Practical info

The festival takes place on the site of EPFL located in the municipality of Ecublens. It is accessible by public transport via the M1 metro and is located near the A1 motorway (exit EPFL-UNIL).

Balélec strongly advises you to come by public transport!

Take the M1 metro to the EPFL stop. From the stop, follow the signs. For those who come by train, get off at Renens VD and take the M1 metro. Alternatively get off at Lausanne, take the M2 to Lausanne Flon, then take the M1.

To avoid the high influx caused by the event, try to arrive before 21h and take the M1 from Renens!
If you plan to come by car, we advice you to park at P+R Bourdonette car park and then take the M1 subway.

The M1 metro is free during the night of the festival. In addition, inter-city shuttle buses departing from Balélec and trains departing from Renens are available to festival-goers for their return.

It is possible to ask the driver for additional bus stops on the line you are interested in.

Shuttle Buses

Festival-goers coming from far away will be able to have 4intercity shuttle buses all leaving from Balélec at 3:15 am! Tickets are sold on the internet AND at the info stand during the evening and then at the bus entrance!

bus number 1 will stop in Yverdon, Colombier and finished in Neuchâtel

bus number 2 will stop in Châtel-St-Denis,Bulle and finished in Fribourg

bus number 3 will stop in Moudon, Payerne and finished in Fribourg

bus number 4 will stop in Montreux, Aigle, Bex, St-Maurice, Martigny and finished in Sion

Balélec has adhered to the FestiPlus charter (Charter of prevention for events in canton Vaud) and by this is committed to respecting the conditions dictated by the latter to improve the well-being of the festival-goers. The measures resulting from this commitment are for example the sensitization of the bar teams concerning the consumption of alcohol, the respect of the legislation in force or the security of the return of the festival-goers at the end of the evening, by proposing varied offers of transports at an attractive price. For more information, please visit www.festiplus.ch.

NightLife Vaud is a project that aims to deploy and coordinate prevention and risk reduction actions in the festive events of the canton Vaud.

The topics addressed in these actions are the high-risk drinking of alcohol and illegal substances, as well as sexual health.

The NightLife Vaud project brings together the following two programs, as well as a professional speaker of Levant CAP.


Be my angel tonight

How to party with friends and drink a few drinks without taking big risks when returning? The answer is simple: find a sober driver who has not consumed alcohol or drugs. This situation is possible if the group talks about it in the early evening and gets organized so that one of them does not drink.

To encourage this practice, the prevention team Be My Angel will be present during the festival and will invite festival-goers to make the right choice. Non-alcoholic beverage vouchers will be issued to drivers committing to stay sober and to accompany their friends safely. A booth will provide information and estimate alcohol levels using a computer simulation system.

Download the free Be My Angel Alcohol Simulation App, on App Store and Google Play.


Georgette in Love

The Georgette in Love are prevention speakers for young people, by young people, from the Profa foundation.

These 20 to 25 year-old students regularly go out to meet young people to prevent HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Through animations, informal discussions, they allow the public to discuss sexual and risk-related topics, to find necessary information as well as prevention materials. They seek to have a positive discourse around sexuality and wish to provide the necessary information so that everyone can live their sexuality, make their own choices and better manage risk taking.

The NightLife Stand is a prevention stand located at the entrance of the Festival, focusing on sexual health and drug and alcohol use. On the evening of Balélec, it will encourage the practice of having a designated driver within the group of friends. To this end, drink vouchers for alcohol-free beverages will be distributed to drivers who commit to staying sober and giving their friends a safe ride home. This stand will also have prevention material (flyers, condoms, alcotabs...). This stand will provide festival goers with drug checking services.

More info : www.profa.ch

The Croix-Bleue romande is an association that helps people who are addicted to alcohol and those around them. RaidBlue is its prevention sector. This group is developing projects to raise the awareness of 14-25 year olds about the consequences of excessive alcohol consumption.

In 2012 they started a pilot project "The alcohol-free cocktail bar"! Supported by the BCV Foundation in 2013, they offer this bar in various events in French-speaking Switzerland.

During the festival, RaidBlue and its team will offer you sweet and colorful drinks for a break during your evening!

The Raidblue Stand is a stand located in front of the Epicure, focused on the prevention of alcoholism. This association comes to meet the public to inform and discuss the risks linked to alcohol consumption. A non-alcoholic cocktail bar and a flou pong (a beer pong with glasses that simulates the vision that a drunk person might have) will be present during the festival. This stand will also have prevention material (flyers, condoms, alcotabs...).

More info : www.raidblue.ch

Hearing protections are distributed at the festival entrances, bars and the information booth, as well as near the scenes so that the public can safely enjoy the concerts. Indeed, in some areas the decibels can reach 100dB (A). Prolonged exposure to this loudness can cause damage to the eardrums. It is therefore strongly recommended to use hearing protection.

Strict controls of the sound levels are carried out by our officials in order to respect the legislation in force and the authorizations granted by the SEVEN for the event.

An auditory rest area is also set up for festival-goers.

All drug use has its risks. If you decide to use drugs, here are some tips to follow:

1. Never use drugs alone and be careful with your friends. If you have a problem, never leave your friend alone and seek help.
2. Avoid mixing substances, including alcohol.
3. Less is more: risky dosages depend on body weight, body function and the purity of the substance. So be careful with the dosage!
4. Try small amounts first and wait at least 2 hours before you can assess the effects. Psychoactive substances have different build-up times: wait for the effects to build up before using again.
5. Prepare well for the party and only use if you are physically and mentally fit.
6. During the party, drink enough water: about 3 dl/hour, or more if it is hot.
7. Don't drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

1. Remember to take one or more condoms with you. An internal (female) condom will also do :)
2. With your group of friends, discuss a safe word that you can use in case of an uncomfortable situation before you leave. Never leave someone alone, especially if they have been drinking or taking drugs.
3. In the event of unprotected/poorly-protected intercourse: take emergency contraception as quickly as possible within 120 hours, available in pharmacies without a prescription, even if you are under 16. If there is a risk of exposure to HIV, go to the emergency room as soon as possible, at the latest within 48 hours.
4. It is important to talk to your partner about consent and the means of protection.
5. In case of unwanted/unconsented sex, or sexual assault, the festival infirmary is available to provide rapid care.

1. Drink with trustworthy friends and look out for each other.
2. Designate a trusted driver. Even if you don't have a car, you can always designate someone who drinks in moderation and is more likely to look after the group, or even look after each other better!
3. Drink water to limit your alcohol consumption, not to feel bad the next day, to be able to take care of your mates, not to overexert your body.
4. Space out your drinks, take your time and alternate with non-alcoholic drinks.
5. Four water fountains will be available for dehydrated festival-goers in the festival. They will be made visible by an illuminated balloon hanging nearby.

Why have unisex toilets ?


During Balélec, there will be two unisex toilet areas. These are more inclusive, so avoid those in a gender minority being in a discriminatory situation. Furthermore, having the same toilets for everyone reduces the queuing time.

Why have unisex urinals?


This year, urinals for people with vaginas will be installed in the gendered toilets to allow the user a certain level of privacy. This is a cleaner, more efficient option for those who squat to pee. Another solution to the infinite toilet queues! These urinals are designed to offer protection to the user. The height of the urinal gives a certain level of comfort while also giving the feeling of security. While at the urinal, the user can observe their surroundings at the same height as a standing person.

Where can I find a cupcondom on the evening of the festival?


Reusable cupcondoms will be available free of charge at the stands and at the info chalet. It is a prevention and deterrent tool designed to reduce the risk of illegal substances entering a glass, or from spilling your drink. It is reusable (hand wash between each use), made from 100% silicone from natural resources and zero plastic. These protectors do not replace the vigilance of users when consuming drinks at events or parties.

It is important to note that these drink guards are by no means a way to put the responsibility on vulnerable people, but to give these people the possibility to prevent and dissuade ill-intentioned people. The aim is really to try to give as many prevention tools as possible to people who want them.

It is possible to keep the cupcondom, or to return it to the Chalet Info.

Where can I get a condom?

Condoms can be obtained from the NightLife stand and from the Info Chalet.

1. The psychological distress hotline (Hotline to Vaud’s on-call doctors) will answer you 24 hours a day, 365 days a year by telephone on 0848 133 133. The contact person will be able to help you, give you advice and, if needed, provide the necessary resources to help you in the event of psychological distress.
2. La Main Tendue is available 24 hours a day by telephone by dialling 143. They are there to listen to people who need help and support, for people in crisis but also for everyday worries. This Swiss help service seeks to provide, if the callers so wish, a spark to find ways of coping with difficulties. If necessary, Tel. 143 also provides addresses of suitable help services. La Main Tendue is also available, anonymously, by e-mail or chat.

Traffic will be changed as early as Friday, May 6th in the morning.
For everyone's safety, we recommend that you pay close attention to signage all week long and follow the instructions provided by the Balélec staff.

Starting Wednesday, May 11th, traffic on Piccard Avenue will be completely blocked at the bridge between the CM and CE. The MBC bus stop "Piccard" will be replaced by the stop "EPFL", on the Sorge road.

On Friday, May 13th, we advise you to come IN PUBLIC TRANSPORT, because the traffic will be strongly disturbed and many car parks will be closed.

From noon, no more vehicles will be able to park in the Rivier car park, the Mercier car park and on Perronet avenue.

From 5 pm, the RLC and Mercier car parks will be closed.

From 18h, the Sorge road will be closed and vehicle access to the eastern part of the EPFL will only be authorized to holders of EPFL parking permits upon presentation of their CAMIPRO card.

Bicycle parking under the Rolex and those on Piccard Avenue will be closed from Tuesday, May 10th to Sunday, May 14th. A replacement bicycle parking will be provided north of the CM/CE bridge.

The event "Festival Balélec" will take place on Friday, May 13th on the EPFL campus.

In order to better organize this event, some disturbances in traffic, parking and accessibility of the premises that are inside the event are to be expected as well as sound tests will be held on Friday, May 13th in the afternoon.

The agents in charge of controlling the car parks will be more forgiving during this period. However, any vehicle that is poorly parked and presents a danger to traffic or that prevents emergency vehicles from gaining access to our buildings will be reported or even removed. We kindly ask you to respect the new road signs set up for this occasion.

The car parks will be closed, according to the program above.

For security reasons, part of the campus will be out of reach for all EPFL staff on Friday, May 8th.

For similar reasons, no foodtrucks will be there on Friday, May 13th.

The following buildings are affected by this restriction:

• MED will be inaccessible as of 4.30 PM.
• BI, BS, CE, CM and MED will be vacated by a security company as of 5.00 PM.
• CE, CH, CM, MA, ME, PH and PO will be inaccessible as of 5.00 PM.
• CO, GC and GR will be inaccessible as of 6.30 PM.
• Some doors of buildings BS, CE, CM, MA, MED and PH will be inaccessible as of 4.00 PM.

All premises will be accessible again from 7am on Saturday, May 14th.

From Saturday, May 14th at 7am, the campus will gradually return to normal, until any trace of our passage has eventually vanished!

If you have any questions about the impact of Balélec on traffic on the EPFL campus do not hesitate to contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

In 2006 reusable cups were introduced on the site and have had a great success. They are made of solid plastic and can be washed and reused in other events.

The advantages of this solution are significant:

• The impact on the environment is much lower than with disposable cups.
• The amount of waste is reduced.
• The cleanliness of the site of the event is greatly improved.

A deposit of 2.- will be required upon first purchase of beverage. This deposit is recoverable once the finished glass, by returning it to any bar present at the Festival Balélec.

An additional booth dedicated to the return of cups and dishes will be opened to offer another option to recover the deposit. It is on the way out.

WARNING

Booths will be instructed not to recover a damaged cup (cigarette burn, split cup, etc.), the deposit will not be refunded if the glass is broken or split.

We thank you for respecting our efforts in the past years and we hope you will be happy with this system reducing the environmental impact and making the event more welcoming.

Since 2012, you will find only reusable dishes at the food stands present on the site. This dish has the same advantages as reusable cups and the impact on the environment is once again reduced compared to the compostable tableware used until 2011.

The deposit will be 3.- for plate and 1.- for cutlery. The return of the dishes and the recovery of the deposit will be exclusively at the return stand "Goblets and dishes" to the exit.

WARNING

The deposit will not be refunded if the dishes are broken or cracked.

We thank you for respecting our efforts in the past years and we hope you will be happy with this system reducing the environmental impact and making the event more welcoming.