Advocacy & Safety - Do you commute on St. Patty's Day?

My drunkard brother called to remind me to drive to work vs. riding. His contention was I would become road kill with all the drunks on the road. I work near downtown...parade...green beer.....parties, so I would be traveling with the drunks.

What do you do?

I plan on being drunk with them! If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. Actually, I do not have any intentions of driving or riding anywhere, as I will be really drunk really early.

I don't feel good about venturing out too far. Tomorrow, I'm just going to do a 3 hour ride along the lakefront and then walk to my folks along the lakefront. Here in Chicago, they drink like fish on St. Patty's Day and no one cares. Then we always get the inevitable news reports the next morning of the deaths caused by drunk drivers. :(

Koffee

Because of my wife's mostly-Irish heritage, I pay some attention to St. Patrick's Day. It is tragic that this occasion has become an excuse for drunk and disorderly behaviour. I genuinely appreciate all of you who avoid driving when chemically unable to do so safely; I just wish everyone followed your lead. (I am also a dues-paying member of MADD.)

I'm going to if my knee feels okay in the morning. I don't think there will be anymore drunks on the road in my area.

I have to bike, I have classes, I will be on the road form 7ish am to get to school, and 6ish pm to get home after school. Plus Edgewood College is down town.
Good Luck Biking Ya'll

GEEK

I live in a college town where the downtown busineeses are primarilly bars, but since it's finals week, I doubt the drunks will be out until after dark. I have a term paper and presentation due on Friday, so I imagine I'll be too busy doing that to be out riding.

However, I do have to venture to the university tomorrow, mostly during daylight hours (I'll be returning at dusk), and I'm not any more worried than usual.

Well, I rode in. Too nice of a day (sunny and 25 this morning). Light traffic today, no problems. We will see what its like @ 5:00.

Thank

I rode in & there was so little traffic I thought maybe I had slept through to Saturday. :eek:

I rode to work and while it is a highly commuted route it is short so I am not too worried about getting smothered by a car. In fact I hadn't even given it a thought until I read this thread. Don't forget to add to the debochery (sp) the fact that today is the first day of the NCAA Tourney.

I rode to work and while it is a highly commuted route it is short so I am not too worried about getting smothered by a car. In fact I hadn't even given it a thought until I read this thread. Don't forget to add to the debochery (sp) the fact that today is the first day of the NCAA Tourney.


Yep, our hotels are full and parking is at a premium today. Most lots call today a "special event" and charge $20.00

I hope to catch a game or two this weekend, I wish I followed college hoops this year, but The Ohio State University is on double secret probation. ......but they did beat Illinois!

Yes

"Don't ride in, there's too many drunks" = "I'm a drunk and think everyone is as bad as me"

Ignore.

It's still just a tad bit too cold for me to be riding. Thus, I walk.

As for drinking, I plan on taking part in some of that. If not out at the bar with some friends, then in the safety of my home.

Not going to trust the autodisabled any more than usual. I just assume they are all drunk, all of the time.

Not going to trust the autodisabled any more than usual. I just assume they are all drunk, all of the time.

Same here

St. Patty's day won't stop me. It's one of those times where that third eye in the back of your head becomes handy at 3:00am.

Knock on wood,

--John

I rode in today. Hopefully no problems this evening. Actually I don't expect any. I do have the option of varying the ratio of street/trail riding, so maximizing the trail ride is a thought, but I doubt that I will do that today.

I'll ride home tonight around midnight. And I have to go through a bar district. I will be watching carefully.

I rode in today. Didn't think much of it other than to remember to grab a green tie from the closet.

I still think it's more dangerous to ride past a school at 7:45am than a bar at 2:15 am.

:D No problems there or back. Lots of pedestrians with green feathered bolos, some were hot!

I rode in today. Didn't think much of it other than to remember to grab a green tie from the closet.

I still think it's more dangerous to ride past a school at 7:45am than a bar at 2:15 am.

HA! My route takes me past the open bar at 7:45 (catering to the 3rd shift/all nighters) AND the school. OMG :eek: !!

I rode in today. Didn't think much of it other than to remember to grab a green tie from the closet.

I still think it's more dangerous to ride past a school at 7:45am than a bar at 2:15 am.

Don't forget churches on Sunday morning.

I still think it's more dangerous to ride past a school at 7:45am than a bar at 2:15 am.
Tell me about it. I've had more close calls in front of my school than I care to talk about.

My drunkard brother called to remind me to drive to work vs. riding. His contention was I would become road kill with all the drunks on the road. I work near downtown...parade...green beer.....parties, so I would be traveling with the drunks.

What do you do?

Yesterday afternoons commute was the worse. Two cars blocked the bike trail, several cars cut me off coming out of parking lots from restaurants. The worst was the drunken idiot in a kilt walking backward talking to a couple of girls, when he steped right in front of me. I yelled heads up, when the girls started yelling at me to leave the guy alone. I almost wish I had been in a car and let Darwin take over. :mad:

Next year I'm taking it off and fly somewhere where they do not celebrate this ridiculous holiday!

End of rant, back to work now :D

I did ok on the ride home. A few people were pulled over. Saw one mother getting a DUI with kids in the car (papa came to pick them up it seemed). Lots of drunk folks walking and making comments toward me, but I was going for a commuting record (I want to get down to six mile commute down to 15 minutes). Traffic was light so I figure my odds of getting hit were actually reduced.

I want to get down to six mile commute down to 15 minutes

:eek:

You definitely picked the right avatar then. :D

No stop signs or traffic lights to contend with? That's a 24mph avg. speed if my math's correct.

Well, I don't know if it was St. Pat's day or not (this driver didn't look particularly Irish), but a guy pulled a left turn across the lane directly into my path. I locked up both brakes and did a little controlled sideways skid. (I am actually pretty happy with my bike-handling skills). I yelled at the guy to pull his head out and he put his hands up over his face like he was sorry.

I think Pat and my sainted Irish grandparents were looking out for me.

:eek:

You definitely picked the right avatar then. :D

No stop signs or traffic lights to contend with? That's a 24mph avg. speed if my math's correct.

Limited lights on my route, with a stiff tailwind and/or drafting cars I think I can do this. Is it possible, I don't know. Perhaps my goal is too high for a 39 year old fitness cyclist. I'd like to think I could hang with the big boys for 15 minutes.

Limited lights on my route, with a stiff tailwind and/or drafting cars I think I can do this. Is it possible, I don't know. Perhaps my goal is too high for a 39 year old fitness cyclist.

Good luck, but be careful.

I should also mention there is a slight elevation difference involved :)

I rode home last night/this morning at 12:25 am with no problem. I was encouraged that when I passed my local Irish pub (a great little hang out) there was a line of taxis waiting to take partyers home.