“We must reduce our dependency on the car,” said Mayor Peter Trent before strapping on a helmet and pedalling off on a ceremonial “maiden voyage” along the de Maisonneuve bike path. “I’m very happy we finally have Bixi — and I think Bixi’s very happy to have us!”
City Councillor Gary Ikeman, who has worked closely on the initiative to bring Bixis to the community, calls it a great step forward. “We think this is very progressive,” he said. “It’s critical to have the linkage to NDG and the rest of the City of Montreal on the eastern side.”
Members of the Westmount Walking and Cycling Association are also pleased to see the news Bixi stations in Westmount. “Bixi appears to enjoy solid support amongst Westmount residents, so we hope it will be adopted here like it has been in Montreal and other cities,” they wrote in a prepared statement.
“It’s a great thing for Westmount,” agreed Michel Philibert, director of communications and marketing for Bixi. “For us it’s very positive as well — it’s positive for everyone.”
Those also present to greet the Bixi installation included CDN-NDG City Councillor Peter McQueen, Westmount Director General Duncan Campbell, city councillors Tim Price, Victor Drury, Kathleen Duncan, Cynthia Lulham and Theodora Samiotis, Commander Stéphane Plourde and Cnst. Steven Goldberg of police Station 12, Public Security Director David Sedgwick, several cycling activists including Dan Lambert, as well as Jean-Pierre Picard, Paul Marriott, Patricia Dumais and Marilynn Gillies of the Westmount Municipal Association.
The Westmount stations are now in place at Greene and de Maisonneuve, Sherbrooke at Argyle, Ste. Catherine at Redfern, Victoria Hall, and Sherbrooke at Prince Albert.
