and then it was dismantled. We must say that cyclists have become more of a critical mass, and the fact that we were missing half a kilometre along such an important cycling artery became totally untenable," she said.

The city hopes the extra routes will help alleviate traffic congestion.

"We [recently] learned that it's now costing $1.5 billion to Montrealers just waiting in traffic, so let's invest in public transportation and cycling paths," said André Lavallée, executive committee vice-president, referring to a report from Transport Quebec on the cost of congestion.

The new bike paths will cost Montreal about $14 million. The city is asking the Quebec government to cover half the cost.

Construction is expected to start later this spring.