First aid and more:
A special first aid task force on skates and extra ambulance cars accompany the treck. Just in case. Nevertheless, participation at the “Munich Blade-Night” is at your own risk.

Assistance:
If you need any assistance or support, please turn to the friendly “Munich Bladeguards”. Formerly The "Munich Bladeguards" could easily be recognized by their outfit which lead to their nickname “orange angels”. On their orange vests there was in huge letters the magic German word ORDNER which gives them almost the same amount of power as a judge, the president, a bishop and your mother in one person ;-). In 2007 the Bladeguards wear a kind of reflective suspenders and the magic letters are small and not reflective. So their superpowers faded a little bit. In 2008 they power returned: Orange again - but no sponsor on the vests. In 2010 and again in 2011 the sponsor is a big health insurance. So you can guess what will be on the vests etc.

Support the Bladenight:
In 2007 the Bladenight found no main sponsor. Unfortunately this was the case again in 2008. In the current economic situation no miracle can be expected. Therefore the alternative established in 2007 to raise the money needed to stage the Bladenight was repeated in 2009. Although a big sponsor could be won in 2010, the tradition lives on: You can buy a "Starterband", a silicone bracelet with "MÜNCHNER BLADE NIGHT" printed on it, for 2 Euro. Different stylish colors are available. All the money goes directly to the Munich Bladenight. Either you keep the "blacelet" as souvenir of this phantastic event or you trade it for a soft drink in the event area.

Rule 1: Follow the instructions of the Munich Bladeguards
They are sacrificing their Monday evenings for you to make the “Munich Blade-Night” possible. Their main task is to support the police in keeping the roads free car-free for the skaters, warn the latter in case of dangerous obstacles and to allow an efficient work of ambulances. And they do all this for free. Some nice words or signs from you to them are highly appreciated.
Please keep in mind, that without the Bladeguards the public administration would not grant a permission to perform such an event. (yes, you need a permission for this in Germany). And if not enough Bladeguards are present, because e.g. participants have been not friendly to them, then a Bladnight will also be cancelled.

Rule 2: Stay on the road during the Bladenight
While in Germany usually skating is not allowed on the roads if a walkway is present, “Munich Blade-Night” is an exception: There the opposite is valid. Please do not use the walkways, but stay on the road - especially in case of a skater jam.
Reason: The Bladeguards need the walkways and bicycle paths to pass the treck quickly. They have to do so to replace other Bladeguards in a forward rolling system to block all road sections for the treck. Nevertheless, sometimes the Bladeguards must use the same pretious road space as the participants to get forward. Please give way if you hear and/or see them coming.
After and before the event the bad old traffic rules for skaters are valid. So please, don’t skate on the roads after the Blade-Night. You might skate directly in the arms of the polite Munich police patroling the area.

Rule 3: Stay patient if the treck stops
Sometimes our “friends and helpers” request stops if the treck gets too long - 8km=5miles is the allowed maximum. (“friends and helpers” is a term sometimes used for the police in Germany; a title which is fully deserved with respect to the “Munich Blade-Night”).
Sometimes there is a real skater jam, if the road is too narrow to get all of you through at once.
In any stop case: Please keep calm and patient, stay on the road (see above) and do not push forward or boohoo like mad cattle.

Rule 4: Keep cool
Some car drivers, motorcyclers, cyclists, even pedestrians can hardly accept that the streets are not always reserved for them. Please prove your emotional intelligence and do not foster any aggressive behaviour. Just keep going and forget about it. In urgent cases you can inform a Bladeguard. They are trained to handle such (usually rare) situations.

Rule 5: Do drink and skate
Do not forget to bring some water with you. Dehydration is a common reason for fatigue, loss of concentration – and consequently painful falls.
Bring with you a (non-glass) bottle filled with some water (or diluted juice). Of course you do not litter empty bottles (otherwise other skaters might stumble). Water is preferable, also compared to these modern sport drinks, because it is more versatile. Or have you ever used “Skatorade” or alike for washing dirty hands?

Rule 6: Don’t drink and skate
Your alcohol level should be equal or very close to zero during the “Munich Blade Night”.“ I know this is hard in the world capital of beer, but your will can be stronger than your beer-thirst.

Rule 7: Protect yourself
“Munich Blade-Night” is proud to have been a few-injuries-event so far. But this fact is of little comfort for those who suffered some pain. Most of the injuries could have been prevented or at least diminuished with proper protection gear. I know quite a few experienced skaters who were too proud or regarded it as “un-cool” or uncomfortable to wear wristguards, ellbow-/and knee protection and a helmet – until it was too late. Please be more responsible to your body!
Remember: Under every helmet there is a clever brain. That’s why all Bladeguard wear one ;-) And there is a reason why in every speedskating event participation is only possible with a helmet.

Rule 8: Learn one sign
Very easy: Raised arms mean: Attention! Slow down!

Rule 9: Do not trail
Ambulance cars are accompanying the treck for fast delivery of service. Keep a respectful distance and do not use them to save some energy.
Do not trail behind bicycles. They are anyway not allowed to take part in the Blade-Night.

Find your place in the track:
Depending on your skating abilities you should chose your place in the treck:
If you are a slow skater: Start at the front of the treck and fall behind gradually.
If you are a fast skater: Start at the end of the treck and catch up. But please respect the safety of those whom you overtake.

Become visible:
If you intend to skate back home/to your hotel, residence or friends’ flat from the “Munich Blade-Night”, then flashing lights are a good idea. They promptly change your status from I-wear-the-Lord-of-the-Rings to lighthouse.

Food supply:
Most certainly you will not starve during the 1.5 - 2 hours of the “Munich Blade-Night”, but you can refill all the calories you burnt during the work-out quickly at the food booths in the event area afterwards.

Use public transportation:
It is very advisable and cheap to come to the starting area by public transportation – if you are not skating to it. Parking space is scarce close to the starting area. But be aware: Skating is not allowed in the Munich public transportation system. Please avoid embarrassing discussions with the public transportation patrols and take an extra pair of shoes with you.

Don’t exaggerate:
If for any reason you feel that you cannot finish the Munich Bladenight, then stop. Don’t force yourself to go on. Ask a bladeguard for assistance, how to come back to the event area. Using the underground line to get back to your home/hotel/the starting area is preferable, because surface traffic might be blocked by the skater treck. Metro stations have widely visible white U signs on blue ground. If you can't spot one, ask one of the bladeguards or some friendly indigenous people for assistance.

Skate&Brake Check:
You are not sure, if you are skating well enough for the Munich-Bladenight? Come to the Skate&Brake check in the starting area. Between 19:30 and 20:30 officially licensed skate trainers check your skating&braking abilities. This service is free of charge!

Blade Nights for children?:

Being married to the same woman for more than an seventh of a century now, I am not the ultimate expert in this area. My wife is more jealous on the time I am spending for the Bladenights - and for this website - than on all the young, good-looking, intelligent and humorous female skaters which meet at every Bladenight (The same characteristics are probably also present at the skating men, but I do no pay so much attention).
Munich Bladenight is definitely a very good opportunity to meet nice and funny people, but it is also convenient seen the other way around: If you would like to stay alone or just stay with the friends you are meeting without feeling like chased game, then the Bladenight is also a good place to go.

In 2011 there will be again a possibility to rent protection equipment (so not excuse anymore for not wearing it) and skates. Even children sizes are available. There is no rental fee (K2 is promoting its stuff), but you need to deposit you identity card (or something similar). Be there sufficiently early, so the things are not rented out.

* I can maintain adequate speed on inline skates
* I am able to break effectively on inline skates
* I know how to control my speed on a long downhill slope (e.g. a bridge over railtracks)
* My skates are in proper shape (no loose axles…)
* The brake of my skates is present and not worn.
* Wrist guards
* Knee protectors
* Ellbow protectors
* Helmet
* Drinking bottle (no glass)
* Last minute crosscheck: Blade-Night really takes place this Monday
* Friends join me
* Money for food/beverage refuel
* Identity Card
* Ticket for public transportation
* Appropriate clothing (check the weather forecast for the evening temperature)
* Flashing lights