Press releases

Tour de l'Île
STM service modifications

Montreal, 2 June 2005 - The Société de transport de Montréal (STM) wishes to inform transit users that, for safety reasons, carrying a bicycle in the métro will only be allowed from a few specific stations when the Tour de l’Île cycling event is held next Sunday, June 5.

From 6 a.m. Sunday morning, only the following stations will be accessible to cyclists carrying their bicycles:

Green line, cyclists can enter the métro at Angrignon and Radisson stations and exit at Beaudry.

Orange line, cyclists can enter the métro at Henri-Bourassa and Côte-Vertu and exit at Laurier.

Yellow line, cyclists can enter the métro at Longueuil–Université-de-Sherbrooke and exit at Berri-UQAM.

Finally, on the Blue line, cyclists can enter at Snowdon and Saint-Michel and exit at Fabre.

To return home, only Laurier (Orange line), Fabre (Blue line) and Berri-UQAM (Green and Yellow lines) stations will be accessible after the event. Although cyclists can then exit at any station, no transfers between métro lines will be permitted.

Children and teens under 16 years of age must be accompanied by an adult. Participants carrying their bicycle can travel aboard the first train car and their numbers cannot exceed 16. They must always give way to regular transit users, without hindering the flow of travellers or compromising their safety. Should an emergency require the evacuation of a train, bicycles must be left behind. All stations will once again be accessible to transit users with their bicycles as of 6 p.m., but then, the regular limit of four bicycles inside the lead train car will apply.

The STM reminds everyone that riding a bicycle, using a foot scooter or a skateboard, and rollerblading inside a métro station is forbidden at all times.

Increased métro service

Train frequency will be increased to allow métro use by as many cyclists as possible. Instead of running every 10 to 12 minutes as is usual on Sundays, trains will go by every five to six minutes.

The STM recommends that anyone planning on using the métro to attend the Tour de l’Ile should purchase their return fare ahead of time to avoid line-ups, as ridership levels are much higher after such events. Those carrying a bicycle should follow the guidelines outlined above, as a courtesy to other transit users.

Bus service modifications

Because of the scope of the upcoming cycling event, some forty bus routes will be modified during the day.

In addition, there will be no service at all on the following routes

14 – Amherst, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ;
15 – Sainte-Catherine, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ;
34 – Sainte-Catherine, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. ; and
150 – René-Lévesque, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

When planning their transportation to this event, transit users should call A-U-T-O-B-U-S (288-6287) for bus schedules at their stop. For all other information, including travel directions, please call STM-INFO (786-4636). Bus timetables updated according to daily events are now available up to seven days in advance from the STM website at www.stm.info, as well as more useful transit information.

Paratransit

Because several major roadways will be closed to traffic, it will not be possible for paratransit vehicles to provide transportation to areas within or close to the Tour de l’Île perimeter. As a result, the STM’s Paratransit Centre will have no choice but to cancel some confirmed trips and may even have to refuse some transportation requests. We recommend that users contact Paratransit services to confirm their transportation in advance.

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