Yellow "E" Angel – breakdown assistance with the Supercharger.
15.10.2022 | Interview
Christian Skwierawski is an enthusiastic mechanic and a real "petrol-head". He works as a "Yellow Angel" – the German ADAC breakdown association’s name for its roadside patrol men and women – in Berlin and helps drivers and bike riders with flat batteries and punctures. He carries out half of his shifts on his company E-Bike – a Riese & Müller Supercharger. His story shows how deep-set contradictions can be reversed: in the mind.
Hello Christian. When did you start working as a "Yellow Angel" roadside patrol man on your Supercharger?
A colleague introduced me to the idea of using an E-Bike as a company vehicle at the end of 2019. I was desperate to try it out and was immediately impressed. I have been riding the Supercharger since 2020.
How was it at the start – were you worried about switching to the bike?
I have to admit that I would never have thought of an E-Bike myself if I hadn’t been introduced to it through the ADAC. But it’s important to me to be open to new things. That is why I approached it with an open mind, without any preconceptions.
The company bike got me thinking. I don’t start my shift at home, but at my office some 10 kilometres away. That’s no fun on a normal bike but I could imagine commuting that distance on an E-Bike. It’s making less sense to use a car – and I say that as a passionate car driver. The Supercharger is nice to ride and looks quite stylish, and it really could become an option for commuting.
How do people react to a "Yellow Angel" roadside patrol man or woman on an E-Bike?
I really like the fact that so many people notice me and approach me when I’m on my E-Bike. I really like talking to people and am happy to answer all their questions. Lots of people are initially sceptical and ask me whether I can’t provide as much breakdown assistance by not being able to transport as much as in a car. But I keep almost all the tools and instruments that I also carry in my company vehicle in my trailer that is always attached to my bike. The diagnostic unit is the most important piece of equipment that I have with me. And the second most important piece of equipment are the jump leads with an extra battery that I also carry in my trailer.
ADAC has also offered breakdown assistance to bikes for some time. In good weather, my colleagues and I in Berlin have to deal with up to ten service call-outs for faulty bikes. Generally it tends to involve repairing or replacing an inner tube. But I’ve actually not yet had a puncture on my company bike.
"I give the customer a call five minutes before I get there. I also tell them that they should look out for a bike. Initially they laugh, but then they take photos. Many are sceptical, but then they are positively surprised when their car is ready to go again."
How do you experience Berlin as a bike-riding car driver – and vice versa?
Berlin is a large city and is therefore perfect for an E-Bike, which I also use to travel fairly long distances with relative ease. The distances are too far for a normal bike and I just don’t want to head into the city by car. There’s just too much traffic on the roads and, as a car driver, I really worry about bike riders. That is certainly partly due to that fact that many cycle paths in Berlin are insufficient. As a cyclist, I also experience a lack of consideration from other road users, regardless of the mode of transport, and get overtaken dangerously and verbally abused.
Thanks for talking to us, Christian – have a great ride!
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- The ADAC has initially tried using E-Bikes for breakdown assistance in a test phase in a few towns and cities and with various models, including the Riese & Müller Supercharger.
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The interest in a Supercharger fleet grew after a discussion with the Riese & Müller Business Unit.
- 15 Superchargers have been used in cities, such as Berlin, Munich, Freiburg, Darmstadt etc. since mid-2022 and others are already being planned. The bikes have special bright yellow paintwork and carry an ADAC logo.