Boulevard Crémazie: citizens want change

NADIA LEMIEUX/24 HOURS/QMI AGENCY

Nadia Lemieux

Monday, 5 February 2018 22:00

UPDATE
Monday, 5 February 2018 22:00

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Of the citizens of the borough of Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension want to convince the City to secure the boulevard Crémazie, where many pedestrians and cyclists feel threatened.

Véronique Legault lives near the metro station Crémazie since November 2016. “From the first day, we noticed the danger,” she says. His conclusion: the drivers are travelling above the permitted limit, turn right even when the light is pedestrian-only and often ignore the red lights.

“Sometimes in crossing the street, it was necessary that it encroaches on the space where motorists circulate because as the water fell on [the viaduct]. It was dangerous for us, but that we do not try to be the dirty water on the head!”

Maria Flores, who attends a church near the street, which serves as the service road to the Metropolitan expressway, also denounces the lack of coexistence among road users. “Motorists have a tendency to not leave us the time for the crossing,” she said, adding that the lights for pedestrians are not long enough.

Citizens ‘ Association

There are nearly 10 years old, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce and Westmount acquiring civic associations of pedestrians and cyclists (APC). Recently, citizens from other boroughs have followed suit.

The last in date is the APC of Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension, whose members met for the first time on Monday evening.

“We want to take note of issues and problems, to do an inventory, know how we want to act and mobilize for the improvement of each of the small files,” explains Julien Puget, one of the three co-founders of the APC.

The medical council at the regional Directorate of public health, Patrick Morency, is of the opinion that a civic association is one of the best tools to improve road safety, since no one knows more about the neighbourhood than those who live there.

Main artery

Julien Puget states that the APC will address first the situation “the most urgent”. The securing of the boulevard Crémazie, in collaboration with public officials, is one of them.

“We are realistic, we know the complexity of the game administrative to this kind of axis that falls under several authorities, admits Mr. Puget. The idea is to be able to, under one banner, to make up these issues to the public authority so that he could prioritize.”

Patrick Morency believes that “the safety and mobility of the residents of the neighborhood should not be sacrificed to make the car faster.” “In the course of the 20th century, he adds, the city is developed by prioritizing the automobile and it is pretty obvious to Crémazie.”

According to him, a “tremendous catch-up is to be done” to improve the safety of all road users.