The car-free city, at night and on rollerblades

NAMUR • Every Tuesday Every Tuesday in July and August, weather permitting, a rollerblade tour will be organized in the streets of Namur. First meeting this Tuesday. NAMUR is one of the stops on the « Belgium Rollers Summer Tour 2003 », along with Brussels, Mons, Liège, Antwerp, and Ostend. This initiative is thanks to Carl de Moncharline. The idea was put into practice for the first time last year in Brussels, with success, as some 5,000 rollerbladers answered the call. In Namur, such a turnout is not expected, but every effort will be made to ensure optimal supervision for « in-line » enthusiasts. The procession should include several Supervising the procession Namur has formed a team of « roller cops » in recent months. Ten police officers will be available to supervise the ride, confirmed Commissioner Labbé during a press conference organized by alderman Frédéric Laloux. Their role will be to lead the procession through the streets and secure intersections as participants pass, which will require frequent back-and-forth movements. It is expected that they will be well-trained. This Friday, they will be in Brussels for a first « real-life situation » exercise. To secure the procession, the Roller cops can also count on the support of their motorcycle police colleagues. At the rear, a bus will serve as a sweep vehicle. The circuit will also be punctuated by several stops, distributed at regular intervals: avenue Félicien Rops, at the Carrefour supermarket, on the Longeau square, in Amée park, on Place de Wallonie, and at the Palace of Justice. At each stop, refreshments will be offered by sponsors. Work avoided Namur's roller cops are not just content with supervising the event. Earlier this week, they actively participated in surveying the route. Thus, it was decided not to start the ride as initially planned from Place de la Station. It is under construction and therefore impassable for those who enjoy gliding on tarmac. The chosen route highlights the landscapes. It uses both banks of the Meuse, however, avoiding the towpaths, some of whose loose cobblestones can prove to be dangerous traps. With the exception of a short section of cobblestones in the city center, the circuit only has one section considered tricky: the passage over the Wépion bridge, which includes a curved uphill section. ❶ First ride on Tuesday, July 1st. Gathering at 8 PM, Place de la Justice. The Facultés Notre-Dame de la Paix are partnering with the event by providing participants with two floors of its parking lot, rue Grandgagnage. Last ride scheduled for Tuesday, August 26th. 0477/799 618 QUICK NOTES ● The ride is open to everyone, including children. Protections are recommended for adults, mandatory for children. ● 300 pairs of rollerblades and as many protections will be available for rent at democratic prices. ● No registration is necessary for the ride. It starts every Tuesday in July and August at Place de Justice. Participation is free. ● If the ground is wet, to avoid the risk of falls, a decision will be made during the afternoon to cancel the ride. The information should be relayed by audiovisual media. THE ITINERARY 25 km around the Meuse Four localities will be crossed by this ride, which measures precisely 24.8 km. In Namur, the ride will start at Place du Palais de Justice, then take rue Lelièvre, rue Godefroid, Place de la Gare (bus-only section), boulevard Mélot and its underpass, avenue de Stassart, Pont de la Libération, avenue Cardinal Mercier, Place Wiertz, avenue Reine Astrid, rue du Bord de l'Eau, Place Kelgeljan, boulevard Huart, Pont de Jambes, boulevard Baron de Moreau, avenues de La Plante, du Parc, Félicien Rops, avenue de la Pairelle. In Wépion, the parade will take chaussée de Dinant, the Carrefour supermarket, Pont de Wépion. In Jambes: rue de l'Emprunt du passage d'Eau, avenue du parc d'Amée, rue de Dave, rue de la citadelle, boulevard de Meuse, Pont de Jambes, avenue Materne, rue de Dave, rue de Géronsart, allée du Parc Astrid (against traffic), avenue Materne, Place de la Wallonie, avenue Bovesse, Pont des Ardennes. Return to Namur, via boulevard Isabelle Brunell, avenue Golenvaux, rue de la Tour, Place du Théâtre, rue Cuvelier, rue Pépin Namèche, rue des Dames Blanches de Fer, les Quatre Coins, rue de l'Ange des Echasseurs, Place M. Servais, rue des Fossés Fleuris, Place Chanoine Deschamps, rue Saint-Jean, rue du Président, rue du Collège, Place Saint-Aubain, rue Lelièvre, and finally, return to Place du Palais de Justice.