Tired of snow-covered Lachine Canal bike path, Southwest cyclists shovel it themselves

A group of people in Montreal's Southwest borough picked up their shovels this morning to try and clear a path to better winter cycling conditions.

Organizers of the "pellete-in," or "shovel-in," say the bike path along the Lachine Canal, which is managed by Parks Canada, is only maintained between April 15 and Nov. 15.

They want the federal agency to keep the path open and cleared year-round.

• Montreal snow plan calls for improved parking, more cycling

They say it's a vital link,connectingVerdun, LaSalle, Lachineand downtown Montreal.

Southwest borough residentMokhtarLiaminiuses the path during the summer but can't in the winter.

"It's not safe. There's ice on the path, and it becomes unsafe in the first days of winter," he said.

If it was cleared, he would use it more often to go to work and to runerrands on weekends, he said.

• App helps Montreal winter cyclists find snow-cleared paths

Money there, deal needed

The borough has earmarked the money to maintain the path and include it in the city's winter cycling network, but it needs Montrealand Parks Canada to come to an agreement on clearing it of snow, which hasn't happened.

City Coun.CraigSauv, who has been pushing to get the path maintained since he was elected in 2013,said Parks Canada is concerned about snow removal equipment damaging the bike path, among other technicalissues that need ironing out.

Southwest Borough MayorBenot Dorais said in October thatthe file had beentransferred from the city's sports department to its transport department, where it should have been all along.

He said he is optimistic the city and Parks Canada will come to an agreement before the first big snowfall.

• 6 ways to survive winter cycling in Montreal