Daniel Lambert, champion
for active transportation

A conversation with the founding President of the Association of Pedestrians and Cyclists of Westmount (APCW).

February 27, 2016

Daniel Lambert all dressed up and ready to ride in winter.

Westmount resident Daniel Lambert is passionate about cycling as a way of transportation and is well-known in commuter cycling advocacy circles. He is often the go-to person when local media needs input on cycling issues and is occasionally a guest on CBC’s Daybreak. As President of the APCW, he is ever busy promoting active transportation by way of walking and cycling. WestmountMag.ca recently sat down with Daniel to get to know more about him and his cause.

WM: So, who is Daniel Lambert?

DL: I studied engineering and business administration then worked for Rio Tinto in Canada and abroad.

WM: How did you wind up living in Westmount?

DL: Moving back to Canada, we were looking for a place where a car would not be necessary for daily transportation. Westmount fits the bill perfectly — it’s so close to downtown Montreal and is a very nice place to live, with its lovely parks and services nearby.

WM: How did the APCW come about?

DL: I was cycling to the office downtown year-round and asked the city council to clean the de Maisonneuve bike path in winter — that was back in 2009! After that council meeting, I met other Westmounters interested in urban cycling so we decided to create an association.

WM: What are the APCW’s goals?

DL: First of all, to promote active transportation, that is walking and cycling, because it is fun and good exercise. Also, our members are concerned about climate change and the large contribution from transportation. We feel that cities and their elected officials can significantly reduce those emissions by promoting both public and active transportation.

Our association encourages the city of Westmount to focus some attention on walking and cycling. Most cities provide sidewalks on both sides of every street, so walking is relatively safe, except at intersections. Cycling allows one to travel further and faster than walking, but there are few safe bike paths, so there is a big potential gain. Several cities in Europe and Asia have made significant progress in promoting cycling with up to 40% of daily trips now made by bike. And most residents in those countries continue through winter because the bike paths are cleaned as a priority.

… our members are concerned about climate change and the large contribution from transportation. We feel that cities and their elected officials can significantly reduce those emissions by promoting both public and active transportation.

WM: What has the APCW achieved so far?

DL: The City of Westmount controls the purse strings, so we can only ask for improvements. But the city is now paying more attention to urban cycling issues.

We are happy to report that urban cycling has grown substantially in the past several years in Westmount and in Montreal. This is due in part to the introduction of Bixi bikes, which have proved very popular.

For the first time this winter, the de Maisonneuve bike path is being cleaned promptly and reliably from Montreal-West to downtown, thanks to the concerted effort by NDG, Westmount and Ville-Marie.

We are pleased that Westmount will be testing two new bike paths this coming spring on Côte St-Antoine and Westmount Avenue.

We are also working with other Montreal cycling organizations to help make it easier and safer to get around by bike in Montreal.

The city has installed automatic 4-way pedestrian lights at de Maisonneuve and Wood Ave following the pedestrian death at that intersection two years ago, making it a lot safer.

For the past 3 years, we have provided cycling education to youth in Westmount through the City’s Recreation program. We also assisted in the implementation of Vélo Québec cycling courses in a local school.

For the first time this winter, the de Maisonneuve bike path is being cleaned promptly and reliably from Montreal-West to downtown, thanks to the concerted effort by NDG, Westmount and Ville-Marie.

WM: But the APCW has surely met up with some challenges?

DL: The percentage of people commuting by bike in Montreal is about 3%, compared with up to 40% in cities that provide their residents with excellent year-round cycling infrastructure. Those cities generate lower emissions from transportation and provide residents with the opportunity to enjoy the health benefits of integrating activity into their daily routines.

Unfortunately, many decision-makers do not yet appreciate the significant potential benefits of urban cycling and so resist calls for inexpensive, yet safe, year-round cycling infrastructure to allow residents wanting to commute by bike, to do so safely.

WM: How can citizens help?

DL: Residents who want to see cycling become a fully viable form of urban transportation in Montreal can join our association and contribute some time to help make it happen. We can be reached at amcw-wwca.org or info@amcw-wwca.org

WM: What is on your wish list?

DL: That’s an easy one — a complete and connected network of safe year-round bike paths in Montreal. As they say, “you build it, they will come!”

Feature image: TMAB2003 via StockPholio.net