Like any major public transit system, Montreal’s STM isn’t perfect. Ask a bus or metro rider, and they’re likely to give you an earful about its flaws. With that in mind, that’s exactly what we did.
Taking to Facebook, we asked MTL Blog readers the following question: “What’s your biggest pet peeve with Montreal’s STM?”
With over 285 million recorded STM trips per year, public transit is a daily reality for countless Montrealers and, based on the responses we got, so are the frustrations that come with it.
From bus driving techniques to broken escalators that seem permanently out of service, here are some of the most popular STM complaints — straight from the people who ride it every day.
Metro hours
Plenty of STM bus routes run 24 hours a day. However, last call on the metro is 1 a.m. (1:30 a.m. on Saturdays).
We got plenty of responses from folks arguing that trains should keep running overnight to accommodate those who don’t have a typical nine-to-five.
“I personally think the metro and the bus should run later since there’s a lot of people who work late,” one response read.
Others noted that metro lines should run later so nightlife enthusiasts can get home safely — without having to take a cab or Uber.
“Why TF do they shut down as the bars let out? That’s when we need public transit the most!”
A lack of English
Like many things in Quebec, metro announcements are in one language only. While this aligns with Quebec’s language laws, it may pose a challenge for anglophone and allophone commuters who rely on public transit.
One user in the comments section lamented the “only-French announcements in the metro.”
And speaking of announcements, there were also complaints about the volume.
Someone else described “not being able to hear the announcements clearly. They always sound like the woman has her hand over her mouth!”
Cleanliness
For many STM riders, cleanliness — or rather, the lack of it — is a major issue. From grimy bus seats to stained station walls, plenty of commuters feel that maintenance has taken a backseat.
“The filth. I mean, come on,” one frustrated user put it bluntly. “It is poorly maintained throughout winter… beyond ridiculous… filthy.”
Others zeroed in on the state of bus interiors, noting how they’ve deteriorated over time.
One commuter reminisced about when STM buses still felt fresh and well-kept: “When they were new, they were lovely, but they’re filthy now — horribly.”
But it’s not just buses that have riders cringing. Metro stations are showing signs of neglect, too. Several commenters pointed to specific stations that have fallen into disrepair.
“Stations are very dirty. Have a good look at Plamondon Station… there are terrible stains from leaking pipes where the platform meets the walls. Up until recently… there were huge puddles.”
Slamming the brakes
For many OPUS card owners, riding an STM bus is a built-in core workout, especially when no seats are available.
Holding onto a pole for dear life as the bus jerks to a stop seems to be a shared experience among Montreal commuters. One of the most common complaints? The way some drivers seem to have a heavy foot on both the gas and brake pedals.
“The bus drivers drive like they are riding a horse,” one user wrote. “I’m surprised they don’t have passengers falling.”
“Bus drivers like to drive too fast and then slam on the brakes, which creates a great opportunity for a hip fracture,” another added.
Broken escalators
Escalators and elevators that are regularly out of service have become an all-too-common sight in metro stations across the city.
Commuters seem fed up with climbing and descending endless flights of stairs, especially in deep stations like Guy-Concordia or Charlevoix.
“Some escalators are almost always not-working-and-then-working-again in many stations on a regular basis,” one frustrated rider pointed out. “Do they purposely turn them off at certain hours??? Seems like it happens daily. Very difficult for those with health issues, baby strollers, etc.”
The lack of routes
The STM is North America’s third-largest transit system. Positioned right behind New York and Toronto, its metro spans 71 km with four lines and 68 stations, while 2,000 buses cover 500 square km.
Still, many Montrealers feel it doesn’t reach far enough.
“It doesn’t go to Châteauguay,” one person pointed out.
“The metro should have been built to reach the West Island,” someone else argued.
And for others, the fact that it stops at Angrignon instead of extending further west remains a major frustration.
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