Mountain biking on Mont Royal

Mountain biking on Mont Royal is illegal.

Changes are coming, after 15 years of sticking their heads in the sand and ignoring the off-road cycling community.

A PROJET TO MANAGE MOUNTAIN BIKING ON MOUNT ROYAL

LES AMIS DE LA MONTAGNE LAUNCH AN INTERVENTION PROJECT TO MANAGE MOUNTAIN BIKING ON MOUNT ROYAL

Montreal, October 22, 2007 — Mr. Peter A. Howlett, C.M., President of Les Amis de la montagne, launched an important intervention project to manage mountain biking on Mount Royal at Smith House today, in the presence of financial partners, Mr. Peter Robinson, President of Mountain Equipment Co-op and Mr. Raymond Bachand, Member for Outremont, Minister of Economic Development, Innovation and Export Trade, Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible for the Montréal region, on behalf of Ms. Nathalie Normandeau, Vice-Premier and Minister of Municipal Affairs and Regions.

Due to its geographic location and its topographic characteristics unique in Montreal, Mount Royal is the location of choice for the sport of mountain biking. Unfortunately, in the absence of adequate management, the practice of this sport on the mountain has significantly damaged the forest undergrowth, putting the very health of Mount Royal’s forest in danger. Moreover, this activity has the great disadvantage of frequently creating conflicts between cyclists and other mountain users, especially walkers.

“We believe that a sustainable solution to the problem of mountain biking on Mount Royal requires finding sites specific to the practice of this sport,” said Mr. Peter A. Howlett. “Fifteen years of experience on this issue has demonstrated that mountain biking is not just a passing interest. The sport is well established and on the rise on the mountain, and we cannot ignore this growing trend any longer. The success of this intervention requires alternative solutions to the actual practice of the sport in the forest of Mount Royal.”

The project will be carried out in the following stages:

1. Analyse the areas of the mountain where the sport is practiced and develop a profile of the clientele on the mountain;

2. Identify and implement specific solutions to the practice of mountain biking;

3. Lead a vast awareness-raising campaign aimed at cyclists and the general public; and

4. Restore the damaged sites on Mount Royal.

This project will be developed and implemented in collaboration with a working group comprising numerous representatives from the community, namely the Notre-Dame-des-Neiges Cemetery, Mount Royal Cemetery, Université de Montréal, Ville de Montréal, cycling associations and citizens.

“The problems related to mountain biking are not unique to Mount Royal. They exist in other parks and natural spaces on mountainous terrain,” concluded Mr. Howlett. “Evidently, the pressure exerted on Mount Royal is more intense due to the density of the population residing in close proximity. If we succeed in finding viable solutions for Mount Royal, the model created will surely be applicable for other sites.”

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