Montreal and Toronto, already so divided by language and culture, also go their own way on the most pedestrian of matters.
New research has given scientific heft to the old stereotypes about residents of Canada's two largest cities. It found that, even in everyday endeavours like crossing the road, Torontonians are more prudent, while Montrealers are more daring.
The findings are unlikely to calm the nerves of opponents of right turns on red lights, which is to be law across Quebec in April but remains the subject of hot debate in Montreal. Come spring, the city will be the only no-right-on-red zone on the continent, along with New York.
"Clearly, you can't allow rights on reds until motorists and pedestrians understand and respect the rules," said Jeremy Searle, head of the city of Montreal's transportation committee.
That moment doesn't appear to have arrived in Montreal. For the study, researchers from the University of Montreal sent out a team to make 16,531 separate observations of motorists and pedestrians in Toronto and Montreal.
"There have always been a lot of prejudices and stereotypes about the cities, and notions that it's more dangerous to live in Montreal," said Jacques Bergeron, a University of Montreal psychologist who studies road-user behaviour.
The study found that 90 per cent of Torontonians stand patiently on the sidewalk while waiting for the light to turn green, though only 53 per cent of Montrealers bother to do so; they step off the curb before the light turns green to begin their sprint across the street. In Toronto, 86 per cent of pedestrians use crosswalks. In Montreal, only 65 per cent do so, while the rest jaywalk.
Nine out of 10 pedestrians in Toronto respect traffic lights; in Montreal, it's 76 per cent.
The differences are not limited to major cities. The researchers also compared similar-sized cities -- Ottawa and the former Hull, Kingston and St. Hyacinthe -- and found a similar pattern of overall Quebec disobedience and Ontario respect for order.
Still, the study found that despite Montreal pedestrians' proclivity for flouting the rules, they're no more likely to be seriously injured or killed than their Toronto counterparts. The major difference with Toronto is that in situations of conflict, pedestrians in Montreal tend to cede the way to a motorist.
"It's a modus operandi, a way of resolving conflicts that has worked in Montreal," Mr. Bergeron said. "It's a way of living that is no more dangerous [than in Toronto]"
Mr. Searle, who has made it his mission to improve pedestrian safety in Montreal, said pedestrians have essentially learned to survive.
"Since it's become a question of survival to cross the road, the law of the jungle applies; and pedestrians don't want to risk infuriating motorists," he said. "When you cross the road in Toronto, it's a regular activity. Here, people are afraid."
Quebec Transport Minister Serge Ménard played into the wild-west image of Montreal's streets last fall, when he announced he would allow cars to turn right on red lights everywhere in the province except for its biggest city.
Mr. Searle said motorists also need to learn basic courtesy before being allowed to turn right on reds.
"Right now, motorists don't even know how to turn right on greens," Mr. Searle said.