Rollerblade rides for everyone

For the second consecutive year, the "Brussels Rollers" event will take place this summer Following the enthusiasm of Brussels residents for large rollerblade rides through the capital's streets last year, the project initiator, Carl De Moncharline, is launching the activity again this year. As a reminder, these outings are supervised by a police squad on rollerblades themselves to secure these somewhat unusual rides! They are currently training... The goal is to slow down the "skating fans" who tend to go too fast and leave slower participants far behind. Let us not forget that these are friendly group outings accessible to all (adults and children). In case of fatigue, you can join a Radio 21 broom wagon providing shuttle service. "The rules of the game to participate are simple: do not be a beginner at rollerblading, know how to stop in time, and dress in bright colors," emphasizes the mayor of Brussels, Freddy Thielemans. The activity expands During the summer of 2002, nearly 30,000 people in total skated through Brussels, exceeding all expectations. Indeed, the last two outings reached 10,000 participants. However, the "Brussels Rollers" event undergoes some changes this year and is now named "Belgium Rollers" due to the expansion of participating cities. Thus, in addition to Brussels, Hasselt, Namur, Ghent, Liège, Mons, and Koksijde will also organize weekly rollerblade rides throughout July and August (except in case of rain). Leisure and mode of transport The objective: to promote rollerblade rides and, by extension, promote rollerblading as leisure, sport, and a means of transportation, allowing citizens to rediscover their cities in a different way. NOTE Meetings every Friday from July 5th to August 30th. Welcome 8 PM Place Poelaert Departure 9 PM (same location) Arrival 11 PM Halles Saint-Géry Additional info at http://www.belgiumrollers.com : opinions POLICE OFFICERS ROLLING FOR YOU FRANCK BRUSELEERS PARTICIPATING POLICE OFFICER "I am a rollerblading enthusiast" "I had never been on rollerblades before supervising these rides. This is my second year participating because I am a rollerblading enthusiast." JOËL DEKEYSER PARTICIPATING POLICE OFFICER "No intervention unit as such" "There is no intervention unit strictly speaking, but police officers on rollerblades are present at events where cars cannot enter."