Paris Skates!
Every Friday night and Sunday afternoon Parisians can take the streets and see their city on skates. And they do, by the thousands! Both mass rides, which are sponsored by different associations, started small and now are institutions of public street life in Paris.
In this video you hear from both, Tanao Terra, VP of Pari Roller, organizers of the Friday night skate and, Philippe Moulié, President of Rollers & Coquillages, sponsors of the Sunday afternoon Skate.
A little history: The Friday night skates were started by a small group of friends. After the transit strikes in 1995, which forced Parisians to find a new way to get around town, thousands of people began to show up on Friday evenings just to practice moving through the city on roller blades. The numbers inspired Pari Roller to form an official association working with Paris', and the world's, first roller blade national police unit.
Production note: I got to chase both mass rides shooting on a velib (public share bike which you will see more on soon) while Caroline Samponaro from Transportation Alternatives skated with a helmet camera.
And if it looks fun, there seems to be a ride right here in NYC.
looks like something that needs to happen in nyc. Good job press- nice traveling job!
Go Paris! Go Press!
Make a little sport!
I am a horrible skater, but I would learn, oh I would learn, if I could do something like this!
C'est tre's bien a'voir les personnes qui aiment la vie patinar
Thank's for those very good image's !
You are all welcome to skate with us when you are in Paris !
Very best regards,
Philippe,
Rollers & Coquillages. Paris.
Thanks for the great story!
Don't you just love Philou's (R&C president) french accent?
Come and join us every sunday afternoon!!! The more the merrier!
Thanks for the film, nice job!
Skating in Paris from an Aussie.
You will have to work out exactly how to get to Gare Montparnasse but that is easy there are lots of lines. (District #15). In the station precinct there is a very tall tower and at the other end a major regional station. Between the tower and the station is an open space where the skaters congregate. They generally start to arrive around 9.00pm for a 10.00pm start. There are lots of people so you shouldn't miss them. They are mainly around the entrance to "Gare Montparnasse" a huge glass façade. Once you are there and you see everyone just join in.
Also there is good skating in Bois de Boulogne, (west of #16) there are lots of paths around and I always get lost. You should try to get to the Hippodrome (race course) as there is a great cycling path which circles the track. Its not as good as the F1 track at Albert Park but it will do. There are two track and it is on the western side at the south end of the park. The closest station is probably Port d' Autenil. (Get a good map)
There is also a good track on the other side of the city at Bois de Vincennes (east of #12)
And there is good speed traning facilities at 'Stade de la Porte de Bagnolet' close by Metro station Porte de Bagnolet (#20 nord) I havent skated there yet! Again you will need to check your map. You can purchase a little book map which is essential to get around, but the main parks are slightly outside those maps so you will need something just a little bigger to get to Hippodrome or Bois de Vincennes.
Oh this has brought back some great memories, good luck.
David