Pedestrians and people with reduced mobility feel left behind this year, how they denounce Sidewalk maintenance in Montreal is not as efficient as in previous years.
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“I often get stuck in the piles of snow on the sidewalks, people regularly have to help me to get free,” laments Alexandre Vallerand, a resident of Montreal’s Saint-Henri neighborhood.
The 29-year-old actor travels in a wheelchair every day, summer and winter, but this year, riding the city’s sidewalks is even more painful than usual.
“I would rather say that on the snow removal side, there is a lot of lull this year, efforts have been made, but there is relaxation,” he adds.
In a Facebook group of people with reduced mobility, many mention that winter is particularly difficult for travel.
“Unlike other wheelchair users who don’t go out, I move around alone in my wheelchair,” explains the man who regularly needs assistance.
In order not to get stuck in the snow, Mr. Vallerand sometimes has to use cycle paths and even the road to get around; he’s not the only one using this maneuver, which can prove dangerous.
The day after the last major snowstorm on Jan. 27, Le Journal noted that road conditions in several places required pedestrians to ride on bike lanes or the road to avoid slipping, unlike in Montreal.
In the street
In addition to sidewalks being cleared of snow less than usual, some citizens contribute more by shoveling snow around their cars.
“Even with a sled you can’t get through these piles of snow. We often move around on the street,” says Marion Deslandes-Martineau, a 30-year-old mother.
The Rosemont resident believes the sidewalks in her neighborhood are relatively well cleared of snow, but that a lack of good manners among the population prevents pedestrians from moving freely.
For its part, contacted by Le Journal, the city of Montreal reiterated that it “constantly adapts its operations to the weather” to ensure snow removal, both on the streets and on the sidewalks.
She reminds that the number of kilometers of sidewalks to be cleared on the island corresponds to 6000 km, that several obstacles such as garbage cans and cars parked too close slow down the service.
Longueuil and Quebec
The metropolis is not the only place where snow removal has been heavily criticized this year.
On Longueuil’s side, many citizens have taken to social networks to share their perspective on the situation. Many denounce the unsafe sidewalks, while others mention falling onto the ice and being injured.
A snowy sidewalk in Quebec made life difficult for many pedestrians on Friday.
Steve Tessier is originally from Longueuil but now lives in Quebec and has observed that snow removal has been a problem in both cities.
“A lot of people are dissatisfied with the snow removal this year […] Here in Quebec, I see a lot of seniors struggling to get around,” he says.
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