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| 23.07.2010Still-Life A 40: »Woodstock« on bicycles, Two and a half times bigger |
 |  | A40 highway during the "Still Life" event
Photo courtesy ADFC NRW
| On Sunday July, 18 a 60-kilometre section of the A40 going through the Ruhr region was transformed into a cultural stage as well as a "bicycle highway." The closure of the A40 - considered Europe's busiest motorway - was an event included in the RUHR2010 European Capital of Culture series.
The northern side of the highway was filled with more that 20,000 tables and booths where inhabitants of the Ruhr region presented their personal take on popular culture. The southern side was reserved for ‘everything with wheels and without motor' - mainly bicycles. ECF member organisation ADFC was duly represented by its North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) branch, which were present at seven exclusive locations along the motor-less motorway. ADFC NRW put together "The Longest Bicycle Museum in the World." The first part of the museum was located close to Duisburg, showcasing the early wooden machines of Drais, and the accompanying ADFC NRW booths went all the way through bicycle history until the final booth next to Dortmund where pedelecs (electrically assisted bicycles) were on display, together with a view into the future of cycling.
While the organisers were expecting between 200,000 and 3350,000 cyclists, the event attracted approximately 1 million, making it thus the biggest ‘traffic jam' ever seen on the busy motorway. ADFC NRW Chairman Thomas Semmelmann called the manifestation the biggest and most peaceful bicycle event ever: "Woodstock on bicycles," while noting that the famous festival only counted 400,000 visitors.
More information: http://www.adfc-nrw.de/ (for pictures click on »Bildergalerie« at bottom of start-page)
Complete information: http://www.adfc-nrw.de/still-leben-a40.html
Ulrich Kalle, director of ADFC-section North Rhine-Westphalia
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