“Still Life” Event in Germany Sets World Record

Travel News — By Carlo Alcos on July 28, 2010 at 2:30 pm

For part of a day, the speed limit on one of Germany’s autobahns was reduced to 0 mph (0 km/h).

On July 18, around three million people flocked to a normally busy stretch of highway that sees cars whizzing along at excessive speeds. A “super-table” – the longest in the world – was set up along 37 miles of asphalt as part of the European Capital of Culture RUHR.2010 to celebrate cultural diversity. Some numbers from the event:

20,000 tables comprised the “super-table”
40,000 benches
60 trucks and 140 forklifts used to set up the “super-table”
50,000+ helpers
3000 orientation signs for visitors
100 cooling trucks offering cold drinks and snacks
3000 porta-potties
3500 2-way radios used by helpers

Said RUHR.2010 Chairman Fritz Pleitgen:

The incredible range of contributions clearly proves the Ruhr Metropolis’ creative potential.

A variety of people partook including dancers, singers, actors, sports and cultural clubs in the event whose motto was “the table is your stage.” Both lanes of motorway between the cities of Duisburg and Dortmund were used, with one side dedicated to pedestrians and the other to those on wheels. There was one rule: no engines. You can check out a video of the festivities here:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLJJZZMvx54[/youtube]

Even state premier Hannelore Kraft was in attendance, riding her bike. “This is fantastic. I grew up right next to the A40 and still live close to it. It’s great to see it now without cars but with so many people and so much cultural variety,” she said.

[Image from press release photos]