Namur • This Summer On Tuesday evenings, we skate

A 20 km skate ride in complete safety is what Belgium Rollers is offering every Tuesday evening this summer in Namur. Unless it rains... LET US pay tribute to Joseph Merlin. In 1760, this native of Huy born twenty-five years earlier had the idea, before anyone else, of attaching metal rollers to pieces of wood. Roller skating, at least in its primitive version, was born and already promised the fine career we know today. This summer, major Belgian cities, including Namur, hail the brilliant inventor: Belgium Rollers promises to be a great roller skating celebration, free and accessible to all. Explanations: every Tuesday in July and August, from 9 p.m., enthusiasts are invited to a large, secured ride around Namur. Departure from the city center for a route of about twenty kilometers, the details of which are kept secret (at most it is known that both banks of the Meuse are on the schedule). The ride will be supervised by the staff of Belgium Rollers as well as a delegation from the Namur police specially trained for the occasion (read opposite). Rolling in the rain So here is a great opportunity to reclaim the city and its surroundings in an original way. And also, who knows, to inspire followers: promoting roller skating as a leisure activity, sport, and alternative means of transport is indeed the mission that the promoters of Belgium Rollers have set for themselves. Note that the latter are not purists; other "slow" means of transport such as bicycles and scooters are welcome at the end of the procession. To all, snacks and refreshments are promised. Free of charge, there too... The route will obviously be closed to traffic during the event. An event that will be purely and simply canceled in case of rain and slippery roads. Still regarding safety, note that the Namur firefighters will be present, with their ambulance, to handle any minor injuries. To prevent them from turning into major problems, protective gear (helmet, knees, elbows, hands) is strongly advised, and even mandatory for children under 10. As for those who have the goodwill but not the equipment, 300 pairs of skates (plus protective gear) will be available for rent for €10. Like ants After other European capitals, the idea for these original rides germinated in Brussels, where it convinced a total of 30,000 people over the eight outings last summer. Carl de Moncharline, creator and coordinator of the operation, is now exporting the concept to Liège, Mons, Ghent, or Hasselt, in good understanding with local authorities. Indeed, success relies largely on the partnership with the municipality (led by the sports department) and police forces invited to get on skates. "We must emphasize the open-mindedness of the cities that accepted," specifies the candidate for the Brussels PS in the last municipal elections. "You should know that there are places where they said no to me. I think this type of operation can contribute to establishing a new, friendlier relationship between the police and citizens." How many of these citizens will put on their skates on Tuesday evening? One cannot say that roller skating is common in the streets of Namur, and yet "skaters will flock like ants," assures Carl de Moncharline. "In Belgium, one family in three owns a pair of roller skates." Implicitly: everything will go like clockwork. ❶ See you on Tuesdays July 8, 15, 22, 29, August 5, 12, 19, and 26. Info: www.belgiumrollers.be Our first "roller cops" There are fourteen of them who volunteered within the local police force. After a few intensive training sessions with skating specialists over the past month, Namur's first "roller cops" are operational. Their first mission: to supervise, secure, and provide valuable advice to participants in the upcoming summer roller rides. Police officers on wheels are a first in Namur. The head of police is delighted: "It's a great showcase for our police," explains Guy Jaumot. "This fulfills the community officers' mission of friendliness. I salute the volunteers: most of them are auxiliaries and do not have an easy job on a daily basis. I hope the skates will contribute to giving them a sympathetic image." The head of police also intends to draw lessons from this first experience with "roller cops." Indeed, one could imagine introducing roller skates into the police's more traditional missions. Roller patrols could prove effective, according to Mayor Anselme, who estimates that a man on skates can move "as fast as a dog." "This is already done in other cities," indicates Mr. Jaumot. "In Namur, we use bicycles, so why not roller skates?"