A recent study conducted by McGill University has shed light on the spatial distribution of bike lanes in Montreal, revealing that despite occupying only about two percent of the city’s street space, there is a growing need for more bike infrastructure in certain neighborhoods.
City planners often focus on the total length of bike lanes, but this study delves deeper into the actual space dedicated to micromobility compared to the overall road network and how people move around the city. The research uncovered that while vehicles dominate 98 percent of road space, they only account for 95 percent of travel demand, highlighting the increasing popularity of micromobility options such as bikes, e-bikes, and scooters.
In neighborhoods like the Plateau-Mont-Royal and Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie, micromobility now constitutes a significant 22 percent of total travel, indicating a shift towards more sustainable modes of transportation. The study examined various dedicated infrastructure like separated bike paths, cycle tracks, and BIXI docks to reach these conclusions.
Lead author of the study, Daniel Romm, emphasized the efficiency of micromobility infrastructure, noting that even doubling the existing bike infrastructure would still occupy a small fraction of street space. The researchers developed models showing that increasing micromobility infrastructure across all boroughs would have minimal impact on vehicle space allocation, highlighting the potential for further expansion of bike lanes without major disruptions.
The study, published in ScienceDirect, aims to assist city planners in reevaluating the distribution of micromobility infrastructure not only in Montreal but also in cities nationwide. Romm emphasized that the study can serve as a practical tool for identifying areas with inadequate space for micromobility infrastructure, offering a simple metric of square meters per traveler to gauge infrastructure adequacy.
