STM expands access for dogs and bikes on the Metro, bans battery-powered transport devices

Montreal's public transit agency says muzzled dogs are welcome to keep riding the Metro after a successful pilot project — provided their owners are along for the ride, of course.

And while bicycle access is expanding permanently, motorized personal transportation devices remain prohibited, the Société de transport de Montréal (STM) confirmed on Thursday.

An amendment to regulation R-036 permits all dogs to travel on the four lines of the Montreal Metro.

Owners must ensure their dogs wear a muzzle for the duration of the trip. However, service animals assisting individuals with disabilities are exempt from this requirement, provided their owner has proof of assistance.

The Fido in the Metro campaign, launched by the Montreal SPCA in 2021, led to the development of a pilot project implemented in 2022.

A petition addressed to Mayor Valérie Plante and the chair of the STM board, Éric Alan Caldwell, gathered nearly 18,000 signatures.

As for the rules, passengers must keep their dogs on a leash no longer than 1.25 metres and maintain control over them at all times. Owners must ensure their dogs do not bark and clean up any mess their pet creates.

Dog access hours on the Metro are also somewhat limited. For most of the year, dogs are allowed on weekdays from opening until 7 a.m., from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and from 6 p.m. until closing. But they are welcome at all times on weekends and holidays.

They're also welcome at all times from the third Monday in May to the third Monday in August.

Sophie Gaillard, director of animal advocacy, legal and governmental affairs at the Montreal SPCA, says allowing dogs in public spaces like the Metro "gives them more opportunities to exercise and socialize, reducing the risk of developing undesirable behaviours."

She said Metro access is a step in the right direction, but the STM is still falling short of meeting the needs of pet owners.

"Given that a significant proportion of Montreal residents live far from a Metro station, we believe dogs should also have access to the bus network," she says in a news release. "We plan to continue discussions with the STM to that end."

The pilot project expanding access for bicycles is also being maintained as part of the amendments.

The same access hours apply to cyclists, who must limit the number of bicycles to two per Metro car and avoid using the front car, as it is often occupied by school groups, daycare services and individuals with mobility limitations.

The STM, however, continues to prohibit motorized personal transportation devices, such as electric bikes, scooters, skateboards and hoverboards on both the Metro and buses.

The growing number of fires caused by the batteries of such devices, particularly in Canada, along with the lack of standards governing battery manufacturing, prompted the STM's decision, the agency says in a Thursday news release.

This decision may change once various levels of government introduce legislation to regulate batteries within their jurisdictions, it says.

These regulatory changes will be submitted for approval to the agglomeration council on Dec. 19. If approved, they will take effect in the coming weeks.

"The continuation of these measures confirms that we are listening to our customers who requested them," says Caldwell in the STM's news release. "To remain an attractive service, we adapt to the needs of our clientele."