Montréal, March 29, 2011 For 27 years now, the Société de transport de Montréal (STM) has been a partner in the Bike Fest and it encourages people to register for the different events. Since the first edition, the STM has joined forces with Vélo Québec, a group that promotes active modes of transportation and encourages safe and convenient cycling for pleasure, tourism and transportation. It also represents cyclists, builds consensus, conducts research and co-ordinates educational and informational activities.
The STM obviously wants to expand public transit but it also believes it must do more and promote the use of active modes of transportation. It feels that this approach could lead to a higher percentage of motorists leaving their cars behind on occasion. And this natural partnership with Vélo-Québec is a great opportunity to do just that.
“Making modes of transportation that offer an alternative to the exclusive use of a single-occupant car more accessible and ensuring that active modes of transportation become the obvious choice: that’s the goal that the STM has set for itself by partnering with groups like Vélo Québec that offer other ways of getting around,” declared Mr. Michel Labrecque, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the STM.
The multimodal or transportation cocktail program implemented by the STM involves networking among the major public transit companies (métro, buses, commuter trains, minibuses, public taxis) and the modes of active, or private, transportation (bicycle, taxi, car rental, car-pooling, car-sharing co-operatives). “Montrealers as well as those living in the suburbs can count on a complete, diversified transportation offer that presents an excellent alternative to the single-occupant car,” stated Mr. Labrecque.
As part of its partnership with Vélo-Québec and as a means of reaching its goals, the Société will be on hand under the big top at the departure and arrival areas for the Tour de l’Île, and its mascots, Métro and Bus, will entertain throughout the day. The STM will offer visitors a chance to spin the lucky wheel and possibly win an annual, monthly, weekly or two-trip fare card. The Société hopes that many will participate in the Tour de l’Île and drop by to meet our representatives on site.
In closing it should be noted that during the Tour la Nuit and Tour de l’Île events, the STM will make travel easier for passengers with bicycles by making the métro accessible from various stations on the network. For the Tour la nuit being held on Friday, June 3, and the Tour de l’Île taking place on Sunday, June 5, some fifteen stations will be open, and the front cars will be reserved for a maximum of 16 bicycles. All the relevant details will be communicated to participants in the event kit they receive from Vélo-Québec. They will also be available on the STM’s Internet site in the days preceding the Montréal Bike Fest.
– 30 –