Car-free day celebrates human mobility in Murten

Thousands are expected to take part in this year's event around Lake Murten. www.murtentourismus.ch

The Cycling in Switzerland foundation is once again inviting people to get on their bikes for the third edition of "Slow Ups".

This year’s programme kicks off on Sunday June 6 around scenic Lake Murten when once again cyclists will have the freedom of some 20-50 kilometres of cantonal and communal roads.

The Murten event will be running in association with the Expo.02 project, “Human Powered Mobility”.

During Slow Up 2001, some 60,000 people took part in the 27-kilometre tour around the lake, where several roadside stands offered local cuisine, games and various other cultural activities.

The Slow Up route is also accessible at various points by public transport and offers a flat terrain for bikers, with cars and other traffic banned for the day.

Further Slow Up events are scheduled to take place in Gruyère on Saturday July 13 and around Lake Constance on Sunday August 25

The concept, which was launched in Switzerland two years ago, originated in Germany, where 40 such events have already taken place, mainly in the Rhénanie-Palatinat region. The “Weinstrasse”, which takes place at the end of August, usually attracts up to 400,000 visitors every year.

The first Swiss Slow Up, around Lake Murten in the autumn of 2000, drew between 20,000 and 30,000 cyclists.

swissinfo