VSP

VSP Achieves “Vélosympathique” Silver Certification Amid Controversy

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

Dimitris Ilias, LJI Journalist

On September 18, 2024, the borough of Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension (VSP) proudly announced its attainment of the Vélosympathique silver certification from Vélo Québec. This distinction recognizes the borough’s success in promoting cycling through a range of initiatives, including the development of extensive bike infrastructure and educational programs. VSP’s commitment to fostering a culture of active mobility is a key reason for this achievement, marking a major step forward for the community’s sustainability goals​

What Is Vélosympathique?

The Vélosympathique certification is part of a program launched by Vélo Québec to encourage communities to make cycling a viable and safe option for transportation and leisure. The program offers a multi-tiered certification (bronze, silver, gold, and platinum) that evaluates how well municipalities integrate cycling into urban life. Key factors include the quality of cycling infrastructure, safety measures, public engagement, and educational efforts​

VSP earned silver certification on its first attempt, thanks to multiple projects aimed at improving cyclist safety and accessibility. The borough implemented bike lanes on major thoroughfares, such as Avenue Querbes and Rue Villeray, expanded safety features near schools and elderly residences, and launched various cycling education programs. These initiatives align with Quebec’s broader environmental goals under the Plan pour une économie verte 2030, which encourages communities to adopt sustainable transportation alternatives​

Growing Dissent

While the Vélosympathique certification celebrates VSP’s commitment to creating a cyclist-friendly community, it has also drawn severe criticism from many residents and business owners. Many argue that the increased focus on bike lanes has led to unwanted side effects, such as traffic congestion and a shortage of parking spaces in areas like Parc-Extension. For businesses, this shift has raised concerns about reduced accessibility for customers who rely on cars​

Local residents who oppose the bike paths argue that the implementation process lacked sufficient public consultation. They claim that the focus on cycling has come at the expense of other urban mobility needs, with insufficient consideration for those who depend on cars, particularly for essential services and deliveries​

Finding a Balance

The borough’s administration, led by Mayor Laurence Lavigne Lalonde, maintains that the development of bike infrastructure is a necessary step toward building a more sustainable, health-conscious city. “More and more citizens want to use bikes for everyday tasks like going to work or school, and they need to feel safe doing so,” said Lalonde, emphasizing the importance of creating an urban space that benefits cyclists, pedestrians, and drivers alike​.

As VSP continues to promote active transportation, the challenge remains in addressing the concerns of its critics while pursuing its vision of a greener, more livable city. The tension between these competing priorities will likely shape future discussions on urban development and transportation in the borough.

While VSP’s certification as a Vélosympathique community is a landmark achievement, the path forward will require careful consideration of both the benefits of cycling and the needs of all residents​

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Spring Cleaning in VSP

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,
Spring Cleaning in VSP

Dimitris Ilias-LJI Journalist

The website announcement and the Park-Ex complaints

The official announcement from VSP

 According to the borough’s website announcement, VSP’s teams are diligently continuing their extensive spring cleaning operations, actively working to pick up litter, sweep, and wash the 283 km of streets and 378 km of sidewalks in the borough. For several weeks, teams have been collecting the abundant waste accumulated over the winter.

The implementation of parking restrictions on April 1st has allowed teams to use street sweepers and water trucks (weather permitting) for a thorough cleaning. In total, it will take about five to six weeks to complete the cleaning of all streets and sidewalks in the area, though operations may be interrupted if weather conditions require it.

Over time, various changes have transformed the area, such as changes in traffic flow, addition of calming measures, and street reconfigurations. Therefore, it was necessary to revise the cleaning routes to adapt to these new realities, which have affected the parking restriction schedules. Despite the teams’ best efforts, always according to the borough, to plan the mechanical sweeper routes efficiently, factors such as equipment breakdowns, adverse weather, or non-compliance with new parking restriction signs can impact the speed or execution of street maintenance.

The cleaning operations follow a predefined intervention order: cleaning of main thoroughfares first, followed by local streets, medians, concrete islands, viaducts, and alleys. Teams use vacuum sweepers, mechanical sweepers, water trucks with bionic arms, and sidewalk washers to remove gravel, stones, and waste that have accumulated on the roads and sidewalks during the winter. The borough has a team of about sixty people working in shifts seven days a week to complete this massive cleaning operation.

The numerous parks in the borough are also being prepared for the warmer days ahead. Trails, play areas, and water features are cleaned and swept, and the sports fields are lined. Swings are installed, and the condition of park pavilions is checked. Park restrooms will open in mid-May. On the streets, teams are cleaning medians, grassy areas, flower beds, and refurbishing tree basins. Urban furniture (benches, public trash cans, etc.) is also being restored. Due to higher street traffic during the summer, the number of street trash cans is increased, and their collection frequency is also boosted. Additional bike racks are installed to encourage active transportation.

Graffiti on walls within the borough will be cleaned during a spring blitz starting May 15. Graffiti removal operations run from May to November, except for hateful graffiti, which is removed as quickly as possible.

Mary Deros speaks to Park-Ex News

While the official VSP communication highlights a diligent and comprehensive cleaning effort, the reality on the ground, according to City Councillor Mary Deros and many residents, paints a different picture. Mary Deros and numerous citizens have voiced concerns that the extensive spring cleaning described on paper does not translate into actual work in the borough. For example, the owner of Café St-Roch reported not seeing a city broom for weeks. Taking matters into his own hands, he cleaned the street himself on the south side of St-Roch from Bloomfield to Champagneur just before Orthodox Easter. Other residents have filed complaints with 311 about street sweepers that never passed their streets, indicating a gap between the planned operations and their execution.

At a recent borough council meeting, Deros raised these issues and received a response indicating that many brooms were out of commission for repairs, leading to reduced cleaning activities. This admission underscores the challenges the borough faces in maintaining its cleaning schedule and the impact of equipment downtime on service delivery. The discrepancy between the borough’s official statements and residents’ experiences has led to frustration among community members. Despite the outlined plans and new sweeper routes, the visible cleanliness of the borough remains a concern for many.

Spring Cleaning in VSP Read More »

New Parking Restrictions Schedule in VSP Starting April 1

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New Parking Restrictions Schedule in VSP Starting April 1

Dimitris Ilias-LJI Journalist

In a move aimed at enhancing the cleanliness operations and infrastructure maintenance activities within the Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension (VSP) territory, local authorities have announced a significant update to parking restriction schedules. Effective April 1, residents and visitors are advised to pay close attention to the updated parking rules on their streets to avoid penalties.
Historically, the community has been well-acquainted with the existing parking schedules, often knowing them by heart. However, this year brings a crucial shift as over 5,000 signage across VSP will reflect the newly revised schedules. This change is designed to grant municipal teams increased flexibility and efficiency in performing various tasks such as tree inspection, non-urgent repairs, and street sweeping operations.
What’s Changing?
Day: The day of the week when restrictions apply may have been altered.
Hours: New time slots for parking restrictions have been established.
Extended Duration: Restrictions will be extended by an hour, shifting from a one-hour prohibition to two. This adjustment provides maintenance teams with adequate time to complete their tasks effectively.
Why the Adjustment?
The alteration in parking restriction timings partly stems from a recent overhaul in the routes of street sweepers. The necessity for this overhaul was driven by changes in the district’s layout, including alterations in traffic flow, the introduction of traffic-calming measures, and street reconfigurations. These developments rendered the previous sweeper routes obsolete, necessitating a comprehensive review to align them with the territory’s current needs.
This strategic update is not only aimed at keeping the streets cleaner but also at ensuring the district’s infrastructure remains in optimal condition. The modified schedules will be in effect from April 1 through December 1 annually, marking a significant period during which the VSP will witness enhanced maintenance and cleaning efforts.
Residents are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the new parking schedules to ensure compliance and to support the district’s initiative towards maintaining a cleaner and more efficient environment.

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