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'''Montreal''' is the biggest city in [[Quebec]], and being the second metropole of [[Canada]] in term of population. It is also a well sprawled city with [[Montreal Metropolitan|suburbs]] sprawling on about 100km in several direction from its Downtown.
Montreal is also an incontrovertible city for every travellers as all the highways and main routes goes through its urban centre, which is an island and one of the rare crossing point of the St-Lawrence. With a population over 3 millions and only few bridges, traffic jam are pretty common. It usually takes up to about an hour to cross the city from one point to another when the traffic flow is smooth and obviously certain industrial spots (especially along 'Boulevard Metropolitain' in Dorval Airport Area and along the [[Quebec highways|A-40]] in 'Montreal-Est') are to avoid being stuck.
== Hitching out ==
=== South towards [[New York City|New York]] ([[Quebec highways|A-15]]) ===
You can walk north from the metro station '''Longueuil''' and find the bridge crossing the highway to join the [[Quebec highways|A-15]] in direction of the [[New York state|New York State]]/[[United Statesof America|USA]]. It's probably not 100% legal to stand on the good spot there, but you will probably quickly get a ride.
A legal alternative is to catch the southbound [[Quebec highways|A-15]] traffic coming off the [http://maps.google.com/maps?q=pont+champlain,+montreal&ie=UTF8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&ll=45.464134,-73.493514&spn=0.00623,0.014591&z=16&om=1 Pont Champlain (bridge)]. Theoretically, you could take [http://www.rtl-longueuil.qc.ca/w1/horaires.wcs?mode=harr&lig=14&dir=O&tra=1&t=34416 Bus #14] from the Longueuil bus station to the Brossard area. Tell the driver you want to get off at Boulevard Marie-Victorin. For a reference point, look up the intersection of Place Turenne and Boulevard Marie-Victorin.
Because of the speed of traffic, you will want to hold a large, visible sign. Some suggestions: "NEW YORK" or "PLATTSBURGH, N.Y."
On the U.S. side, [[Quebec highways|A-15]] becomes Interstate-87 or "The Northway" as it is known in northern New York State. South of [[Albany (New York)|Albany]], I-87 is known as "The Thruway".
==== Border Crossing: Champlain-Lacolle ([[New York stateState|New York]]) ====
A note about the main crossing at [[Quebec highways|A-15]] known as "Champlain-Lacolle". It's technically illegal to hitch south from the main crossing as it is an Interstate highway on which pedestrians (including, er, especially hitchhikers) are forbidden. So unless you get a through ride across the border, there are some alternative border crossings to consider other than the main Champlain-Lacolle crossing on [[Quebec highways|A-15]] (I-87 on the U.S. side).
=== East ([[Quebec highways|A-20]]) ===
Go to Longueuil Metro station and then take bus 81 or 82[http://www.rtl-longueuil.qc.ca/lignespdf/8182tr.pdf]. Get out at the highway [[Quebec highways|A-20]] (Right after Lafrance street). You can hitch in one of the ramps right there or go to the next entrance by crossing the railroad and get walk near the industrial area (about 200m, corner of de la Province Street and [[Trans-Canada Highway|Transcanadian Highway]] service lane).
If you're not going to Quebec City but further East, you might want to check the [[Quebec city]] and [[Levis]] article.
=== West toward [[Toronto]]===
Take bus 221 express (or 211 non-express) from Lionel Groulx subway station. From the terminus, continue walking westward (or take bus 251). Turn right on Saint Pierre St and head straight. Going to Toronto, you can hitch at the on-ramp of Highway 20, after the underpass or walk the bridge and hitch directly on the road as it becomes a boulevard and there is plenty of space for vehicles to stop after the intersection, near the tourist information.
Getting out of Montreal in that direction isn't easy. There are 3 strategies you might want to consider:
1. Go North toward the Laurentides with [[A-15_15 (Quebec)|Highway 15]] (see section below) until exit 31, then reach for Highway 50 / Route 148 heading West through Lachute, Papineauville, Thurso and [[Gatineau-Hull|Gatineau]]. A sign can be useful there, first to Mirabel and then "50". After that, the path is very straightforward. This route is especially useful if your final destination is Gatineau rather than [[Ottawa]].
2. Take bus 221 express (or 211 non-express) from Lionel Groulx subway station as if heading to Toronto. At the terminus continue walking west (or take the 251). Turn right on Rue Saint Pierre and head straight. There's a spot right before highway 40. Just continue straight past the 20 and along 'Avenue des Anciens Combattants' for about 10 minutes. See pictures of the spot: [http://imgur.com/v2vDG] and [http://imgur.com/wPYQK].
3. Go West towards Toronto via [[A-20_20 (Quebec)|Highway 20]] (see previous section) and ask to be dropped at exit 17 - St-Clet / Coteau du lac. From there hitch on the 201 North, towards St-Clet. Next village is Hudson and there is a major service station and restaurant area on Highway 40 there. You'll usually get a direct ride to Ottawa.
== North toward the Laurentides ==
Take the subway to station Montmorency. At the main exit, go left then right towards boul Lecorbusier. There is an on-ramp for [[A-15_15 (Quebec)|Highway 15]] direction North, although there isn't much space and there's a fair load of traffic, it is possible to hitch there. Technically it's not a legal spot as there isn't space before the highway sign, but it's still doable. Please contribute any other option you'd know in that direction.
== Laval ==
'''Laval''' is a suburban city within the Montreal Metropolitan Area and an island located north of [[Montreal]] in [[Quebec]]. It follows the rule of being actually the only entity being it's own city, island, county and administrative region. This, even if its existence is pretty much dependent of the [[Montreal Metropolitan|Metropole]].
There are currently in Laval three subway stations linked to Montreal's network. Getting there can be done with a regular subway ticket, but there is a different ticket price if you get on the network from them.
[[trash:Montreal]]
[[Category:Montreal Metropolitan|suburbs]]
[[Category:Montreal Metropolitan|Metropole]]
[[Category:Canada]]
[[Category:Quebec]]