Roller parades and Rollercop's

NAMUR • Mobility and leisure Roller parades and Rollercop's For the third time, the streets of Namur will open every Thursday evening in summer to roller skating enthusiasts. With a touch of musette music. WE START on June 30, and it's on for every Thursday evening, always with the same sporting and recreational ritual: we gather at Place de l'Ange from 7 PM, start sharp at 8 PM, and set off for a 21-kilometer rollerblade ride through the city center, Jambes, Amée, Wépion, returning under the angel towards 11 PM. “The Roller Parade has become a highly anticipated event”. This is stated by sports alderman Frédéric Laloux, and one would be tempted to believe him: 1,500 people gathering to suffer together on the cobblestones of Namur is anything but common. It is true that the fashion aspect is “aspirational”. Photo: About 1,500 of you attended the Namur Roller Parade last year. The record is to be beaten this year.... Side-by-side with the rollercops “We tentatively explored the first year with the police chief, to find the best formula. Today, the operation is well-established”. Security is total: seven of the 18 police rollercops supervise each parade. They protect, but also communicate, raising users' awareness of the safety rules they must keep in mind to circulate without incident. This friendly contact with the police is more than incidental: “Some young people participating in the parades come from less privileged backgrounds”, where the “cops” don't always have the image of a big brother you can count on. Skating side-by-side creates a bond... The icing on the cake, motorcyclists insisted upon by Frédéric Laloux and the organizers of the Belgian Rollers association. Because the long procession that revisits the city and its surroundings in a different way has become an attraction in itself. In Wépion, apparently, some residents come out in the evening in pajamas and nightgowns to greet the passing rollers (as in Hasselt, explain the organizers, where they work on protest-style billboards). And on Rue Rogier, it's a lady – Pauline? – from the neighborhood who has become the parade's mascot. For her, they make a stop and change the musical program: guinguette atmosphere... Best climber award Overall, says Mayor Bernard Anselme, this type of event, in addition to helping some Namurois or guests lose weight (rollerblading is a sport where you burn fats, not sugars), is more than positive for the city's image: “Like several major European cities, the Walloon capital has been seduced by the initiative. The Belgian Rollers association asserts itself as a real partner in the mobility policy developed by our City.” Rest assured: the College is not working on a Transitec bis plan where all Namurois will have to skate to work. “It's just about offering the most adventurous a different way to discover Namur.” Photo: “The trendy effect of the roller parade is aspirational,” says organizer Carl de Moncharline. It is these same audacious rollers who will opt for the very special parade on July 21, with an ascent of the citadel and a full-speed descent. On this very special evening, participants are asked to dress in black, yellow, and red. A very symbolic way to give a hard time to athletes who should not take their discipline lightly. Cédric FLAMENT And then there's the conviviality, On horseback, by bike, now on rollerblades The Rollercops are police officers who skate to better serve in the city center. There are 18 of them, starting tomorrow. Not just for the Roller parade. Photo: It's promised, the Rollercops won't be acrobats every day of the week. Nor do they mean by this exercise that they are ready to roll over. STAFF. The Rollercops team consists of 18 people, i.e., two chief inspectors, ten police inspectors, and six auxiliaries. On each Roller parade, there will be at least seven Rollercops involved. MISSION ON PARADES. On parades, they will have to ensure the security of the procession, channel it to prevent public disturbances, manage the passage of important intersections (which will be previously held by motorcyclists), and act as a “sweeper” to keep the column homogeneous. In addition to providing security, the Rollercops will serve as an example, providing information on mandatory or recommended attire and protection, as well as on regulations inherent to roller skating traffic. MISSION OUTSIDE PARADES. This is a novelty: Rollercops will also patrol outside of parades. Patrols will take place during the summer, starting next week and until after the Fêtes de Wallonie, twice a week, on Tuesdays from 8 AM to 4 PM and on Fridays from 11 AM to 7 PM. These patrols will consist of three officers and will be mixed (with officers from different services). Each group will include one or two inspectors and will be supplemented by a person from the traffic division. TRAINING. Some Rollercops received a two-day training in Paris last September. The training focused on intervention techniques, from searching individuals to identity checks, as well as handcuffing, arrest, and even shooting. The current team members have therefore received eight hours of technical instruction and follow ongoing training of two hours weekly. At the end of June, says corps chief Guy Jomaux, additional training will be provided to them by French police officers, upon their return to Belgium. MISSIONS. The Rollercops will be responsible for contacting the population, ensuring a preventive and dissuasive police presence, and providing support to other teams on the ground. TARGET AREAS are the city center (corbeille), pedestrian zone, towpath, Jambes, and Salzinnes. C.F. In practice ● Starting point: Place de l'Ange. ● Day: Thursdays from June 30 to September 15, unless cancelled due to rain or risk of showers. ● Hours: gathering takes place from 7 PM, departure at 8 PM, and return is expected around 11 PM. ● Parking is free under the Town Hall, until 1 AM maximum. ● Equipment: it is possible to rent it on site. ● Info: www.belgiumrollers.com ● Absentees: no Namur cycling association wished to escort the procession. QUICK TIPS ● A ROLLER can be broken down into several parts. The shell: this is the “shoe” of the roller. It can be rigid or flexible. The shell must properly support the ankle to ensure good control of the rollerblades. The front tongue of the roller: this is the front of the roller shell. The frame: this is the chassis of the roller, the part that connects the shell to the wheels. The hardware: includes the screws that hold the wheels to the frame. The wheels: the larger the diameter of the wheels, the faster the rollerblades will be. The brake or “brake pad”: this is the block located at the back of the right rollerblade. If you think you will brake more easily with your left foot, you can mount the brake on the left rollerblade. ● WHERE TO SKATE? If you are under 16, you ride on sidewalks, and if you are 16 or older, you skate on the bike path. ● HOW TO CHOOSE EFFECTIVE PROTECTION? Try on your protection in the store before buying to make sure it is: - your size; - well-ventilated; - and that the fastenings are strong. For the helmet, check that it is your size. The helmet straps should fit snugly around your neck (without strangling you, of course!). You should be able to pass one finger between the strap and your chin. ● HELMET. The helmet helps to prevent, or at least reduce, the consequences of a head impact. It must comply with European standards (meaning you should find a label inside the helmet with the CE EN 1078 symbol). A bicycle helmet with a label bearing the same CE EN 1078 symbol may suffice. However, a true roller helmet will better cover your temples and the back of your neck. Which can be very useful in case of a backward fall. All these tips can be found on the www.ibsr.be website