The EBN: Montréal's Express Bike Network

Last updated March 25, 2024
Reading time: 3 min

The Express Bike Network (EBN) is a 191 kilometre bike lane project that connects different points of interest in Montréal. With protected bike lanes, cyclists can travel by bike in a safe, efficient and pleasant way. Once the EBN is complete, it will have 17 routes accessible all year long.

Benefits for all Montrealers

The EBN clearly delineates the space reserved for each method of transportation, whether you are travelling on foot, by bike, by bus or by car. It has many advantages, not only for cyclists but also for the entire population:

  • Making bike travel safer
  • More equitable street sharing between methods of transportation
  • Mitigation of car traffic
  • Improved access to downtown and points of interest
  • Vitalizing commercial streets and neighbourhood life
  • Reduction in greenhouse gas emissions

Characteristics of the EBN

  • Bike paths that are separated from car traffic and accessible all year long to cyclists of all skill levels
  • High capacity lanes that are wide enough for cyclists to pass one another
  • Paths that are designed to create the most direct routes for long distance trips
  • Connection to existing bike lanes

Routes in progress

Avenue Viger/Rue Saint-Antoine/Rue Saint-Jacques

Once it is complete, this 5.4 kilometre route will cross Le Sud-Ouest and Ville-Marie from Rue De Courcelle Street to Rue Berri and connect downtown points of interest, such as the Quartier des spectacles, Old Montréal, the École de technologie supérieure, the Bell Centre and Atwater Market. Parts of the route were developed in 2021 and 2022.

Boulevard Henri-Bourassa route

From Boulevard Lacordaire to Highway 40, west of Highway 13, the EBN, which is part of the Boulevard Henri-Bourassa mobility corridor, will extend over a distance of 18 kilometres. On some parts of the boulevard, express bus service will be provided. Part of the route is currently under construction in Saint-Laurent, between Avenue Félix-Leclerc and Boulevard Pitfield.

Civic participation initiatives are planned for the various sections of the route.

Jean-Talon/Bélanger route

The Rue Jean-Talon-Rue Bélanger hub will stretch from east to west across 15 kilometres between Boulevard des Galeries d’Anjou and the future Namur-Hippodrome neighbourhood. It will link several hospitals, shops and public transportation stations as well as highways and railroads.

The first section to the east will be completed in 2024 on Rue Jean-Talon between Rue Boyer and 1re avenue. To the west, temporary structures will extend the existing bike lane on rue Bélanger. A permanent bike plane is being planned.

Existing routes

Rue Berri/Rue Lajeunesse/Rue Saint-Denis

The Rue Berri/Rue Lajeunesse/Rue Saint-Denis bike path, which crosses the island of Montréal from north to south, has more than 8.7 kilometres of bike paths. From Boulevard Gouin to Rue Roy, this key route passes through four boroughs and connects many important places, such as Rue Saint-Denis, a major shopping street; the Sauvé intermodal station, Jean-Talon Market, and the Bibliothèque Marc-Favreau and Bibliothèque du Plateau municipal libraries. In 2023, the route will be extended to Rue Cherrier and connected to the bidirectional Rue Berri bike path.

Avenue Souligny

The Avenue Souligny route extends from Rue Honoré-Beaugrand to Avenue Hector in Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve. It offers access to the Maison de la culture Mercier, the École secondaire Édouard-Montpetit and the Aréna Clément-Jetté. It consists of a 2.1 kilometre bi-directional bike path.

Rue Peel

From Boulevard René-Lévesque to Rue Smith, this route crosses downtown Montréal through the Quartier des gares and the Griffintown sector. Many points of interest are found along this route, including McGill and Concordia Universities, the École de technologie supérieure, the Bell Centre, Rue Sainte-Catherine Street, the Peel Basin and a few metro and light rail network stations. Eventually, the 1.7 kilometre route will extend to Boulevard De Maisonneuve.

Rue De Bellechasse

From Avenue de Gaspé to Rue Chatelain, this six kilometre route connects many institutions, including the Bibliothèque Marc-Favreau, Bibliothèque La Petite-Patrie and Bibliothèque Rosemont municipal libraries, the Collège de Rosemont, the Montréal Heart Institute, and two hospitals, the Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont and the Hôpital Santa Cabrini. For more information on bike lane projects in Rosemont La-Petite-Patrie, visit the Vision Vélo Web page (in French).

Rue Notre-Dame/Parc de la Traversée

From Rue De Courcelle to Rue Berri, this 5.4 km route will cross Le Sud-Ouest and Ville-Marie, connecting downtown landmarks such as the Quartier des spectacles, Old Montréal, the École de technologie supérieure, the Bell Centre and the Atwater market.

Civic participation

Would you like to know more about EBN projects and express your views about how they are developed? Check out the civic participation activities currently in progress ont the Réalisons Montréal Website.