Skis and toboggans can go by metro
The STM is making it official that it’s OK to transport skis and toboggans in the metro even at rush hour. Although the article’s illustrated with a picture of a bus, it doesn’t mention the same being OK for buses, although it does confirm that bicycles are still not welcome in the metro at rush hour.
In other winter sports news, Rosemont borough is installing a refrigerated rink on Beaubien in Petite-Patrie, just off Plaza St-Hubert.
denpanosekai 23:17 on 2019-12-04 Permalink
Speaking of skating rinks… I can confirm that the Angrignon speed skating rink is still not a thing. It was promised for end of 2019. You’d think by now they’d at least have some part of the parking lot blocked off.
https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/montreal-to-have-speed-skating-oval-in-angrignon-park-by-2019
My guess is that the whole thing was just quietly canned.
CE 23:21 on 2019-12-04 Permalink
I’m glad to see something happening with that parking lot on Beaubien. It always seemed like such a waste of a potentially good spot for either a park or new commercial/residential building.
Mr.Chinaski 02:27 on 2019-12-05 Permalink
According to the friends of the Angrignon Skating rink, the project is not dead, money was allowed for a study :
https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Community-Organization/Anneau-de-patinage-r%C3%A9frig%C3%A9r%C3%A9-400m-parc-Angrignon-379520245521618/
jeather 11:06 on 2019-12-05 Permalink
Why in the world is it ok to transport skis and toboggans at rush hour, but not bikes?
Michael Black 11:24 on 2019-12-05 Permalink
Decades ago Le Monde a Bicyclette argued that point. When they campaigned for allowing bikes on the Metro about 1979, they had demonstrations where they’d take ironing boards and other items onto the Metro, no problem. And then they’d argue that these big items were equivalent to bicycles in terms of being in the way. It took some time before the rules changed, though at least there weren’t rules put in place against large items on the Metro.
Kate 11:37 on 2019-12-05 Permalink
jeather, I’m assuming it’s because these things are narrow and you can stand with them quite close to you, whereas a bicycle is horizontal so takes up more space.
I don’t know whether there are, or should be, restrictions like putting some sort of safety cap on pole tips the way it used to be required to have blade guards on skates, for example. One sharp stop and things like that can go flying.
jeather 12:32 on 2019-12-05 Permalink
Skis, maybe. Toboggans?
But given how many people just keep their backpacks on their backs like monsters when the trains are packed, I wouldn’t trust them.
Meezly 12:54 on 2019-12-05 Permalink
During heavy snow, sleds and toboggans are the best way to transport small kids, as strollers are practically useless in snow. Imagine how much more space a stroller would take in a metro, and I think strollers are allowed during rush hour.
Kate 13:48 on 2019-12-05 Permalink
Strollers are allowed everywhere at all times, I believe. I was wondering about that last weekend during the STM open house: when I was a kid, strollers definitely were not allowed aboard buses, but I don’t remember when that changed. I remember my mother pushing my little sister around in a stroller for a long time (she was a lazy kid who preferred not to walk) but we never got aboard public transit with it.
Orr 10:20 on 2019-12-07 Permalink
Speaking of skating rinks, a really big missed opportunity was to make the renovated tennis courts at North-East corner of parc Jeanne-Mance to be skating rink in winter.
This is a really good location for a recreational skating rink.
The only skating rink in the park is not a full time recreational-skating only rink and is a temporary seasonal rink with boards, a hockey rink actually.