By Ruby Pratka

Local Journalism Initiative

City officials in Bromont say the “chaucidou” pilot project along Chemin de Lotbinière is achieving its objectives, a year after it was put in place.

A “chaucidou” (the name is an abbreviation for the French term chaussée à circulation douce, or gentle-traffic highway, also known as a bidirectional central lane) is a stretch of road where car traffic is reduced to a single lane where vehicles travel in both directions, with bike and pedestrian lanes on either side. Cars pull to the side when necessary to let those travelling in the opposite direction pass. To allow cars to pull over and stop safely, the speed limit is reduced – in the case of the Bromont “chaucidou,” from 70 to 50 km/hr. The main objective is to slow the speed of car traffic. The Bromont “chaucidou,” which was approved last June by the Quebec transport ministry, is the first of its kind in Quebec. It covers the stretch of Chemin de Lotbinière between Rue Sheffington and Chemin Laporte.

On July 25, the city shared an assessment of the project’s first year. Officials said the average speed measured decreased by 14 per cent in the “chaucidou” zone, compared to an 8 per cent decrease in an area without this facility. “The reduction in illegal passing, from 11 per cent to 1 per cent, reflects a significant improvement in road behaviour, despite a reduced passing distance. No accidents or incidents have been reported, and feedback from pedestrians and cyclists is positive,” they said in a statement. “These indicators suggest that the Chaucidou system is indeed improving the safety and flow of our road network. This initiative has also attracted the interest of several other municipalities and organizations, such as Gatineau, Rimouski, Stoneham, Quebec City, as well as Mont-Orford National Park.

“Seeing the project inspire other municipalities is a source of great pride for Bromont,”  said Mayor Tatiana Contreras. “This first year of testing confirms that our commitment to safety and innovation is paying off, both for all road users and for the quality of life in our community.”

The city “remains committed to the ongoing collection and analysis of data to ensure that positive behaviours are sustained,” the statement said. “This rigorous monitoring is aligned with our desire to inspire action through innovative and effective solutions.”

The city’s communications department did not respond to a follow-up interview request from the BCN.