27 October 2023 Discussions while cycling over the Mountain

   A group of 5 MBC members got together at Ma Bicyclette for an "Over the Mountain" ride.

  As usual we all had coffee first and talked about things related to cycling.  A.T. Lane reported on his trip to Ottawa the day before and its potential as a Fixture destination.

  Laura Snowball also had news to report. She had read a news report that Mont Royal would be closed to cyclists unless they were on Chemin Olmsted or the Camillien Houde / Remembrance road.

   A third topic of discussion also ensured.  Is it now necessary in Montreal to make an appointment for a blood test or is it still possible to go to a public walk in clinic and have it done?  

   We decided that this day's Fixture will to ride over Mont Royal and continue on to the Square Decarie Vaccination center and settle both these urgent issues.

Cyclists on Mont Royal

   We rode over Mont Royal (East to West starting at the Monument) along Chemin Olmsted until it turns East and begins to climb toward the summit.  As usual the group continued West to Beaver Lake then down Hill Park Circle to Cote des Neiges.  We saw no signs restricting bicycles on that route.

  It is true that Les Amis de la Montagne prohibits Mountain Biking in the Woodlands.  They have a link to a map that locates the biking trails on Mont Royal.  However when A.T. checked the link to this map was broken.

Is it now necessary in Montreal to make an appointment for a blood test or is it still possible to go to a public walk in clinic?

  It started to rain after crossing the Mountain and most members sensibly decided to head home.  A.T. was determined to find an answer to this pressing question and pushed on, first to the JGH, then to the Decarie Square Vaccination Center.

  It is necessary to make an appointment at both those locations.  The JGH appointment cannot be made online through clicsante, there is a special phone number for this clinc that must be called. One can find this phone number by asking at the JGH test center or finding the reference to the number on clicsante website.

   The Decarie Square Vaccination Center actual name is Point de service local Côte-Saint-Luc.  They also first require an appointment. The appointment can be made online by clicsante if one enters a home postal code close enough to 6900 Decarie.  A.T. tested that later by using home postal code H3X 2T8 (6900 Decarie). Online appointments at that location can be made up to 7 days in advance.  Beyond that appointments can be made by phone only. The phone number required can be found on the clicsante website and looking for blood test at the Point de service local Côte-Saint-Luc or by going to the Decarie Square Vaccination Center and asking them.

 Ahhhhh...that is how it works.