New York fights unicyclist's lawsuit

NEW YORK, March 19 (UPI) -- Lawyers for New York are asking a judge to toss out a unicyclist's lawsuit claiming his rights were violated when he was ticketed for riding on the sidewalk.

Kyle Peterson's $3 million federal lawsuit against the city claims his rights were violated when he received a ticket in 2007 for violating city administrative code against riding a "two-or-three-wheeled device" on sidewalks and when he was again ticketed for the same offense in November, the New York Daily News reported Friday.

Peterson said the tickets, which were both dismissed in court, amounted to a violation of his rights because a unicycle has only one wheel, not the "two or three" specified in the city code.

However, city lawyer Vicki Zgodny filed this week to have the suit dismissed, claiming the tickets were issued because Peterson violated the spirit of the law.

"The difference between a bicycle and a unicycle is negligible," Zgodny wrote. "It goes without saying that a bicycle and a unicycle are capable of traveling at high speeds. The riding of a unicycle should be reserved for the circus, and not the streets of New York City."

Peterson said he wants to be allowed to ride his unicycle on city sidewalks.

"I disagree that I'm putting anyone in danger by riding my unicycle 5 mph on an empty sidewalk at 3 in the morning," Peterson said.