Slowup
The Slowup ( spelling “slowUp”, English slow : slow> slowUp = artificial word and abbreviation for “slow down” and “pleasure up”) is a car-free mass sports event that takes place several times a year in different regions of Switzerland , in Liechtenstein and in Swiss-German and Swiss-French border area is carried out. For this purpose, a route of 25 to 70 kilometers, often a circular route, is closed to motor vehicle traffic ( car-free ) and reserved for non-motorized individual traffic (mainly pedestrians , cyclists and inline skaters ) on one Sunday a year .
Idea and story
The first Slowup took place in the run-up to Expo.02 around Lake Murten in 2000 . Since then, more Slowups have been added, for example in Geneva , around the Lac de Joux , in the Valais Rhone Valley , around Lake Gruyère , in the Jura ( Delémont ), in the Emmental , around the Sempachersee , in the Seetal , in the Basel triangle , on the Upper Rhine ( Stein - Säckingen ), from Schaffhausen to Hegau , on Lake Constance ( Romanshorn , Arbon , Amriswil ), on the right bank of Lake Zurich , in the St. Gallen Rhine Valley / Liechtenstein, around Schwyz , in Ticino ( Locarno - Bellinzona ), in Solothurn ( Solothurn - Buechibärg ), around Brugg and on the Albula Pass .
The Mountain Albula plays a special role , as the route over 2312 m above sea level. M. high Albula Pass. Another feature of many slowups is their international character. Various Slowup runs through several countries: the Liechtenstein Slowup through Switzerland and Liechtenstein, the Slowup Schaffhausen and Hochrhein through Switzerland and Germany. The Slowup Basel-Dreiland runs through Switzerland, Germany and France with a total of six border crossings. At 70 kilometers in length, it is the longest slowup.
Every slowup takes place on a different Sunday between April and September. The number of participants varies depending on the slowup and the weather from 2,000 to over 50,000. In 2013, a total of over 400,000 people took part in the 18 SlowUps. The routes often lead over scenic routes on water and are mostly very flat. Both cycle paths and secondary roads as well as main roads are used, although this ratio varies depending on the venue. Participation is free, the routes can be used free of charge (without mass start or similar) during the closing times (usually 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.), however, if necessary, non-motorized individual traffic can take into account a certain direction of travel (clockwise or counterclockwise).
Sponsoring / festivities
In the villages crossed, clubs such as music societies, jublas , gymnastics clubs often organize a festival or an attraction.
The sponsors are distributed at regular intervals along the entire route. Merchandising items such as bars, drinks or balloons are often distributed to these . You can also take part in a game and / or competition at many of the stands. These areas are often equipped with seating or relaxation options.
stretch
Individual evidence
- ↑ Slow-Up: Successful renaissance of the steam locomotive romance , in Wochen-Zeitung, September 18, 2014
- ↑ Timetable steam train (PDF)