The warm fuzzy feeling that I had on the weekend during the snow storm as it was coming down is now effectively gone. Two days of struggling with Montreal’s public transportation has been enough to wipe out any seasonal cheer that I may have had. It is absolutely ridiculous for the city to encourage people to take public transport in the aftermath of the storm when there are clearly problems meeting the demand. It was freaking cold today as I waited 45 minutes for a bus this morning. I saw more “Désolé Hors Service” buses go by than actual buses for my route. When one did come by, it was too packed to stop. I finally managed to board a bus by going in the back door. I still had to walk a few blocks to work after that and I could hardly feel my feet they were so frozen stiff. Only the heat from the anger inside me kept me going. And things only got worse. Tonight, I waited for the bus to come home and I did not even see a single one pass in the space of 45 minutes. I was so absolutely frigid that I gave in and hailed a taxi. I am so fed up with the bus situation and I know my sentiments are shared by many of the people who were also waiting in the extremely long lines at every bus stop I passed while thawing in the cab. Something is just not right when people have to wait so long.

Thanks to Kate over at Mtl City Weblog who points to this article on salting of roads.

It brings up a fair point. What would happen if the city didn’t salt the roads? Where I was born, the town never salted the roads. Same goes for many rural communities. The streets would be slippier, but I argue, as does the article, that people would drive accordingly.

Salt ruins my bike. I have to hose my bike off and then dry it off for fear that salt will eat away at all the parts. It’s horrible for the environment and we’d all get less wet feet because of it.

This morning, on Mount Royal, the salt still hadn’t taken full effect. The roads were entirely snow covered. They were completely white. It was easy riding on. I saw no cars slamming into others. It wasn’t pandemonium. Must the city really salt all the roads ?

Enough of Autumn, when is winter!?

I chickened out this morning and didn’t ride the bike in. I figured I’d take the metro. The day of the last storm, the city was very quiet. The metro as well. I hoofed it down to the Mount Royal station and the guy working the booth was out for a coffee. Yipee. Free ride.

Get down the stairs in what I am SURE is the hottest metro in the network and people are lined up 6 deep from end to end.

Not good.

First metro arrives and it’s completely packed and one person gets off two squeeze on.

More people arrive, the line is now 7 deep.

Next metro arrives, again completely jammed with people and two people get off, 3 get on.

Enough of that. I’m hoofing it all the way. It took me 75 minutes to walk to work and I was cursing myself for not having taken the bike.

A fellow coworker told me that what I should do is take the metro going north, get off at Cremazie and then get back on going south. In his opinion, not only will it be faster, but that I will get a seat as well!

Ready or not, it’s crunch time. It’s such a frantic time of year. Everybody seems stressed out. I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised as it will be like this at least through boxing day. I made the mistake of going out to Quartier Dix-30 on the weekend. After securing a parking spot a number of kilometers away (I’m only mildly exaggerating) I faced hordes and hordes of people trying to shop. I wish I had read Christelle’s post (below) before I did that! It’s true, the downtown malls are totally empty weekdays, except around lunchtime, when it’s like being in a beehive. Instead of physically shopping this year, I’m doing a lot of cybershopping. All the big box stores have websites, and if you know what you want, it’s easy as pie to order. But I wouldn’t push it past the weekend since you have to allow time for delivery. It’s also wonderful this year to have a white coat blanketing the lawns and rooftops, it does make the city seem more festive at this time of year. As for me, the cards are mailed, the tree is up, the holiday music is in the CD player and I’ve just got 2 gifts to go. Here’s hoping you make it through these last two weeks!

Back when I was a student, I rode my mountain bike into school every day. I layered up on all kinds of muddy, oil stained cover pants, an old beat up jacket from MEC and layered on motor oil on the chain and by the end of the second winter, the bike was a trasher. Nothing really left of it. But it was doable.

I didn’t bother to replace it as I was walking into work at that point. A few years ago, after switching contracts, I started to bike into work again on an old Marinoni I converted to a fixie with spare track parts I had lying around the apartment.. and built up some wheels myself with some hubs I had as well.

Last year and this year I decided to not take the bike into work in the winter. It isn’t really the cold, or wet that bugs me but the salt. It will destroy a bike.

But after 2 months of being squished into a metro, and the 15 minute walk to the metro, I’m starting to rethink this idea and maybe riding in on days where the roads aren’t covered in slush/salt.

First off will be to fit the bike with some fenders. Next, maybe a decent set of cyclocross tires.. Any other ides from those of you who still ride in ?

Oh, and if you are thinking of a great gift for your ’special someone cyclist’, head on over to Rapha. Yes, it does cost that much. But it’s OH so nice.

Too bad my girlfriend never reads this blog.. sigh

The weekend promises to be sunny so, if you’re like me and you have yet to do any significant Christmas shopping, here is a good suggestion:

The Second Annual St. Henri Art Walk (Soiree d’Art de Saint Henri). Three days of free “open studio” tours and gallery exhibits.

WHEN: Thursday, December 6th and Friday, December 7th, from 5-9 pm, and on Saturday, December 8, from noon to 5 pm.

WHERE: Studios throughout the St. Henri area. The major starting points for the Art Walk are:

• Galerie d’Art Quartier Libre, 4289 Notre-Dame

• The Canal Complex, 4710 Saint Ambroise”

Last night I was staring out the window trying to remember which side the plough pushes the snow to. I didn’t want my car totally buried under a snowbank. I was racking my brain trying to remember. Finally I figured it was to the left of the street and I got out and moved the car to the right.

As I am leaving to go to work by metro, and I am looking at all the cars parked to the left of the street and I’m thinking “SUCKERS!”.. It’s at this very moment that the plough goes by and pushes the snow to the right, ensuring my car will be stuck there until May.

So I lost that one. Now the question is, do they remove the snow on the right side of the street first or on the left.. I’m sure it’s the left!

I see that Meteomedia is forecasting 20-25 centimeters of snow between now and tomorrow afternoon. It’s going to be nice to look at the city with a fresh winter shine. Have you changed your tires yet? I resisted and really wanted to believe that All season tires included winter. Thankfully, long time denizens and drivers here knocked some sense into me. You’re going to have an accident, they said. You’re going to get stuck, they warned. So I bit the bullet last week and got some brand new winter tires on the car. This will be my first winter behind the wheel, and I really don’t know what to expect. I feel pretty safe with my $500 tires, for that price, they better be. Any other tips you’d like to pass along to a rookie winter driver?

Il y avait énormément de monde hier dans le métro pour un samedi matin. Il y avait beaucoup d'enfants et de parents. C'était une belle journée ensoleillée et il ne faisait pas trop froid. Les gens semblait très heureux d'être là.

Mid-November feels like a strange time of year in Montreal these days. The weather feels like it’s not quite Fall-ish yet not quite Winter-ish. Do you wear a spring coat with layers or just go for the all out winter jacket? Time keeps marching on nonetheless and to keep things exciting, we have several interesting developments taking place in and around the city.

I think I’ll just curl up with a nice hot cup of chocolate and wait out this lunacy limbo period. Meanwhile, don’t forget to head downtown and catch the annual too-early-to-be-happening Santa Claus parade taking place today.