cyclezealot

Brennan...As activist cyclist, some of us at least, we need present a favorable face to the non-cycling world.. A drunk cyclist acting like motorists does not help our cause...Yes, not a national malaise, but as advocates, we are interested.
Do agree drinking and cycling don't mix..Bad for one's health, even if getting rid of a few peskie brain cells is a good thining exercise once a year.
As to biking and drinking..Bike tours in Napa, Calif. are big..I understand a fair amount of cyclist do get napped each year.
Was there not some mention of a drunk cyclist who could not unclick his/her SPD's.. Not a comfortable spot to sleep it off.
In a drunk, I could see me hugging onto my touring bike. The object of my affection towards my bike would not be anywhere below the waistline. camping and a bottle of wine are quite compatable. Think it would take more than one bottle to get me to hug my bike, tho..That is if nothing else were available.

Eman

It is the same in Virginia. The DUI laws, unlike almost all other traffic violations, are only applicable for an operator of a motor vehicle. Moped yes, bicycle no! A cyclist who was caught drunk would likely be arrested for Drunk In Public. Most other traffic laws in VA, like running a stop sign or speeding, are written for all vehicles, including bikes.

cyclezealot

Some might argue that Bicyclists should not be charged with DUI because a bike is not a car...Think about loosing that argument.!
It means we are not equal to the auto as a means of transportation...Therefore, we might be denied access to the road.Don't think we want that..

Jim311

That's pretty lame. If you want to ride a bike into traffic while drinking and driving, that's your perogative. So long as you don't hurt anybody else. I personally do not swerve for small animals or people on bicycles UNLESS I know I can avoid the person safely. Otherwise, you're fawkin road pizza. That's just good sense.

Brennan

Why stop there? If we want to be equal to cars, let's require bicyclists to pay annual registration fees and mandatory insurance. Require all bicyclists to carry a rider's license which can only be obtained after passing a written and riding test. We can have even more reasons to stand in line at the DMV! Hey, how about bicycle parking tickets? And no more bicycling for kids. Sorry, but you must be 16 or older to operate a bicycle. How far should this equality go?

cyclezealot

The law does not use the phrase that a bike is equal to a car...It just states bikes have equal access to roads.. Bikes obviously do not weigh 3000 lbs...We can't use any lane we choose...
To equate a bike beyond the fact, it is transportation to many and can have access to its portion of the road is all the law is saying for us to go further is silly...
If you own a bike, it is in your interest that bikes be considered legitimate transportation and those forces that want to margalinze you to a few existing bike trails not win out. Should that be the case, we just might as well ban the manufacture of bicycles.
Some cities do require that bikes be registered.