Re: Newsmagazin appearance

system · February 4, 1998, 2:35am

Lars Burgstahler wrote:
> I’m sure most of r.s.u.-readers know Wolfgang Stroessner of Berlin, Germany.
> He appeared in a small article in the German news magazin “Focus”. The article
> says "he gets his kicks from normal bikers looking astonished when he cruises
> down the street in heavy traffic" (quoting from my mind). Furthermore the
> article says that while he still lived in Augsburg, Germany, he was stoped by
> police because lights and brakes at his uni were missing. He put lights and
> brakes at his uni and even got a kind of license. Now as he’s living in
> Berlin, police doesn’t annoy him anymore. The only comment of an officer was
> “were can I buy such a thing”.

Admittedly, I consider the article as kind of stupid. There haven’t been many
facts (Focus advertises with the slogan “facts, facts, facts”) but only some
diffuse statements in yellow press style.

Ok, let’s start the story from the very beginning. Since riding in the traffic I
have been bothered by the police. Every police officer had his own story. Some
wanted me to ride on the pavement, some wanted to stop me at all, sometimes I
was told that I may ride, but only when getting lighting for my uni and so on.
So I decided to check it out. About two years ago I wrote a letter to the
Ministry of National Affairs as this is the superior head of police. After
several letters and 10 months I got the answer that I am allowed to use my uni
on German roads when it is equipped according to the rules for bikes.
I.e. lighting, break, bell and several reflectors. At the end of 1997 the
ministry posted a press release about new traffic laws. So some newspapers
stooped into this story. There was another article in Muenchner
Abendzeitung and a small comment in Bayernmagazin of Bavarian television as
well. I wrote an article about unicycles and traffic law for the European
juggling magazine Kaskade about a year ago. But they didn’t bother printing
it up to now. Who is able to read German and wants to get it, just tell me.
It’s typed, so I can send it by email. As much as I remember I also told
the story to r.s.u., but I’m not quite shure about this.

> The article showed a picture of Wolfgang’s fully equipped unicycle: lights,
> breaks, handlebar (mounted at the saddle) and a
> the-thingy-you-can-put-your-luggage-on (?).

It’s called baggage porter I think.

> And are you wearing Reebok boots for unicycling? I do and I do like them for
> this purpose. Not only do they look good, but they are flexible and thin
> enough to provide good contact and feeling for the uni.

Yes I do. They are my favorite shoes for unicycling too.

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