Olivier Primeau Slams Montreal's Bike Lane Planning: “Let’s Use Some Common Sense!”
So, let’s talk about something that’s been heating up recently — Olivier Primeau, a well-known entrepreneur and avid cyclist, has taken a public stance against how Montreal (and even Quebec City) are handling the development of bike lanes. And when I say he’s fired up, I mean it. He’s not against biking — far from it. The man bikes between 3,000 and 4,000 kilometers a year. But what he’s calling out is the way these new lanes are being implemented — rushed, disconnected from reality, and completely lacking proper planning.
On his social media, Primeau laid it all out. He’s not sugarcoating anything. According to him, cities are making major changes — removing parking spots, painting lines on the road, tossing in some plastic poles — and calling that a "vision for the future." But for him, it’s far from visionary. The issue isn't about being anti-bike; it's about being pro-logic and pro-consultation. Where’s the conversation with local business owners, the residents, the restaurant-goers?
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He argues that the way bike lanes are being slapped onto the streets is hurting local businesses. Think about it — families, groups of friends, older folks — they’re not hopping on bikes to grab dinner at a neighborhood bistro. These people rely on cars. When you eliminate parking, you’re eliminating customers. And that, he says, is slowly draining the life and energy out of the city's vibrant neighborhoods.
And another thing that really bothers Primeau? The lack of dialogue. He’s attended some of these so-called public consultations, and in his words, it feels more like a box-checking formality than a genuine effort to listen. He accuses some officials of being so set on copying a “Paris-style” urban vision that they ignore the very real and unique needs of Quebec cities. “Montréal will never be Paris,” he insists. “We don’t have the density, we don’t have the same lifestyles, and we’re not built the same.”
At the heart of his message is this: he’s not against progress — he welcomes it. What he’s demanding is common sense. Urban planning that respects everyone: cyclists, drivers, pedestrians, and yes — the small businesses that give the city its character. If we keep bulldozing through changes without thoughtful planning, he warns, we’re going to lose the soul of our neighborhoods. The charm, the restaurants, the little boutiques — all at risk because of poor decisions made in the name of modernity.
So, whether you’re a cyclist, a driver, or just someone who loves your local café, Olivier Primeau is asking us all to look a little closer at how our cities are changing — and to make sure that progress doesn’t come at the cost of community.
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