What do we know about when and how Montreal clubs will reopen?

[Penn7]

North Dakota and South Dakota have some of the worst rates in the world. I don’t know how it is in Canada but we have way too many people who refuse to wear a mask, and now with so many people apparently still traveling for (American) Thanksgiving... *shudder*

[Luv2play]

Manitoba is now trending worse than approximately a dozen USA states.

 

There is significant permeability at the border even within the guidelines.

 

I don’t think we will see Montreal strip clubs re/opening for a long long time.

 

The case incidence modelling is very alarming unless people’s current behaviour changes.

Manitoba is an interesting case. Early in the pandemic, when the majority of US cases were in the north-east states including New York, the mid-west states were doing well., Fast forward 6 months and the upper US Midwest states are a disaster. And they are right across the line from Manitoba.

 

I imagine there are more people crossing the border into Manitoba from the US than there are travellers from Ontario, their next door neighbour, most of whom live at least a thousand kilometres from the Manitoba border. Simple geography And population spread.

[SirBillybob]

As far as the question of Montreal clubs goes, add to this that a vast majority of Québecois, more so Francophones than Anglophones, are resistant or tentative about COVID vaccination ... only about 25% reporting interest and intent in potential early inoculation rollout.

[+ Hoover42]

As far as the question of Montreal clubs goes, add to this that a vast majority of Québecois, more so Francophones than Anglophones, are resistant or tentative about COVID vaccination ... only about 25% reporting interest and intent in potential early inoculation rollout.

Would you say this is due to a general anti-vaccine sentiment, something specific to the C19 vaccine itself, or something entirely different?

[SirBillybob]

Would you say this is due to a general anti-vaccine sentiment, something specific to the C19 vaccine itself, or something entirely different?

I was only referring to a Laval U Medical Anthropologist’s reference in the press to changing poll data. I think that the poll questions are very brief and basic.

 

I have not drilled down to explanatory variables within her research or that of others in Canada. The latest poll occurred, I believe, prior to the 2nd week of November release of vaccine data, but within the window of the second wave equalizing or surpassing the May peak. It seems that vaccine interest nationally is decreasing in spite of no sign of case incidence waning.

 

Quebec province’s uptake of flu vaccine historically, however, has been the lowest in the nation.

 

But your question is certainly pertinent given the same poll results by that same researcher in Quebec yielded 75% in favour of vaccination 6 months ago, dropping to 25% currently!

Edited November 21, 2020 by SirBIllybob

[Luv2play]

I’m not sure this is the case in other parts of Canada, where English is the majority language spoken. Interest in the vaccine is high and is seen by most as the only way we are going to get out of this pandemic in a realistic fashion. The alternative, achieving herd immunity, would be too devastating to the population and health care system.

 

I grew up in Montreal and lived there after my retirement for over a decade but am having trouble understanding why the French speaking population, who are the vast majority today, would be resistant to accepting a vaccine to protect themselves and their loved ones.

 

I am old enough to remember when my oldest brother got polio but mercifully recovered and is today 78 years old And healthy. By the mid fifties, we got the polio vaccine and were spared the ravages that that disease can inflict, if you just remember FDR, who contracted polio as a relatively young man, ironically in Canada at Campobello, the Roosevelt summer home. My brother also contracted polio at our summer home, which was north of Montreal.

[SirBillybob]

I stand corrected ... I have dug deeper and discovered that there are huge discrepancies in poll results depending on who is conducting them, the nuances of the questions being asked, and whether sampling has regional exclusivity versus comparative cross-nationality. There are some poll data that actually show that Québecois (Franco and Anglo alike) may have the most favourable attitudes and intentionality in Canada related to COVID vaccination. In some ways, we may have a paradox of too many fingers in the pie to get reasonably accurate and representative results.

[Luv2play]

I haven’t been to Montreal in almost a year and with the latest news on the pandemic front will not be going for the foreseeable future, which breaks my heart as I love the city. Even with the rollout of vaccines early in the new year, it’s going to take months to get the situation under control. I am fortunate to live in a green zone with few cases locally but it is quiet here in terms of seeing escorts. sigh

[twinkboylover28]

Montreal REM

[Penn7]

Montreal REM

Finally a direct rail connection to the airport? That will be a great thing

[+ newatthis]

Finally a direct rail connection to the airport? That will be a great thing

Not till 2024, IIRC. Given where I usually stay, the 747 will probably remain my airport transportation of choice.

[SirBillybob]

Once the REM train route to the airport commences, the 747 express bus will only run 01:00-05:00, the 4 hours REM does not operate.

 

Assuming most members here stay in The Village, you would take the Metro subway a few stops to McGill and transfer to the airport train there. About 25 minutes from McGill to airport, even though the route semi-circle arc is quite a bit to the north part of Montreal Island, but very frequent service.

 

A lot of people are unhappy about it. About 50% percent of current users want the bus option maintained. The many travellers that like the Lionel-Groulx Metro Stn 747 departure, feeding from the 3 Metro subway lines, will have to add a subway ride a few stops to the east, McGill or Bonaventure. At Bonaventure it is an additional indoor walk of at least 5 minutes to the REM departure at Central Station.

 

There are other Metro subway options feeding into a third REM station intersecting the two networks but they are not relevant to most readers here.

Edited December 25, 2020 by SirBIllybob

[Luv2play]

This reminds me of the Mirabel debacle. They built an airport there that nobody used because it took too long to get there from downtown.

 

I read that the REM goes through the old Mount Royal tunnel to the north to catch the suburbs and does not provide the shorter direct route from downtown to the airport. Most people wanting to save time, which is the point after all, will have to take a taxi. Which defeats the whole purpose. I don’t know what they thinking.

[SirBillybob]

From a true-north map perspective the REM route is close to a mirror image of the Hwy 20 route because the latter arcs southwest prior to going more due west to Dorval.

 

For me, the REM will be much more convenient. However, I am close enough to McGill Stn to walk without a winter coat, less than 3 minutes if the Union entrance is open.

 

For the 747 I must walk 15 minutes south and east (these are described directions contrary to true magnetic north) if I want a chance to get a seat before it fills up along René-Levesque. And time it for its schedule. For that reason, I have often called an Über to get to the airport. At the airport I have frozen my ass off waiting in line for the 747 if I have not hauled a parka to a sun destination in winter.

 

———-

 

Speaking of Mirabel, I am in a SARS-CoV-2 research trial in Mirabel municipality. What a hassle to get there via public transit! And a new EXO commuter train station near the clinic has a delayed opening, surprise surprise.

Edited December 26, 2020 by SirBIllybob

[Luv2play]

From a true-north map perspective the REM route is close to a mirror image of the Hwy 20 route because the latter arcs southwest prior to going more due west to Dorval.

 

For me, the REM will be much more convenient. However, I am close enough to McGill Stn to walk without a winter coat, less than 3 minutes if the Union entrance is open.

 

For the 747 I must walk 15 minutes south and east (these are described directions contrary to true magnetic north) if I want a chance to get a seat before it fills up along René-Levesque. And time it for its schedule. For that reason, I have often called an Über to get to the airport. At the airport I have frozen my ass off waiting in line for the 747 if I have not hauled a parka to a sun destination in winter.

 

———-

 

Speaking of Mirabel, I am in a SARS-CoV-2 research trial in Mirabel municipality. What a hassle to get there via public transit! And a new EXO commuter train station near the clinic has a delayed opening, surprise surprise.

I wondered about the geography of the two routes because it seemed to me that if one were going under Mount Royal, one was necessarily going sideways to where Dorval is. Going from downtown through the Turcotte Interchange seemed to me to be heading directly to Dorval.

 

But the important thing is to have a route with no stops between downtown and the airport. With stops you cause delays and the taxi option wins out.

[SirBillybob]

But the important thing is to have a route with no stops between downtown and the airport. With stops you cause delays and the taxi option wins out.

What is the win? REM will be 25 minutes. I don’t recall ever making it by car in that time. Even if ordering a ride were to get me there faster than half an hour I don’t live the kind of life that means getting out of shape over a few extra minutes spent here or there. I also never cut time short at the airport.

 

Granted, REM might not be the best option depending on how rushed you are and what your starting point is, what you are willing to pay out, etc, but I cannot imagine a life that pressured. Maybe if you are regular crew or frequent flight commuter?

 

This reminds me of the kind of discussion I have had with Barcelona locals. I take a relatively new subway route to and from the airport that involves one elevator transfer between two lines but is longer by 4 kms / 5 minutes (OMG!), as opposed to a shorter route (as the crow flies) with two rather extensive tunnel-walk transfers. Some think it’s dumb and they stick to the route that is geographically shorter, but others chatting with me while also taking my preferred method agree that you don’t have to break as much a sweat hauling luggage, the extra few minutes offset by the time it takes for the alternative additional line transfer.

Edited December 26, 2020 by SirBIllybob

[Luv2play]

What is the win? REM will be 25 minutes. I don’t recall ever making it by car in that time. Even if ordering a ride were to get me there faster than half an hour I don’t live the kind of life that means getting out of shape over a few extra minutes spent here or there. I also never cut time short at the airport.

 

Granted, REM might not be the best option depending on how rushed you are and what your starting point is, what you are willing to pay out, etc, but I cannot imagine a life that pressured. Maybe if you are regular crew or frequent flight commuter?

 

This reminds me of the kind of discussion I have had with Barcelona locals. I take a relatively new subway route to and from the airport that involves one elevator transfer between two lines but is longer by 4 kms / 5 minutes (OMG!), as opposed to a shorter route (as the crow flies) with two rather extensive tunnel-walk transfers. Some think it’s dumb and they stick to the route that is geographically shorter, but others chatting with me while also taking my preferred method agree that you don’t have to break as much a sweat hauling luggage, the extra few minutes offset by the time it takes for the additional line transfer.

I think the acid test will be after REM opens and people are then able to compare the time it takes to get to the airport from downtown hotels, where most business travellers and many tourists stay, and the airport.

[SirBillybob]

I think the acid test will be after REM opens and people are then able to compare the time it takes to get to the airport from downtown hotels, where most business travellers and many tourists stay, and the airport.

Agree. Time against price. My latest Über receipt downtown to airport in Feb was $85, about 24% that day’s direct one-way plane fare portion to Brazil.

Edited December 26, 2020 by SirBIllybob

[Luv2play]

Agree. Time against price. My latest Über receipt downtown to airport in Feb was $85, about 24% that day’s direct one-way plane fare portion to Brazil.

Which airline offers flights to Brazil for under $700 return? I’ll be looking to book a flight after we get thru this pandemic!

[SirBillybob]

Which airline offers flights to Brazil for under $700 return? I’ll be looking to book a flight after we get thru this pandemic!

That was a freaky slashed Air Canada fare, about $750 as I checked again ... though I have in the past obtained Copa thru Panama for similar or less than that. The AC fare was obtained 4 months ahead of departure, the first year YUL-GRU seasonal was offered. It is currently about $880. I think that is very good for a Dreamliner. It was well over $1,000 most of last winter but reduced for March, for dates just after 2020 Carnival closing. Copa is usually about $1,400; deals are flukes.

 

 

[shutting down my part in being off-topic]

Edited December 26, 2020 by SirBIllybob

[Penn7]

I think it’s a good idea to have a way to the airport that isn’t affected by traffic, even as a backup option. We have metrorail to National Airport (“Reagan”) in DC and it’s a good thing.

[twinkboylover28]

[+ Hoover42]

So depressing, isn't it?

[twinkboylover28]

Hopefully it will recover this Summer, if not 2022 for sure.

[Mustang]

Hopefully it will recover this Summer, if not 2022 for sure.

Agree. Unless manufacturering of the vaccine increase volume substantially I can't see it before mid to late summer. Also if the new variant in NY state takes off the border will remsin closed longer as cases will skyrocket.