Lifestyle: At the moment not a day goes by without news about e-scooters. The hype about the electrified version of the scooter is accompanied by news about angry road users and blocked inner cities. Comedian, voice actor, musician and moderator Wigald Boning can't understand the hype surrounding e-scooters - as an enthusiastic scooter rider, the scooter is perfect for him for the last mile. In an interview, the 52-year-old talked about his experiences and the best scooter experiences.
Wigald, you went for a ride on Puky's new "Joker" scooter - what does the scooter specialist say?
"Puky is a traditional manufacturer of children's vehicles. I was therefore very curious to see how a model for grown-ups drives. What immediately captivates me is the lightness of the entire device. It's only a few kilos, and you can carry the scooter very easily and take it with you on the train."
Have you ever folded the scooter?
"Yes, I folded too. I think the mechanism fully serves its purpose. For me it is particularly important to stow my vehicle in this gap in the ICE - between the glass pane at the beginning of a carriage and the first row of seats. The vehicle would have to fit in there exactly. So my needs are met.”
And on the slope itself? How does it drive, what driving dynamics does it have?
"You stand up straight, that's a matter of taste. There are certainly people who prefer a slightly sporty position. Otherwise: A wide running board, you feel safe, secure. Then there are these voluminous pneumatic tyres, with which you can make very comfortable progress.”
That means you would say the name says it all - that's a mobility joker. Explain to us again the idea of a scooter, somewhere between shoes and a bicycle. What shoud that?
“Personally, I'm a huge fan of scooters. You immediately feel young again, about three years old. It's always like that for me: As soon as I stand on it, I have such a childlike play spirit. A need to simply step forward with relatively little technology - which has the great advantage that little can go wrong. Defects such as a broken chain do not occur with the scooter because there is no chain at all. One can possibly still have a flat tire; strangely enough, that rarely happens on a scooter, because you travel a bit slower than on a bicycle. I drive at an average speed of about 15 km/h – that's a great way to get from A to B. There's this famous term: "the last mile". By the way, you can also say “the last mile”. The scooter is of course made for this. It is also a device that I have not understood why it should be electrified at all. I don't get it. I have no idea. We do not need; I push myself, and the Puky Joker is excellent for that.”
What was your biggest and most amazing scooter experience as a three-year-old?
“That must have been on Ottostrasse in Oldenburg. A housing estate that was and still is called Zigzaghausen. How I drove to the end of the cul-de-sac for the first time to see Anja Spilles, my kindergarten crush.”
And what is your greatest scooter experience as a slightly older three-year-old?
“Certainly crossing the Alps with my wife. You on a mountain bike, I on a scooter. The classic: Via Claudia in five days to Riva del Garda. This is of course a great thing. When I started riding my scooter, I thought: It's nice, just for the last mile, but it's better to take a bike to cross the Alps. I've proved myself wrong."
I can see you standing in front of me with a fine shirt and a nice straw hat - is that also the headgear for crossing the Alps or is there a difference with the scooter depending on the terrain?
“Of course I wear a helmet when crossing the Alps, as it should be. Of course, I also wear a helmet on all routes where I can expect a higher speed. On the scooter, I allow myself the luxury of occasionally wearing a straw hat on flat city routes, if only because I think I could use it as a temporary spare wheel – after all, it has 16 inches. If something breaks, then I step on my straw hat and it is mounted as a spare wheel.”
The driving characteristics probably correspond to its protective characteristics as a helmet.
"Just a stopgap, exactly."
Then I say thank you and wish you good skating or pedaling. What's the next big adventure?
"Good question - I've just finished my adventures. The last thing I did was a clog marathon, which I still draw on – that is, the feeling of triumph. You actually manage to force 42,2 kilometers into your feet. Now I'm standing there and I'm looking for new goals. Maybe a scooter ride, good idea!”
Thank you, have a good trip!
"Thanks."
The interview with Wigald Boning was conducted by pressedienst- Fahrrad