Montreal is not known for a friendly downtown when it comes to general bicycling. A harsh winter season combined with difficult traffic conditions make cycling downtown a sometimes treacherous proposition. This is strange when considering Montreal’s overall reputation as a town which is very accessible to cyclists, as evidenced by the huge number of bike paths which criss-cross the island. Over the past few years the city has made an effort to change things and create a series of inner city bike paths to provide a safer environment for cyclists. Let’s look at some of the more welcoming cycling spots in the city.
Bike paths in Montreal
Outside the central urban core of Montreal there are many beautiful and scenic bike paths that would take days to explore in their entirety. One of the nicest is along the Lachine Canal. The Lachine Canal was an important waterway for Montreal’s early industry, and it cuts through the southern part of downtown to connect the Old Port with Lachine in the west. Most of the waterfront has now been converted into green space and condominiums. One of the highlights of this path is Ile Notre Dame, which includes the Gilles Villeneuve race track, the park and the Habitat 67 complex. Further along the canal you will pass the Atwater Market, and a bit more than 10 kilometers past that you will find yourself along the peaceful shore in Lachine, which has many parks and small restaurants along the water for your to enjoy a relaxing picnic.
If you are up for more of a challenge, you might try tackling the trail that runs up Mount Royal. Although the small ‘mountain’ might not seem imposing at first, the Camillien-Houde path that goes directly up to the summit is quiet exhausting and even an experienced cyclist will find it difficult to repeat more than a few times. The reward is a spectacular view of the city at the top, and an exhilarating downhill plunge afterwards.
The West Island of Montreal is also home to some great bike paths. Riding from Pointe-Claire to Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue lets you keep the St. Lawrence river and Lake St-Louis at your side as your cycle along Lakeshore road. The route is 25 kilometers long, and is appropriate for children as well as adults. St-Anne-de-Bellevue is a nice spot to end your ride, and like Lachine offers good trailside eateries to help you recharge for the ride home.
Tour de l’Ile
No discussion of cycling in Montreal would be complete without mentioning the Tour de l’Ile, the spectacular 30 000 cyclist tour of the island of Montreal which occurs every June. This year, the course extends for more than 50 kilometers, and starts and finishes in Maisonneuve Park, passing through Rosemont, Villeray, Ahuntsic, Riviere des Prairies, Montreal-Est, and Hochelaga. Not a race, but an event designed to encourage Montrealers to leave their cars at home and explore the city on a bicycle, the Tour has been running for 23 years. The streets are closed and families and people of all biking ability are welcome.
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