From Huy to Amay, 20 km on rollerblades, on June 19th!

From Huy to Amay, 20 km on rollerblades, on June 19th! First event of a season where skating, whose inventor was from Huy, is honored. This year, the city of Huy will participate for the first time in Belgium Rollers, this series of rollerblading gatherings that has existed since 2002 in Brussels, and since 2003 in Namur, Liège, Ghent, or Koksijde, among others. This year, eight cities will host skaters throughout the summer. But rollerblading is not a novelty in Huy, as the inventor of the inline skate, Jean-Joseph Merlin, was born in Huy. That was in 1735, and he died in 1803 in London, where he had become a true personality, known for his multiple inventions. The bicentenary of his death should have been celebrated last year, but the spot was already taken by Napoleon. So, this year, we are simply paying homage to him by setting up three parades: on June 19th, August 7th, and September 25th. The dates were not chosen randomly, as they correspond to festive events. This June 19th will also be the night of Bassinia, and the Fête de la Musique, with free concerts on the Grand Place: André Borbé at 4 p.m., and Cannon Ball at 9:30 p.m., with Supertramp's repertoire. On August 7th, it will be the opening of the fair, with a concert by Émile et Image in the Lycée courtyard, as well as the sound and light show. Finally, on September 25th, it will be part of the Walloon Festivities: the Huy parade will close the Belgium Rollers season. Twenty kilometers For each of these dates, the route proposed for rollerbladers (but also for cyclists, who will be welcome) covers about twenty kilometers. Gathering at Grand Place from 7 p.m., for a departure from Avenue des Ardennes at 8 p.m., with the police, towards the Baudouin bridge, Rue Neuve, then towards Amay. The Meuse is crossed again at the Ombret bridge, and the procession heads back towards Tihange and Huy. The ride should theoretically last from two to two and a half hours, at a pace that everyone should be able to follow comfortably, on a flat and easy route. Intermediate refreshment points are planned. The organizers particularly emphasize safety. For example, it is necessary to know how to brake correctly. Regarding equipment, wearing all protections is required for children, i.e., helmet, wrist guards, elbow pads, and knee pads. M.D. With police officers from Namur, where they participated in the 2003 parades, and others from Brussels. © V.L.TOY ESCORT A “nice image” of the police “For us, it shouldn't pose a problem,” explains Commissioner Christian Collinet, in charge of maintaining public order and traffic for the Huy police zone. “It's about a group, escorted like a cycling race.” Even in the territory of Amay, it will be the Huy police officers who will accompany the rollerbladers. The procession will move on the right side of the road, without hindering users traveling in the other direction. Intersections will be secured as the peloton moves. Participants will also be escorted by police officers on rollerblades, two coming from Namur and probably three or four coming from Brussels, cities that have already participated in the roller parade and have decided to train police officers in this mode of transport. “It will be a celebration,” concludes the Commissioner, “and it will give a nice image of the police.” For the occasion, the Huy police officers will inaugurate another new rolling equipment: two mountain bikes, which will then be used for daily work. Commissioner Collinet indeed hopes that bicycle patrols can be carried out in Huy, or even rollerblade patrols, with the caveat that, given the number of cobbled streets, they should rather be limited to school exits. Furthermore, specific rollerblade training must be provided. M.D.