Montreal cyclists have expressed concerns about a city‑run online survey intended to shape future bike‑lane projects, saying they doubt the survey’s neutrality and fear it could expose personal information.
The City of Montreal introduced the digital consultation in early June as part of its plan to broaden the municipal bike‑path network. The online tool was presented as a way for residents to submit feedback on proposed routes and priorities.
Since the survey opened, a segment of the cycling community has questioned whether the instrument will produce unbiased results. Critics argue that the design of the questionnaire and the method of data collection could influence the outcomes, potentially favoring certain projects over others.
In addition to concerns about impartiality, participants have raised issues regarding data privacy. They note that the survey requires personal details that could be linked to individual respondents, and they worry that the information could be accessed or used beyond the scope of the consultation.
The controversy has placed the city’s consultation process under scrutiny as officials continue to collect responses. No further details about the survey’s structure, data‑handling policies, or response rates have been released.
The situation reflects a broader dialogue in Montreal about how public input mechanisms are designed and how personal information is protected in municipal initiatives.