Bikes vs Trucks - Annual ARSMB protest tomorrow
Since 1997, L'Association pour le Respect du Site du Mont Blanc (ARSMB) has been campaigning against the 2000-3000 heavy goods vehicles that travel daily up and down the Chamonix valley. In recent years though, their protests have also drawn attention to some of the wider environmental concerns that the valley faces, not just from traffic pollution.
One of the most popular gatherings organised by the association is their annual bike protest, when concerned individuals are encouraged to take to two wheels and ride en masse up the main RN205 access road from Le Fayet to Chamonix. The event was cancelled last year for the first time in its history after the President of the ARSMB announced in a rather controversial press release that he felt that “the association has been deserted by the local population and the media and even criticised by former militant members”. A round table event was held in its place in October where locals were invited to share and discuss their environmental concerns for the valley.
However, here at Chamonet we're all for a bit of “What do we want? We don't know! When do we want it? Now!” good old fashioned style protesting, and so we were very pleased to see that the ARSMB have resumed their bike protest again this year. Scheduled to take place tomorrow, Saturday 5th, riders are invited to gather at the aire du regulation de Passy (the large truck parking area just behind the Total garage in Le Fayet) at 2pm sharp. The group will then commence their VERY leisurely ride up the viaduct to Chamonix. This is not a race (in fact the slower the better for the protestors!) so you do not need to be Lance Armstrong in order to join in. It's the perfect event for families and in previous years the protest has attracted up to 400 riders, ranging in age from 4 to 84 years.
The road will be closed to all traffic for the duration of the event as they make their way up through Chatelard, Servoz and Les Houches, before arriving into the main square in Cham between 5-6pm, so 3-4 hours after leaving le Fayet. As is customary in gatherings of any sort in France, you can expect to find a selection of snacks and refreshments en route to sustain your pedal power up the hill.
New for the event this year is a free bus shuttle service to take riders and their bikes to and from the start/end points. The shuttle will leave Planards car park in Chamonix at 1pm to drop you down to the start in Le Fayet, and then leave from the place de la mairie in Chamonix at 6pm to return back down the valley. Personally, if I've ridden up the hill then the descent back down is a well earned reward, however, it's good to know that you can catch a lift back home if you've had a snifter too many of rosé on the way! So get your bikes out tomorrow and come and join in – let's make sure we keep the Chamonix valley beautiful.
