Montreal

Montreal may take over painting of bike path lines

Squiggly, uneven lines from the works crews of Rosemont–La Petite–Patrie have been raising eyebrows across the city.

Cyclists criticize Rosemont–La Petite–Patrie borough for crooked lines across city

Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre says the task could be taken away from borough. (CBC)

Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre says the city may take over drawing lines after squiggly, uneven bike lanes from the work crews of Rosemont–La Petite–Patrie have been raising eyebrows across the city. 

"Clearly it's wrong. It's unprofessional, it doesn't look good and they have to do a better job," Coderre said.

Cyclists have been complaining about linearly challenged bike paths in the Plateau, Ahuntsic and Rosemont–La Petite–Patrie neighbourhoods.

"I am asking the borough to take care of it or else I will do it myself," Coderre said.

Rosemont plans to straighten things out

Rosemont–La Petite–Patrie officials issued a news release Friday, saying the paths will be re-painted in the following days — but only by the most experienced employees.

"The most experienced employees will be assigned to those streets that are more difficult to paint," the borough said.

One of the not-so-straight lines in a Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie bike path. (CBC)

"A reminder session about alignment techniques will also be conducted with the concerned personel."

In all, more than 90 blue-collar employees will be re-trained in painting straight lines. 

At the same time, however, the borough is unsure how it will remove the existing, crooked lines. Borough staff are looking at various possibilities with experts.

With files from Jonathan Montpetit