Every year throughout Germany you will find Sundays when main roads in scenic areas are closed to motorists, and the streets are ruled by cyclists, walkers and in-line skaters. The villages along the route welcome the tourist traffic, and you can usually find plenty to eat or drink along the way. The best-organized events will even offer first-aid stands or emergency bicycle repair services.

Of course, you need to somehow get to the starting point with your bike or gear in tow. I’ve always used trains to do so, but you could just as well drive to not only the start or end points but any small town along the route. You may have to walk or ride a bit from where you park, but isn’t that the whole point?

Here are some of the days to note in 2008:

April 27, Lahn Valley Fun Day, between Bad Laasphe-Feudingen and Cölbe.

May 1, Ilm Cycle Touring Day, along the Ilm river in Thuringia, town of Apolda.

May 18, Rhein-Radeln, along the Rhine between Oppenheim and Worms.

May 18, Happy Mosel, Moselle River between Schweich and Cochem, both sides of the river, 9 a.m.- 7 p.m.

May 18, Auto Free Sunday, Franken Wine Land, along the Main River between Grafenrheinfeld and Schwarzach, 10 a.m.- 6 p.m.

May 18, Wied Valley, between Neuwied-Niederbieber and Seifen, Rhineland-Pfalz.

May 25, Saar Pedal, along the Saar River between Konz and Merzin, 10 a.m.- 8 p.m.

May 25, Fahr zur Aar, between Diez and Taunusstein-Bleidenstadt.

June 1, Speichenfest, Fulda River and valley from Melsungen to Rotenburg a.d.F., 10 a.m.- 6 p.m.

June 15, Natürlich Mobil, Neckar River between Mosbach and Heilbronn, 8 a.m.- 6 p.m.

June 15, SlowUp Hochrhein, around the Rhine in the area of Bad Säckingen, Baden-Württemberg.

June 22, Southern Eifel Tour, along the Enz and Prüm Rivers between Arzfel and Irrel, North Rhine-Westphalia.

June 29, Tal total, along the Rhine River between Rüdesheim and Koblenz.

July 6, Gesamtes Siegtal, along the Sieg River and Rothaargebirge hills, in North Rhine-Westphalia.

July 13, Gelbachtal, between Weinähr und Montabaur, 9 a.m.- 6 p.m.

Aug. 3, Tauber car free Sunday, Tauber River Valley, between Rothenburg o.d.T., Detwang and Bad Mergentheim, 10 a.m.- 6 p.m.

Aug. 3, Autofreies Lautertal , Lauter Valley between Kaiserslautern and Lauterecken, 10 a.m.- 6 p.m.

Aug. 17, Ruwertal Aktiv, along the Ruwer between Trier and Riveris, 10 a.m.- 8 p.m.

Aug. 31, German Wine Route discovery day, Rhineland-Palatinate, between Bockenheim and Schweigen.

Sept. 14, Kinzigtal total, between Hanau and Sinntal.

Sept. 28, Raderlebnistag Salm, castles, old country houses, churches and other scenic spots, between Dreis and Klüsserath, 10 a.m.- 6 p.m.

In addition to these dates, there are many other traffic-free days. If you’re not seeing one in your geographical area or on a date that’s convenient, try looking on the Web site http://www.upi-institut.de/upi37.htm

For descriptions of events in English, visit www.germany-tourism.de and search for events, then narrow your search by choosing "Active Travel and Sport Events" and then clicking on the "biking, hiking" option.