Advocacy & Safety - Drinking & riding: Have you done it?

It's not the smartest thing to do....

But I must confess that I've done it twice in my life. (happened this past spring). I wasn't drunk to the point where I couldn't walk. I was buzzed. Very buzzed. I remember the entire ride and what's amazing is that I didn't feel tired. Everything felt fuzzy & numb. Traffic was flowing exceptionally well and I was transitioning in & out of traffic with ease. For some reason, everything happens in slow motion.

Looking back, it was probably one of the stupidest things I've done all my life.

But nowadays, if I'm going to drink, I make sure someone's aware I have my bike locked outside somewhere. They normally make me hop on the subway with them at the end of the night.

I dunno, I've ridden drunk a few times in my life and found it pretty acceptable. I mean, based on your description of how you felt, you were probably a bit drunker than I was, but still. Riding a bike is exceedingly simple-- just pedal to go faster, brake to slow down, and lean to turn. Plus, your top speed is a lot less than that of a car, so your increased reaction time is less of a big deal.

I'm sure riding drunk is more dangerous than riding sober, but my subjective experience has been that that it's a lot less risky than driving drunk. Granted, I've never driven drunk, but having driven and having been drunk I imagine the speed and complexity of driving make it a lot harder than riding.

And ultimately, the big thing about riding drunk relative to driving drunk is that you're far less likely to harm other people when you do it. You may get yourself killed, but you pose minimal risk to others.

Anyway, this post is starting to make me sound like a drunk-riding apologist. I understand that it's still a bad idea. But I have ridden drunk, and I'm sure I will in the future, and I refuse to feel guilty for it. The only person I'm idiotically endangering is myself.

Yes but I was on Fire Island where there are just walking/biking paths and no cars. That said I fell off into a small ditch... But then i got up and rode away like nothing happened. I'm sure I would have injured myself had i been sober.

I'd never ever do it at home on the street. Cars around here are bad enough when I'm sober and I can keep myself on the side of the road, I could only imagine if I was a little bagged....

I haven't, but since all forms of alcohol tastes like bat piss to me, so I don't drink at all, I'm not sure it's that much of an accomplishment.

Yes. I lived on a small island with no cars.

Speedo

I wasn't drunk to the point where I couldn't walk.
Do people really get so drunk that they can't walk? Is this common?


I was buzzed. Very buzzed. I remember the entire ride and what's amazing is that I didn't feel tired. Everything felt fuzzy & numb. Traffic was flowing exceptionally well and I was transitioning in & out of traffic with ease. For some reason, everything happens in slow motion.

That sounds pretty drunk to me, not buzzed.

I've had a couple beers and then cycled home. On the way home I become a sidewalk cyclist where there is a tricky overpass and highway merges, then I go to back streets the rest of the way home... 3 miles total.

In other words, I avoid mixing it up with motor traffic. I become a rolling pedestrian.

I don't do this often, but I feel it is far better than drinking and driving. I do this as this Pub has certain microbrews that are not otherwise available.

I haven't, but since all forms of alcohol tastes like bat piss to me, so I don't drink at all, I'm not sure it's that much of an accomplishment.

Same here. I pretty much only drank on deployment when I had ginormous amounts of misery to forget - and since I'm not in the navy anymore, I never drink anymore.

Do people really get so drunk that they can't walk? Is this common?
Very common where I live. I see people sitting on the curb unable to walk (both men & women) on a weekly basis.


That sounds pretty drunk to me, not buzzed.
My own personal definition of buzzed = still coherent and able to function normally without the assistance of anyone else.

Drunk = cannot function on my own and puking everywhere.

LEGALLY, I was drunk. I was WAY WAY WAY above the legal alcohol limit.

It's one of the reasons young people cycle even if they have a drivers license. So one can get plastered and then cycle home.

Did a few times when I was younger and worked a late shift... trying to follow the little spot of light on the MUP from my crappy generator light took a lot of effort because it wouldn't stay on the path...:p
Now my commute is much longer with much more road mileage and I wouldn't do it. Rarely drink, anyway.

Do people really get so drunk that they can't walk? Is this common?


Yes, I believe the normal term is: "College student." "Frat boy" is also acceptable.

Seriously, it's not that common. A lot of people overplay it, but because pedestrians face similar dangers as cyclists from automobiles walking drunk can be a bad idea: You may not have the sense to safely cross the crosswalk, as unbelievable as that sounds. I strongly believe this is the best way to get yourself home if you are drunk, but there's an added risk even with walking drunk.

I really don't see riding drunk as a big deal. Even if you're being a complete idiot your generally just a minor irritation to other road users (you can be hard to pass). If you're bright enough (and you might not be) to stop for traffic control signals and you are lucky enough to not hit any curbs you'll probably be fine. I think riding drunk is marginally more stupid than being drunk in the first place. We accept one of them...

From a legal standpoint I'd like to see the law adjusted. Right now police tend to not enforce OWI for bikes, but they could. You might keep it illegal, but it really should have a lesser punishment because it's not as bad as driving drunk. Maybe just throw you in the tank, like we do with drunk pedestrians.

Yes, but not since December 28, 1998. It's not a great idea. On the other hand, it pales in comparison to some of the other poor decisions I used to make while drinking.

Very common where I live. I see people sitting on the curb unable to walk (both men & women) on a weekly basis.


My own personal definition of buzzed = still coherent and able to function normally without the assistance of anyone else.

Drunk = cannot function on my own and puking everywhere.

LEGALLY, I was drunk. I was WAY WAY WAY above the legal alcohol limit.

Yea....

"Buzzed:" You can feel the alcohol, but others may not be able to tell you've been drinking.
"Drunk:" Other people can tell you've been drinking from your behavior, mannerisms.

Legally: 0.08% or more than 2 beers per hour (for me)

Personally I feel alcohol long before the legal limit. I feel buzzed after a beer, and pretty drunk after two. I drink plenty, but I also do a lot of aerobic activity.

Quite a few times when I was a messenger. Also distinctly remember celebrating when WA state changed the law so that DUI did not apply to cyclists. That being said in such states I became a very sedate sidewalk cyclist and was really only ever a danger to myself, though I never even fell over or had any motorist run ins. IMO, not even remotely the same issue as driving while intoxicated and I'm sure that the statistics reflect that too.

Yep many times, left the car home and rode to the local establishment. You can't really take a girl home (unless she has a nice rack), but it was better than driving any day. Drunk hardly, a good buzz that would land you in jail driving? Absolutely. I prefer a natural high while riding these days and enjoy the greenery much more....

Safer to drink and drive ... no, wait ...

I did just this past Saturday night. The next morning I tallied up my route and found that I'd ridden about 9 miles hopping from pub to pub. The final stop was close to home, and at each leg I took side streets so I wouldn't be messing with the heavier traffic.

I did once, and I was pretty much hyper-aware the whole time, trying to make up for my buzz. Hopefully I operated at a net "normal" level. Hardly any traffic, either, so all I had to worry about was myself.

I would've flunked a breathalyzer for sure, although I suspect I could have passed a field sobriety test (touch your nose, count backwards, walk a line, etc). Years of marching band experience kinda helps with physical multitasking. :lol:

perhaps road riding drunk is dumber, but less dumb might be mountain biking...but smooth track (no DH!)

Yes years ago to the point of not being able to keep on the bike and steer. I fell off and almost went in the canal. This was on a cycle track. Would never ever do it again.

I chose no. It's not like I needed reinforcement but here it is:

I had a friend who bar hopped by bike to avoid getting stopped for drunk driving. One night, he hit a guard rail when he missed a fast, downhill curve. The report said he made it home and bled to death. It was a truly sad event because he was so well known and loved. Personally, I'm still mad at him for being so stupid and hurting so many.

I don't think anything of having a few beers and riding home, what little buzz I might have gets worked off on the ride home and I have to start all over, damn! That being said, I haven't been drunk in years and I probably wouldn't want to ride if I was.

Drunk, usually on rented bikes, we engaged in demolition derbies, benjo jumping, jousts and plain old 'see how many people you can crash before you crash yourself' activities often when we were deployed overseas. I even remember some of them. :D

I won't discuss the time we wanted to see if we could fly on a bike if launched by an aircraft carrier's catapult. It wasn't pretty. :eek:

do about 4 or 5 pub cruises a year throughout new england. lots of fun.

yes. often.

I won't discuss the time we wanted to see if we could fly on a bike if launched by an aircraft carrier's catapult. It wasn't pretty. :eek:

Awesome.

On topic, yes, but not in traffic.

Drunk, usually on rented bikes, we engaged in demolition derbies, benjo jumping, jousts and plain old 'see how many people you can crash before you crash yourself' activities often when we were deployed overseas. I even remember some of them. :D

I won't discuss the time we wanted to see if we could fly on a bike if launched by an aircraft carrier's catapult. It wasn't pretty. :eek:

Oh man I'd love to see some footage of THAT! :lol:

Oh man I'd love to see some footage of THAT! :lol:

footage would have ensured our untimely demise via courts-martial...

that and the fact that we were too drunk to fire up the cat. :o

Personally, i have crashed a bicycle while intoxicated more times than I can count or remember for that matter.

I remember that when i was drunk curbs would conspire against me and move into the middle of my path, catching my front wheel unawares and throwing me onto the parking strip.

just keep your wits about you and ROLL with it!

Does crashing on purpose count? how about launching with ones' bicycle off a breakwall into Lake Superior while under the influence?



Hey, I was young once!

Don't drink and try to do wheelie practice.

I've never ridden my bicycle after consuming alcohol.