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By car
Here is some information you'll need to know about driving safely in Montreal :
- Most foreign drivers license are valid in Quebec, that includes the US.
- You can't turn right on a red light on the island of Montreal itself as of Spring 2003. But you can turn right on a red light only outside the island of Montreal. For more information, you can visit this site.
- English-french driving dictionary :
- autoroute : it means "highway", it's commonly used in english too
- phares : it means "car ligths", so "allumez vos phares" sign before a tunnel means "turn on your lights", and "vos phares?" or "eteignez vos phares" means turn off your lights.
- pont : it means "bridge"
- sortie : it means "exit", so something like "Montreal, 4 prochaines sorties", means that the next four exits go to Montreal
- Kilometers vs. miles : to convert miles to kilometer and vice-versa, here are the equivalents : 1 Kilometer = 0.6214 mile, 1 mile = 1.6093 km
- Pedestrians : if you ever heard that canadian pedestrians respect the red lights, it's not the case in Montreal. Most pedestrians, especially downtown, cross whenever they want and in the middle of the street so watch out. There's also the "pedestrian bridge", some drivers slow down coming from side streets before crossing Ste-Catherine street downtown because of the group of pedestrain trying to cross that street. That gives the signal to pedestrians to cross the street even if it's still green for the cars... so don't run anyone over but don't be too polite.
- Potholes : because of the extreme temperatures we see in Montreal, there are many potholes in the spring (they start as bumps then when it gets warmer, they turn into holes). Those holes are usually filled by summer.
- Reserved bus lanes : there are some streets that have reserved bus lanes at rush hours (du Parc ave. for example). Only buses and taxis can use it during those hours. If you are caught on one of those lanes, you will receive a ticket. Reserved lanes are well marked with white lozenges on the streets and on signs over the street. Some have lights (red cross means no, white arrow means yes... ) that tells you when you can use them.
- Speeding and parking tickets : you should pay them (you may have no choice). The Montreal Urban Community police has an agreement with other provinces and most US states to track down people who have had tickets while visiting Montreal, they'll find you wherever you are.
- Where to get gas downtown : there are not many places where you can get gas downtown, there's one gas station at the corner of Sherbrooke and Jeanne-Mance.
- For information on road conditions (for winter), road repairs (for summer), general road maps or traffic information as seen through the network of online webcams, visit he Transports Quebec site.
- Car and motorhome rental : If you are looking to rent a motorhome in Montreal, you can check out these links : www.landcruise.com, www.campertour.com/canada_cru.htm or www.canadream.com. For car rental companies, try our moreMontreal directory's listing.
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