Mountain seems more dangerous

I am a cyclist who goes over Mount Royal every afternoon. Since Camillien-Houde has been closed to through traffic, I find it more dangerous, not less. Motorists are confused by the new layout. They drive through the no-entry area, they make U-turns to get to the lookout, they park on the shoulder near the Belvedere platform.

Twice this week cars have made U-turns directly in front of me near the lookout parking. The city has only put concrete barriers and fibreglass poles on a portion of the road. People simply make U-turns above or below the barriers.

The Belvedere platform built at the top of the mountain is also poorly thought out. A pedestrian path was installed, but of course, cars park all along the road near it, making it more dangerous for cyclists. Then the city installed an orange “circulation interdite sur accotement” sign. That doesn’t seem to register with the owners of cars with U.S. licence plates.

To really make it safer for cyclists, install concrete barriers or poles down the centre of the entire road, and don’t build structures that encourage people to park nearby.

Most important, police should be present to explain or give out tickets to drivers who wilfully ignore the signs and barriers.

I have had more dangerous near misses in the few weeks since the implementation of the new rules than in the year leading up to them.

Peter Cohen, Montreal