Modern Vespa

.... so i have a shot at a very good job in montreal. no guarantees but a very good chance i will get it if i apply. the first few things on my mind when i started to leaf through the possibilities, opportunities, etc. were as follows....

- they have winter in montreal. proper winter, with much snow and road salt and freezingness and no chance of riding. how many months can i go without riding?

- is lane-splitting allowed in quebec? what if i have to sit in traffic queues?

- do they have a good vespa dealership/service center in montreal? what if they don't? how long does it take to get parts?

... note how none of this was in any way related to the job itself. that kind of paled into insignificance as i mulled things over: how might this move affect my scooting life?

i hold ugly betty, and everybody on MV, personally responsible. just so you know...

Genie,

Montreal is close to another small country, the USA, where there are lots of riding opportunities, and lots of rallies you could attend. And when it's frozen in Montreal, you could vacation in Florida and ride there.

Hopefully a real Montrealer will speak up as I have limited experience with that city. HOWEVER, the experience I did have showed it was closer to having a European scooter culture than Toronto!

I have been in Montreal for business a few times and I always see scooters and motorcycles downtown. There is some designated scooter/MC parking and even cages "lane split". It probably isn't legal, but downtown traffic in Montreal is a lot more creatively chaotic than most places I've visited.

I have seen scooters and MCs in downtown Montreal parked beside snowbanks in February. Montreal is very efficient clearing snow off the streets (they have to be), and people with short commutes probably use their scooters throughout the year. Things can get damn cold, so heated grips and a lap apron may be required.

Montreal is a fantastic city, in so many ways. I doubt you'd have any regrets to be honest.

C'mon! It's freaking *Montreal*! JUST GO!

The traffic can be crazy. Oh, you're from London! Nothing of note in Montreal traffic-wise then.

What a great adventure-I hope you can do it. As if Montreal wasn't great enough-you'll be able to easily visit: Ottawa, Quebec City, Niagara Falls, NYC, Vermont, etc.

also-REAL MAPLE SYRUP!!! YUM!! Hockey too. So you park the scoot from Late Oct to mid April--get a pair of cross-country skis. You'll be in great shape!

How exciting! If you're used to riding in the rain in the UK you should be fine in Montreal. Very cool!

Hi was born in Montreal and grew up there.
Montreal has two riding seasons; May to late September (normal gear) and March to late November (ski gear/ multiple layers) without icy roads.
Lane splitting is illegal in Quebec; If you lane split expect to be followed by impatient SUV/BMW drivers.
There's a Vespa dealer on St Deni its a trendy downtown restaurant /nightclub area. They do good business but I don't know how good they are.
Montreal/Montrealers have a great love of life; 2 to 3 hour lunches in the summertime, beautiful women (sorry I didn't pay much attention to the guys), nightlife, and wonderful summer street festivals Jazz, Comedy etc.(with free events).
Generally you're enjoy Montreal more if you speak French, but you can get by without problems with just English.

Be aware that Montreal is undergoing an infrastructure crisis. Most of the elevated roads and the subway system was constructed in the early/mid sixties; they dropped a overpass on a couple of cars last year and closed the subway and the major street above for a weekend a few weeks ago to do emergency repairs. They're thinking it needs 40 billion for repairs (so I hear). Expect taxes to be higher than the rest of North America (i.e. gas has an extra 10 cent a litre charge compared to the rest of Canada).

Good Luck on your choice!

Regards
from Ottawa
Harvey

I have enjoyed both times I visited Montreal, and know many friends who have lived there. Never have heard a bad word - only good things! Except the traffic, but you'll get that everywhere.

Things to be careful of: (1) no turning right on a red, and (2) cross all streets very carefully - even if you have the walk signal!

As for the winter ... well, it's winter! That means cooler temps and snow. Put on a coat and boots and you'll do fine.

My cousin owns a couple of hotels in Quebec and I hear that it's a great place.

Hackney vs Montreal? A tough one. Despite the negative aspects of London, it's a great place to live.

Personally, I'd go if my family was there - yours are, I believe. In this virtual world you'd be no further away and could always invest in some Vespa snow chains!

cheers all for helping me think this through. i know montreal having lived there for a while, and i love the thought of moving back... i just never imagined that a little transportation decision (i.e. the scooter purchase) made last january would prove to be such a big factor in deciding whether or not to do so (i could be getting waaaaay ahead of myself here - the job has yet to be officially offered to me).

the cold is a major factor - i wear a lap apron and heated grips in the uk in april, so i'm pretty sure that the november to march scooting season in quebec will be out of the question for me, unless global warming has changed things substantially.

on the other hand .... if i move to canada ..... i get to have a GARAGE!!!!!

i recall all of the bridges off the island being closed for repairs every summer, and a 20-ton chunk of concrete dropping off of the olympic stadium and landing in the parking lot.