16 hours ago
‘People are tripping': Some pedestrians say Hochelaga street design is causing falls
Hochelaga-Maisonneuve residents say they've witnessed or experienced repeated falls where a small but abrupt drop separates the sidewalk from the adjacent bike lane. (Laurence Brisson Dubreuil/CTV)
The revamped Pierre-de Coubertin Avenue, in the Hochelaga-Maisonneuve neighbourhood, is drawing criticism from pedestrians and cyclists who say part of the design is unsafe.
Residents say they've witnessed or experienced repeated falls where a small but abrupt drop separates the sidewalk from the adjacent bike lane.
'I've seen a lot of people tripping and stumbling right there,' said Enzo Filion, who lives nearby. 'When people are walking and not paying close attention, they end up falling on the sidewalk border.'
He believes the city should add a visual cue, so people can better see the difference in the sidewalk and cycling path level.
The avenue runs along key tourist attractions like the Biodôme and the Olympic Stadium. In 2023, major construction was completed — widening sidewalks and adding a designated bike path.
But some Montrealers say the new layout creates confusion and risk.
Robert Trudel, who lives on Pierre-de Coubertin Avenue and uses a walking stick, said he sometimes trips.
'Some people can't always tell what's the bike path and what's the sidewalk,' he said. 'There are even cyclists who go up on the sidewalk which is inconvenient.'
Still, Trudel said he wouldn't support another round of construction.
'After all the work that's already been done, I don't think the city should come back and redo it,' he said.
For others, the issue isn't just about the step. Ruben Philippe, another local, said the layout feels unsafe, especially near intersections and roundabouts.
'There's this little dip where the bike path starts — but it's not clearly marked,' he said. 'The sidewalk takes up most of the space, and the bike path [design] makes crossing harder, especially with all the cars.'
He added that a friend of his was nearly hit while trying to cross the street near one of the traffic circles.
Montrealer Rémy Hampele acknowledged the space is useful for cyclists.
'It's a large road for bicycles, so that's a nice thing,' he said.
But, he added that 'there's a lot of concrete' in the design, which may not be as visually appealing.
The city of Montreal said it received just two reports in 2023 related to the Pierre-de Coubertin layout — including one related to a fall.
In a statement to CTV News, spokesperson Hugo Bourgoin said that 'the city designs spaces with the safety of vulnerable road users in mind.'
For some, the design doesn't make sense, especially in a high-foot-traffic zone.
'I can't believe a lot of money was spent on this — and I don't get why they the sidewalk and bike lane two different levels,' said Matt Marshall, a tourist visiting from Edmonton. 'It's just going to cause more people to fall or bikes to tip over. I honestly wonder if it was just a mistake they tried to pass off as a design choice.'
The layout on Pierre-de Coubertin isn't the only recent project raising eyebrows.
In the Old Port, Montrealers have also been stumbling at the Place des Montréalaises, a public square inaugurated just last month near the Champ-de-Mars Metro station.
After reports of people tripping on the angular concrete terrain, the city temporarily installed orange bollards. Those are set to be replaced with fencing to keep the area safe.
'We took the situation seriously and acted quickly,' Bourgoin told CTV News. 'We're working with partners to finalize the design of a metal grate that will cover the [gaps], and it should be installed in the coming weeks.'
As of early June, the city had received four complaints about safety issues at Place des Montréalaises, according to Bourgoin.
On Pierre-de Coubertin, no further complaints have been filed since 2023. But some Montrealers say the city shouldn't wait for more.
