Cyclists push joys of the euro

Date: 23/07/1998

Following hot on the heels of the world-wide skate against racism, the euro barge and the unforgettable 'fish bus', the latest off-the-wall stunt to promote the joys of life in the European Union turned up in Brussels last week.

A group of 20 cyclists from the EU and central and eastern Europe glided into the courtyard of the Council of Ministers headquarters led by 70-year-old former German Socialist MEP Dieter Rogalla.

The happy band had spent the previous two weeks touring around the continent explaining the delights of the forthcoming single currency to anyone who cared to listen.

“We don't want to make high-flying speeches on European ideals, we rather want to pass them on to the man on the street,” explained Rogalla.

The tour started off in Budapest and wound its way through Croatia, Slovenia, northern Italy and Austria. It then continued through Germany and moved on to Strasbourg, Paris and Luxembourg before ending up in the 'capital of Europe'.