The first users arrived at 9 am this Thursday morning on the “static” beach from Couchant to La Grande-Motte. And miracle of deconfinement in the green zone, they are the only ones in France who can put their towel on the sand and lie down under an umbrella, thanks to a reservation system. Free but restrictive system because for sunbathing on the beach, you must reserve your pitch 48 hours in advance on the Tourist Office website.
And on D-Day, they have about 3 hours, in the morning (from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.) or in the afternoon (from 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.), to be static on the beach, in 66 spaces well delimited by wooden stakes and ropes … for 2, 4 or 6 people.
In total, 252 people maximum in the morning and as much in the afternoon, on the 2,000m2 converted into a “shared” beach.
A successful concept … obviously, since this Thursday’s places were all booked Tuesday in a few minutes. And everything is complete until Saturday inclusive.
It is good to be able to enjoy the beach without having to walk there. There is hardly any time for jogging, “notes Julian, a law student in Montpellier who came to join his mother and his sister, referring to 32 degrees of ambient temperature.
Not everyone can walk for miles on the beach! “Exclaims Nathalie, seated with her friends Sophie and Edwige.
The shared beach will be in place at least until June 2.
The shared beach, “the new style made in La Grande-Motte”
This original concept aims to be a space of freedom in the context of the Coronavirus health crisis. But relative freedom. There are instructions, rules, prohibitions to be observed and also municipal officials to monitor the whole … And above all, no mandatory mask rejoice many
The only downside is that around twenty reserved plots were empty by midday.
The reservation is free. Suddenly, people do not feel obliged to come. But we want to maintain this free access, we do not want a commodification of public space, “insists Jérôme Arnaud, director of the tourist office.
If that tells you, then welcome to the LGM shared range. The toes fan-shaped, spread out like a lizard on the beach, a dream come true this Thursday morning at La Grande-Motte.
Very strict instructions for use
If you can put towels and umbrellas on this beach, unlike all the other beaches in Occitania, picnics are prohibited, as are animals.
On the booking site, the instructions are detailed: “The shared beach experience is not only about health security, it is a shared space of tranquility and relaxation. This is why it imposes a few common rules . “
– No animals, even on a leash.
– Non-smoking area.
– Silent telephone: no ringing, no conversation.
– Music only in your headphones.
– No lunches on site.
– Everyone collects and takes away their waste.
– Respect the traffic directions, they have been materialized to protect you.
– Wearing the bracelet allows us to reserve the beach square for its users only.
The other ranges are “dynamic” but by themes
The other beaches of La Grande-Motte, all in dynamic mode, are sectored according to their use: a family beach, nature and sports.
To refine this unprecedented organization, in place from May 21 to June 2, the seaside resort of the pyramids relies on user feedback, via a questionnaire to be completed on site: do we feel safe in the context of the coronavirus pandemic? Do we need more places for 2 people? Or are the beach facilities suitable?
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