Using the metro to keep in shape
Interesting idea to use the metro to keep in shape.
I’d been pondering working out a walking path indoors, given that sidewalks have been slabs of ice for days. If I recall correctly, you can start at Place des Arts, walk south to the Palais des congrès, westward to Place Bonaventure and then northward through Place Ville-Marie into the Eaton Centre or Place Montreal Trust, all without going outside – is that still true?
Bill Binns 10:24 on 2012/01/30 Permalink
The longest walk I have been able to find without going outside or using the metro is entering the underground at the Scotiabank on Sherbrooke and walking through the malls all the way to Bonaventure station.
Robert J 10:52 on 2012/01/30 Permalink
I used to live at the corner of Sherbrooke W and Ste-Famille.When it was really cold, I would cross the street, cut the the UQAM science buildings that have a link to Place-des-Arts, walk through to Place Desjardins and Guy-Favreau to get to the orange line.
It was a bit of a detour but meant I didn’t have to transfer at Berri or walk in the cold. Also, yes you can still walk west from the Palais des congrès and north from Place Ville-Marie all the way to the malls on Ste-Cath.
I used to occasionally test this out to see how the tunnels evolve. I always found there was a certain lack of coherence, especially in the shopping malls. The official RéSO signage is used unevenly, and the malls seem to be designed to make it difficult to simply cross through (to get people to buy things probably). Overall, the system is designed for you to enter one building and maybe cross through one or two to get to the closest metro.
Its unfortunate they don’t design them with the intention of having people do longer treks. My hunch is that if they did you would see them put to better use (less shopping, more services as people would use them for a longer part of their commute).
Still I think its a good principle that every new construction downtown have connections to the metro. If you compare it to say New York, Montreal stand out as a city where you go inside almost anywhere downtown and can make your way to a station by following signage careful.
Shawn 11:45 on 2012/01/30 Permalink
Bill, once you’re in Place Bonaventure can’t you walk under University to the Delta hotel, which in turn connects to Square Victoria metro and other complexes…?
mare 13:03 on 2012/01/30 Permalink
Longest possible walk: Enter Place-des-Arts station on De Bleury, and then walk to Place-des-Armes, under the Palais des Congres to Place Bonaventure. Then go “North” and exit the Peel station on Stanley across from the YMCA.
That’ll keep you busy for a while.
http://www.stm.info/english/info/souterrain2011.pdf
mare 13:05 on 2012/01/30 Permalink
Maybe the Peel station exit of the Scotia Bank Tower on Sherbrooke is actually further away from your origin.
ant6n 13:15 on 2012/01/30 Permalink
@Mare
You were faster than me – I had the same route in mind, which is a bit less than three and a half KM: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com?r=5278010.
There are a lot of busy areas, and corners and narrow corridors, so it might not be so good for running.
Kate 15:13 on 2012/01/30 Permalink
I wasn’t planning to run. Just looking for a place to walk to avoid cabin fever.
ant6n 15:54 on 2012/01/30 Permalink
Oh also, can add another 200~300m if one goes through that Centre de Commerce de Montreal, between The Palais de Congress and Square Victoria.
Doobious 19:28 on 2012/01/30 Permalink
Some really nasty color choices in that map mare linked. Yeesh.
If you really want to get in shape using the metro, try hoofing it up the stairs in Lucien L’Allier. That’ll get your heart pumping.
Blork 22:55 on 2012/01/31 Permalink
When I worked downtown near the Eaton Centre I used to do this 2 or 3 times a week in the winter: start at Eaton centre, go south through PVM and Central Station to Place Bonaventure. Then go east to the Square Vic station (part of this is at ground level, but indoors), through to the Palais de Congrés. From there you pass by Place d’armes station to Place Guy Favreau, then to Complex Desjardins and Place des Arts. It’s a great walk, and there are a few tangents you can take en route. The middle part can be confusing and isn’t necessarily intuitive, but after a couple of times it makes sense.