International cycling body names Montreal as UCI Bike City
Award goes to metropolis that hosts major events as well as promotes cycling
The UCI Management Committee gave the UCI Bike City label to Montreal (Canada) and Aigle, Switzerland, as well as Bike City Region titles to Saalfelden Leogang, Austria and South Scotland, Great Britain. This designation is given to cities and regions that not only host significant events on the UCI International Calendar but also show dedication to fostering and advancing cycling within their communities. The areas also invest in the necessary infrastructure and initiatives. The addition of these four new awardees brings the total number of cities and regions with the UCI Bike City/Region label to 22.
Montreal has hosted a UCI WorldTour event for the past 10 years (the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal), and has been actively promoting cycling over the past 15 years. In the statement, the UCI lauded the city for its 1,600 kilometers of bike routes within the city center and an additional 3,200 kilometers within its larger urban vicinity. It has emerged as one of the leading five cycling cities in North America, with the objective is to secure the top spot by 2031.
Around two-thirds of Montrealers have a bike path within 300 m from their homes. The city’s strategy revolves around elevating the proportion of cycling to 15 per cent by 2027, primarily achieved through the promotion of gentle modes of transport, enhancement of infrastructure, and reinforcement of cyclist-oriented services.
In the coming five years, an extra 200 kilometres of dedicated bike lanes will be constructed. Furthermore, to enhance cyclist safety, an online incident map is readily accessible, and a specialized team is in place to assess and enhance critical areas.
The UCI statement also mentioned that despite Montreal’s long, snowy winters, 180 out of its 800 public bike-sharing stations will remain open in 2023.
