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50km of French motorways closed...for a partyDeckchairs on French motorway (image by @BenjaminSirvent)

50km of French motorways closed...for a party

Inaugural Fête de l'Autoroute sees French motorways open to cycling, walking, concerts, eating, acrobatics...
by Laura Laker
Sun, May 22, 2016 14:37
6

Today people will be able to cycle, run, sunbathe, fly in a hot air balloon and listen to concerts on French main roads and motorways which have been closed for the country’s first Fête de l'Autoroute.

Today, Sunday May 22 2016, 50km of French motorways are closed to motor traffic for the first “Day of the Highway”. One triathlon event will feature a 19.3km cycle on the A51 motorway.

French motorway operators have asked people to leave behind their cars for the day, and enjoy anything from a stroll, or casual bike ride to a free hot air balloon ride, concerts and acrobatics, and food, to deckchairs, laid out in hope of fair weather. In total 15 sections of motorway are closed to motor traffic today, chosen for their proximity to urban centres and affording minimal disruption to motorists, according to motorway operators. The roads will re-open at 4pm.

It looks like there’s a massive bike jump somewhere on the closed motorways, too:

Motorways open to the (non-driving) public today include: - The A4 near Reims - The A89 and A466 to Lyon - The A411 in Gaillard - The A51 North - The A51 towards Gap - The A8 to Nice - The Tunel Prado Sud, - The Millau Viaduct - The A61 in Port-Lauragais area - The A63 to Lesperon - The A89 near Brive-la-Gaillarde - The A85 - The Duplex A86 - The A5b near Melun. The motorway closures come at a time when fuel shortages caused by strikes have closed 1,500 of the country’s 12,000 fuel stations.

motorways
France
Laura Laker

Laura Laker is a freelance journalist with more than a decade’s experience covering cycling, walking and wheeling (and other means of transport). Beginning her career with road.cc, Laura has also written for national and specialist titles of all stripes. One part of the popular Streets Ahead podcast, she sometimes appears as a talking head on TV and radio, and in real life at conferences and festivals. She is also the author of Potholes and Pavements: a Bumpy Ride on Britain’s National Cycle Network.

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6 comments

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Kapelmuur | 8 years ago
2 likes

Many years ago I took part in a 10k footrace on a newly built section of the M54 which hadn't opened to traffic, it was the most boring run ever.

Cycling on a motorway would be narcolepsy inducing.

 

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efail | 8 years ago
0 likes

I love France. According to a friend, there are roadworks in Millau, the alternative route for the viaduct. Result.....chaos.

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GerardR replied to efail | 8 years ago
0 likes
efail wrote:

I love France. According to a friend, there are roadworks in Millau, the alternative route for the viaduct. Result.....chaos.

Millau was like that before the viaduct: absolute chaos.  Lovely spot to camp with the viaduct open, though.

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BBB | 8 years ago
5 likes

Now imagine anything like that in the UK... Riots!

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brooksby replied to BBB | 8 years ago
4 likes
BBB wrote:

Now imagine anything like that in the UK... Riots!

Under the previous mayor parts of the city centre of Bristol were closed to motor traffic for one Sunday per month during the summer: intended street party atmosphere, that sort of thing.

However, as far as our local paper was concerned, he might as well have been killing and eating kittens, the reception he got.

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Al__S | 8 years ago
3 likes

Riding across the Milau Viaduct would be pretty special!

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