Amusement ride

The operator of one of Munich's most famous Oktoberfest attractions has taken the unusual step of distributing free cycling shorts to female visitors in an effort to combat upskirting and unauthorized digital filming.

Elizabeth Polacksy, the 80-year-old operator of the historic Tuffelsrad, Devil's Wheel, Amusement Ride, confirmed that she has handed out more than 100 pairs of protective shorts during the 2026 festival to women and young girls wearing traditional Bavarian dirndls and dresses.

The initiative comes after investigative reports revealed that thousands of voyeuristic videos recorded at the attraction have been widely circulated and monetized across social media platforms.

The Tuffelsrad, a fixture at the annual beer festival for decades, features a rapidly spinning circular wooden platform designed to throw participants off as centrifugal force increases.