News
The Saint-Denis REV, a Bike Path Reaching New Heights in Montreal
Jean Giguère
Author :
WikiResidence
Source :
05/11/25
The Saint-Denis "Réseau express vélo" (REV - Express Bike Network) in Montreal has established itself as one of the most frequented bike paths in North America, defying skeptics and demonstrating the enormous potential of active transport in the metropolis.
With impressive usage figures, it compares favorably to infrastructure in much more populous cities, such as New York.
Inaugurated amidst sometimes heated debates, the Saint-Denis "Réseau express vélo" (REV) section quickly established itself as the backbone of the Montreal bike network.
This safe and efficient corridor, spanning 8.7 km, recorded over 1.5 million passages in 2023, making it the most frequented path in Montreal.
Usage figures continue to grow, validating the investment in high-quality infrastructure that protects cyclists and facilitates the transition to more sustainable mobility.
Bold Comparison with New York
The most remarkable feat of the Saint-Denis REV is its performance in North America.
According to data from 2025 (covering the January to September period), the Saint-Denis REV ranked among the top three most used bike paths in Canada and the United States.
It even surpassed heavily used paths in New York City, such as those on the Williamsburg Bridge (2 million trips for the full year) and the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge (1.6 million for the full year).
City | Population (Greater Montreal/NYC) (Approx.) | Busiest Bike Paths (Examples) | Recent Usage Data (e.g., Jan-Sept 2025) |
Montreal | $\approx$ 4.3 million (CMA) | Saint-Denis REV | 1.3 million |
New York | $\approx$ 20 million (Metropolitan) | Williamsburg Bridge, Queensboro Bridge | 2 million (Full Year), 1.6 million (Full Year) |
The fact that the Saint-Denis REV can rival, or even exceed, paths in the Big Apple – a city with a population approximately four times greater than that of the Greater Montreal area – is a powerful indicator of the density of bike usage in the Quebec metropolis.
Other Busy Bike Paths in Greater Montreal
The success is not limited to Saint-Denis. Ridership is also very high on other REV axes and traditional bike network paths, confirming the relevance of Montreal's approach.
While numbers vary by counter, other highly frequented paths include:
The Berri/Lajeunesse REV: Another strategic north-south axis that also records very high ridership.
The Rachel Path: A historical and extremely popular path, particularly at its intersection with the Saint-Denis REV (one of the busiest cycling intersections).
The Maisonneuve Path: A crucial east-west axis, especially downtown.
The South Shore Path (e.g., Champlain Bridge/Estacade): Essential for South Shore commuters.
The realization of these projects demonstrates that by offering high-quality, safe, and direct cycling corridors, cycling ridership increases dramatically, transforming cycling from a seasonal leisure activity into a serious mode of transport that contributes to overall traffic flow.
Video on Montreal's bike paths: https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=youtube+Montreal+biking&&view=detail&mid=90E2DF139A739A543A3B90E2DF139A739A543A3B&mmscn=mtsc&aps=136&FORM=VRDGAR