Bertrange celebrates new 'Shared Space' by sharing music

(ADW) It's not often a town celebrates the end of roadworks with a big 2-day street entertainment party of music and dance, but that's exactly what Bertrange is doing this weekend.

Ok, it's a bit more than that, as the town proudly inaugurates its rather unique “Shared Space” concept right in the heart of the commune, an area where traffic and pedestrians can blissfully co-exist dispensing of road markings, pavements etc.

Bertrange has been at it for two years now, transforming the centre from a run-of-the-mill town centre, into something more pleasing on the eye. A new restaurant/bar with a terrace is a place you can sit, relax and watch the world go by.

Shared space or shared chaos?

Entering by car into the new shared space is made obvious by a kind of Bertrange “monument” at each end, speed reduction to 20km, plus the road surface changes to a sandy colour. In fact that's a bit how it feels – like a sandpit.

There are no markings, no borders apart from the trees lining the “road”. The junction outside the town hall is an interesting one to negotiate right now and where the priority to the right rule was never more important. 

Watching traffic gingerly fathom their way through right now is quite entertaining but once people get used to the idea, it should become easier, or will it? Only time will tell if this open shared space is used respectfully by everyone, or whether it becomes a bit of a chaos and road markings appear again. 

Right now though, there is a feeling of tranquility as you cruise through the area, which of course is what the designers were aiming for – let's hope it stays that way.

Sharing music in shared space

After two years of upheaval, and rubble, it's all over and time to celebrate. This Friday and Saturday slap-bang in the middle of the shared space the event “Sharing Muisc in Shared Space” takes place.

Friday's programme kicks off at 4.30pm with the official opening, and a Brasilian bar, entertainment, music and dance hitting the streets at 6pm. From 8-11pm, it will be time for local cover band “The Noisemakers” to take to the stage.

On Saturday everything begins at 3pm with street entertainment, and “Bands rocking in shared space” entertain the public from 4pm. Well-known local acts Go By Brooks, Tuys, FOX and The Disliked will take to the stage, an impressive line-up for such an event.

So if you haven't experienced Bertrange's rather original shared space concept, maybe this weekend is the ideal time to do it.

Visit the town's website: www.bertrange.lu

Do not miss the news - sign up to receive the wort.lu newsletter in English delivered to your inbox six days a week