In August 2023, the Canadian city of Montreal was awarded the UCI Bike City label for its commitment to Elite and every-day cycling.
The city, which became the first non-European host of the UCI Road World Championships in 1974, will welcome this event for a second time in September2026, the same year it celebrates 50 years since hosting the 1976 Olympic Games. And while the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal attracts the UCI WorldTour peloton every September, cycling is also a culture and way of life among the city’s own population.
Two of its main offers for its citizens are the Bike Express Network (Réseau Express Vélo - REV) and the public bike sharing stations BIXI.
REV: the backbone of Montreal’s cycling network
The island of Montreal has more than 1000km of cycle paths, and more than 3,200km in the greater Montreal area, making it one of the top five North American cycling cities.
“The REV is the backbone of Montreal’s cycling network, and its expansion will continue over the next few years,” explains Marianne Giguère, City Councillor for the borough of Le Plateau-Mont-Royal. She added that, once completed, 17 routes will be accessible all year round. The comfort and safety of cyclists are prioritised thanks to:
cycle lanes separated from motor traffic by physical elements (small concrete barriers or posts) or by painted lines and signage.
cycles lanes wide enough for overtaking
routes allowing long distances to be covered as directly as possible
connections to existing cycle routes.
BIXI Montreal: impact on city cycling
And there is no need to own a bike to make use of the REV’s infrastructure.
In the 15 years since the creation of BIXI, a network of public bike sharing stations, in Montreal, the number of people moving around the city on two wheels has increased significantly. BIXI Montreal currently comprises nearly 934 stations and not far off 11,000 bikes, of which over 2,600 are electric.
“More than just a means of transport, BIXI is now a fabulous shortcut enabling people to move around the city wherever and whenever they want, wherever inspiration or duty takes them,” says the spokesperson, Pierre-Luc Marier. “The BIXI phenomenon has had a major impact on the use of bicycles in our city. Since the introduction of BIXI, the number of bicycles used has increased by 50%.
“Now the aim is to raise BIXI Montreal's profile as a fully-fledged public transport operator within the Montreal mobility ecosystem. To do this, we will focus on increasing the network's capacity for charging electrically-assisted bicycles, and extending and densifying the winter network.”
Snow and cold no deterrent
Indeed, renowned snowy winters and sub-zero temperatures need not necessarily be a deterrent to city cycling, according to Jean-François Rheault, CEO of the provincial cycling organisation Vélo Québec. “Year-round cycling has proven feasible and enjoyable thanks to winter maintenance and cycling infrastructure designed with winter in mind,” he says. This winter, for the first time, the year-round BIXI pilot project kept 150 stations in use throughout the 2023-2024 winter in a reduced area of 100 km2. Bikes were adapted for winter riding (equipped with studded tyres and non-slip pedals), a first in North America. Numerous cycle-paths are cleared of snow at the same time as the roads. “Getting round by bike is possible in winter with suitably adapted equipment,” confirms Pierre-Luc Marier.
Ambitions up to 2027
While riding a bike in snow and sub-zero temperatures is not everybody’s choice, there is no doubt that the bicycle is a preferred transport option for many residents throughout the year.
There are an estimated 1,089,000 adult bicycles and 517,000 children's bicycles in the city. In 2020, the modal share for the whole of the island of Montreal was 3.3%, and the city has the ambitious objective of increasing that percentage to 15%.
The 2026 UCI Road World Championships will play an important part in the city’s mission to get even more people on bikes.
As well as delivering a high-performance event, the Organising Committee, in conjunction with the City of Montreal, wants to generate a positive and tangible impact in the Montreal cycling community. A special committee has been set up and will be making recommendations to ensure that the UCI's flagship annual event leaves a lasting legacy starting in 2024, and continuing after the event takes place.
Active mobility, training young cyclists, tourism, city policies and support for event organisers are all part of the event legacy activation plan. The city counts on the enthusiasm of its inhabitants for the 2026 UCI Road World Championships, which will see the world’s Elite ride a circuit inspired by the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal, itself based on the route of the 1974 UCI Road World Championships.
“An already legendary course that will make history once again,” concludes Sébastien Arsenault, President and CEO, Grands Prix Cyclistes de Québec et de Montréal as well as Mondiaux Montréal 2026, the 2026 UCI Road World Championships organising committee.
Photo credit: Ville de Montréal / Mathieu Sparks