Citizens form human bike lane after Outremont removes Lajoie bike path for winter

A group of residents formed a human bike lane Tuesday morning on Lajoie Ave., protesting the Outremont borough’s recent decision to remove a section of the protected cycling path for the winter.

The action took place at Outremont and Lajoie, where cyclists and parents say the corridor is heavily used by children travelling to nearby schools.

The decision to change the bike lane was taken at the first council meeting of the borough’s new mayor, Caroline Braun, who was elected with Ensemble Montréal.

At the time, the borough signalled it would convert the protected south-side lane between Stuart and Outremont avenues into a shared lane and reinstate curbside parking for the winter months.

The decision has drawn mixed reactions since it was introduced.

Some residents questioned the impact on safety and winter mobility, while others supported restoring parking.

Critics argued the move represented a step backward for active transportation in the borough.

Tuesday’s demonstration was organized by Vélorution Montréal and Transport Actif Outremont, who say the temporary removal of the protected lane leaves young cyclists more exposed during busy morning drop-off periods.