It's finally starting again: starting Tuesday, April 5, after a two-year break, the new season of Tuesday Night Skater (TNS) will finally kick off - a day skaters have been looking forward to for so long! Despite the long break, little has changed about the sporting event, for which some people travel to Frankfurt even from far away: Meeting point for the start is as usual at the Hafenpark in Mayfarthstraße/Honsellbrücke. To kick things off, Olympic participant Felix Rijhnen from the Frankfurt Olympic Speed Skating Club will give the starting signal at 8:30 p.m. together with Head of Sports Mike Josef. Several hundred skaters are expected, who will then roll through the city every Tuesday until the end of Central European Summer Time.
"With their energy, the Tuesday Night Skaters set a strong example in our dynamic sports city of Frankfurt," says sports department head Josef about the start of the season. Organizer Dirk May has been in charge of preparing and running the skater tours for more than 20 years. Thanks to his commitment and the support of the public order office, police, ambulance services as well as the transport companies, the skating tours can once again take place weekly without any significant traffic obstructions.
"After the long break, we are slowly getting back into it," says May. The opening round is a true "TNS Light Tour." That means the route is shorter and the break is taken at the Hafenpark start and end points, so you can also get off after half the tour. Beginners and returners are invited. Every first Tuesday of the month, a "TNS Light Tour" is offered with a shorter route and a more relaxed pace. However, safe braking and riding technique are basic requirements for participation. Wearing a helmet and protectors is recommended. The routes are usually between 27 and 34 kilometers long. Usually the event ends around 11 p.m. at Hafenpark.
Participants are asked to wear mouth-to-nose coverings on their own responsibility at the start, collection stops and finish. To avoid potential crowding situations along the way, May has arranged the tours so that there is enough space for all skaters even at the collection stops.
The colorful troop will be accompanied by police and paramedics as well as around 80 stewards, who will ensure safety and a smooth process.
Information about the respective tours is always published on Tuesdays on the TNS homepage at TNS Frankfurt | Home (t-n-s.de). Here you will also find out if a tour has to be cancelled due to weather conditions. In addition, you will also find the TNS traffic rules on the website.
