Concerns for Montrealers with reduced mobility as streets close for major cycling races

Concerns for Montrealers with reduced mobility as streets close for major cycling races

STM says adapted transport will be available, but users should expect delays

Preparations are well underway in Montreal for two prestigious cycling events set to take over the city — but some are worried about how they'll be getting around during road closures caused by the races.

A section of Park Avenue has been closed since Sept. 5, between des Pins and Mont-Royal Avenues, and will remain closed until Oct. 4 for the upcoming UCI Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal on Sept. 13 and the Road World Championships the week after.

Organizers have said the month-long closure is necessary to allow for the construction and subsequent dismantling of a temporary stadium on Park, able to accommodate up to 200,000 people.

For France Martin, who lives in Montreal's Ville-Marie borough and uses a wheelchair, the road closures are cause for concern.

"I found out this morning that my paratransit service won't be able to reach my home," she said during a recent borough council meeting.

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Martin lives on St-Antoine Street, on a section that will be fully closed to traffic on certain race days.

She said she's worried about being unable to get to her medical appointments.

"And I'm not the only one," Martin said, adding there's a seniors' residence just down the street where people also rely on mobility services to get around.

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No perfect solution, mayor says

Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada told Martin that city officials were working on a solution, but warned it wouldn't be perfect.

"Accessibility for people who rely on services like paratransit is indeed going to be a major issue during these championships because — let’s be honest — it’s going to be a nightmare," she said, referring to traffic disruptions stemming from road closures.

In a statement to CBC News, the Société de transport de Montréal (STM) said adapted transport services would continue throughout the event, and that an agreement had been reached between police services and organizers.

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In enclaves, or zones that are completely cut off due to surrounding closures, STM drivers will be allowed to pass through — accompanied by event volunteers — to pick up paratransit users.

In a separate statement on accessibility measures, the city specified that police will facilitate their movement when necessary.

For those living on streets closed to traffic, but not in an enclave, there will be dedicated boarding and drop-off locations available.

The STM says riders should anticipate delays for all trips because of widespread traffic disruptions.

"We are issuing messages to customers advising them to allow extra travel time for important commitments, such as medical appointments," the statement reads.

The city says additional accessibility measures include pedestrian walkways and corridors that will be maintained throughout the event, on-site assistance and the possibility of crossing the course on foot or in a wheelchair at designated times.

Better planning needed, advocate says

Steven Laperrière, with the disability advocacy group RAPLIQ, said the needs of those with disabilities or reduced mobility can't be an afterthought and better planning is needed from the get-go.

"I think that's not been done," he said. "That has to change absolutely before this situation turns into a catastrophe."

He said closed off zones could pose a problem for home-care workers trying to get to patients who rely on those essential services.

Likewise, some people — even though adapted transport will be available — might not be able to get out of their homes to do their errands.

"What's going to happen if you cannot go out to do your groceries, will the grocery store be able to deliver food to you? Will pharmacies be able to deliver your medication?" Laperrière asked.

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He also raised concerns over moving the pick-up and drop-off locations for those using adapted transit, saying it could jeopardize the safety of some passengers.

"You cannot just drop a person that has mental health issues, or even for that [matter] a blind person," he said. "If you you drop him off at an unfamiliar location alone, you're going to have a potential problem on your hands there."

Laperrière said he has nothing against cycling races, but that promoting and celebrating one form of mobility should not take away from the mobility of those with disabilities.

Annabelle Olivier is a digital journalist at CBC Montreal. She previously worked at Global News as an online producer. You can reach her at anne.isabelle.olivier@cbc.ca.