Press Release- Founding of the Westmount Walking and Cycling Association (WWCA)

April 6, 2010

The interaction between pedestrians and cyclists is a key concern for municipalities wanting to promote walking and cycling, particularly when adding new infrastructure, like bike paths.  City officials seek holistic solutions that will favour harmonious interaction between pedestrians and cyclists since both groups share the common goal of wanting to improve the liveability of our community and our planet by walking or cycling, rather than driving their cars, to go to work, to school or to run errands.

Recognising that promoting walking and cycling will depend on holistic solutions, the Westmount Walking and Cycling Association has been founded by the board of the former Westmount Cycling Association and by residents concerned about walking issues. The new association will focus on the concerns of both groups.

Westmount’s ecological footprint is higher than the Canadian average, which is one of the highest in the world, and Westmount suffers from exceptionally high levels of air pollution due to its proximity to heavy vehicular traffic.  Walking and cycling are part of the long-term solution.

The Westmount Walking and Cycling Association was founded on April 5, 2010.  Please refer to the WWCA Mission Statement on our website.  The activities of the former Westmount Cycling Association will be folded into the new Westmount Walking and Cycling Association.

Contact

Website:  amcw-wwca.org

Contact:  info@amcw-wwca.org

(Note that the former email address info@acw-wca.org will continue to be active)

Press Release- Early Opening of Westmount Bike Path

Westmount has just opened its de Maisonneuve bike path almost one month ahead of schedule due to the clement weather.

The bike path is used daily by numerous people who have chosen to cycle to work or school rather and taking their car or public transport.  Despite its official closure over the past several months, the lack of snow has allowed many people to continue to ride much of the de Maisonneuve bike path for their daily commute.  In fact, since mid-January, the bike path has been snow covered for only 4 days.  However, during the winter, a section of the bike path between Atwater and Greene Ave reverts to car parking which poses a safety risk to cyclists.  Now that the parking has been removed, more people to take their bikes since Safe Passage is the key requirement for many people wishing to cycle.

The early opening of the bike path is consistent with Westmount’s sustainable development plans to promote cycling as one way of improving the liveability of the community, by reducing vehicle pollution and calming traffic.  Cycling is also one way residents can directly help limit the climate change emissions.  As part of its 2010 sustainable development priorities, Westmount plans to evaluate keeping the de Maisonneuve bike path open year-round.  In addition, Westmount plans to work towards the installation of Bixi stations, to start preparation of an Active Transportation (cycling and walking) Master Plan and to add more bike parking in key locations.

The Westmount Cycling Association is committed to helping the City to achieve these objectives.  The Association is also committed to helping improve safety on the de Maisonneuve bike path for cyclists, residents and motorists as well as helping promote cycling in Westmount.

Westmount Cycling Association

March 22, 2010

acw-wca.org

Press Release- Founding of the Westmount Cycling Association (WCA)

December 16, 2009

Under the visionary leadership of their mayors, many major cities in North America and Europe (including New York, Boston, Portland, LA, London, Paris, Barcelona, Copenhagen and Montreal) have recognised the important contribution of cycling to locally improve the liveability of communities and globally to limit climate change by helping reduce the negative effects of vehicular air pollution.  Those cities consider cycling to be a viable means of urban transportation and have therefore invested in cycling, which has led to its rapid growth, along with the associated environmental and health benefits.

Montreal has actively promoted cycling for several years and now boasts over 500 km of bike paths, of which over 35 km remain open in winter (Reseau Blanc).  In 2009, Montreal introduced the highly successful Bixi programme.

Westmount’s ecological footprint is higher than the Canadian average, which is one of the highest in the world, and Westmount suffers from exceptionally high levels of air pollution (particulats, nitrogen dioxide, etc.) due to its proximity to heavy vehicular traffic.  Air quality is even worse in winter due to oil and wood burning.  Cycling is part of the long-term solution to these issues, but Westmount has not promoted or invested substantively in cycling since the 2 km long de Maisonneuve path was opened nearly 18 years ago (June 1992).

To help promote cycling in Westmount, the Westmount Cycling Association was founded on December 16, 2009.  Please refer to the WCA Mission Statement.

Contact

Website:  acw-wca.org

Contact:  info@acw-wca.org