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To encourage even smoother mobility, SlowUp in Murten tested paid parking on Sunday. The proceeds must go into a sustainability fund. Some 13,000 people took part in the demonstration.
The rain and the paid parking lots could have cooled off the SlowUp participants in Murten. But cycling enthusiasts kept smiling on the 33 kilometer route around Lake Murten. © Jean-Baptiste Morel
Published on 04/28/2024
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
The Murten SlowUp, which attracted 13,000 people for its 23e Sunday edition, is an ode to sustainability with its 33 kilometers of roads closed to cars to better leave room for bicycles, rollerblades and walkers. To get even closer to this objective and encourage participants to favor public transport, parking has become chargeable this year. “It’s really a test, we want to see how it goes,” reports Deborah Defalque Christinaz, deputy director of Morat Tourism and the Morat Lake Region association. The objective is to create a fund for projects linked to sustainability.”
While light rain fell on Avenches on Sunday morning, the car parks were far from full. Volunteers in fluorescent jackets are ready to explain this new feature and convince the recalcitrant. They even have a flyer stating the three main reasons for this decision: reducing the carbon footprint of the event, encouraging carpooling and encouraging the use of public transport. “People who used to come are sometimes surprised,” says a volunteer. Some are complaining a little, others are not happy. But for the most part, people are quite understanding.” The price is 10 francs per vehicle. All parking lots, planned at different strategic points along the route, are affected.
“Approximately 70% of participants take the car”
Deborah Defalque Christinaz
“Approximately 70% of participants take the car,” emphasizes Deborah Defalque Christinaz. There are several reasons. Some come from far away or live in villages poorly served by public transport. Many German-speaking Swiss in particular appreciate SlowUp. “The provenance is concentrated, for the most part, on a radius of 35 to 40 kilometers around the route,” continues the deputy director.
Reinforced trains
The Morat SlowUp is served by five stations, which offers many possibilities. “In order to be able to transport more people, the TPF have adapted the composition of the trains, by increasing the number of cars per convoy,” reports Jérôme Gachet, TPF communications manager. No additional trains have been planned, but Murten is connected to Friborg every half hour. “This cadence allows easy and quick access to the SlowUp course,” says Jérôme Gachet.
The BLS company organized additional trains between Bern and Murten especially for the event. In addition, “the trains on line S5 (Bern-Kiertres-Morat) have been reinforced and are running with an additional complete composition,” adds Colin Cuvit, spokesperson for BLS. Guides were hired to assist travelers. Please note that the space provided for bicycles is limited. Escape routes must not be obstructed. It may therefore happen, in the event of heavy traffic, that travelers remain on the platform.
There was no special rate for TPF and BLS users, nor for their bicycles on Sunday. The navigation company on Lakes Neuchâtel and Morat (LNM) initially planned special races on Lake Morat. But they were canceled due to the weather.
To get to the SlowUp in a sustainable way and at no additional cost, one solution: go by bike from your home. The region is very well served by cycle routes, note the organizers. But “with young children, doing 33 kilometers of course and adding a route to SlowUp can be restrictive,” recognizes Deborah Defalque Christinaz. This is why there are several possibilities to join the route.
From a sustainable perspective
“SlowUp is committed to sustainability, the environment and a healthy and active lifestyle,” recalls Gaetan Aeby, trustee of Avenches, during the official ceremony. The event is inspired by Car-Free Sundays. “The idea is also to encourage people to get out their bikes,” according to Deborah Defalque Christinaz. It is in this perspective that the revenue generated by car parks should be used. They will make it possible to implement sustainable development projects for SlowUp. “We don’t have any concrete plans yet. We must first take stock and see what the financial repercussions are,” notes the manager.
Once they arrive on site, SlowUp participants no longer have to think about their carbon footprint. A continuous stream of bicycles and rollerblades flows along the route. There aren’t the crowds on sunny days, but the most motivated people are there. For once, it’s who gets the prettiest rain jacket. The trendy accessory of the year is undoubtedly the helmet cover, most often fluorescent, essential for keeping your head dry.
The weather remained the main concern for the organizers when cutting the ribbon. “I ordered the foehn to stop the clouds,” laughs the president of the SlowUp association in Murten, MP Katharina Thalmann-Bolz. In 2023, around 32,000 people had toured Lake Murten. Attendance has fallen sharply this year, but the organizers remain positive in their final press release. The event attracted many families and seniors on electric bikes. The next edition is scheduled for April 27, 2025.
