Cyclists still at risk a year after Mathilde Blais' death, Projet Montral says

The opposition Projet Montreal says the Coderre administration hasdone nothing to improve safety for cyclists using underpasses inMontreal since the death of cyclist Mathilde Blais a year ago.

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Projet leader Luc Ferrandez spoke to reportersThursdaymorning nearthe spot in the St-Denis Street underpass where Blais died after beinghit by a truck while cycling on the road in the narrow underpass.

After Blais was killed, the city responded by changing the rules,allowing cyclists to share the sidewalk with pedestrians in suchunderpasses.

It was supposed to be a temporary measure, but Ferrandez says it has, in effect, become permanent.

Ferrandez said the real solution is to build dedicated bike lanesseparated from car traffic through such underpasses.

He estimated the average cost to do that for one underpass at $2 million.

But he said the city only set aside a total of $1 million for itsentire cycling infrastructure budget for this year when it announcedinfrastructure projects this week.

Ferrandez said there will be consequences.

"There will be more deaths because more people are usingtheir bikes every year," he said.

Aref Salem, the city's executive committee member responsible for transport, saidthe city is improving safety on bike paths but added thatbuilding new infrastructure costs money and will take a few more years.