The city of Montreal's temporary sanitary corridors are raising the ire of other merchants - this time on Queen Mary Road in the NDG/Côte-des-Neiges borough.
Several merchants have complained to the city councillor responsible for the area, Marvin Rotrand who said that no one is using the corridors and that most people who go to Queen Mary go by car. But Rotrand said borough mayor Sue Montgomery refuses to listen.
"She believes everyone will suddenly become a cyclist," said Rotrand.
"They don't come by bicycle and the sanitary corridors have made it difficult for customers to park and once they find it difficult, they don't come back the second time - at least that's what merchants are saying."
Manager of Toujours Fleurs Lorraine Soo said she's been losing sales from customers who can't find parking and are no longer coming to the area.
Soo said the majority of her clients are drivers and not cyclists or public transit users.
"I don't see how it makes any sense for my customers - they're not 25-year-olds who can get on a bike," said Soo in an interview with CJAD 800.
The city has been putting in temporary sanitary corridors in different areas to enable cyclists and pedestrians to physically distance.
The STM plans to put a reserved bus lane along Queen Mary this fall which would eliminate parking spots permanently - some merchants say that just adds insult to injury.
Rotrand said he's asked the city to postpone the plan for at least a year.