For all of you who "go out" on your bikes:

Should drinking and riding be viewed as a preferred alternative to drinking and driving?

As for me, I avoid riding with drunk drivers at all costs. However, I do bike commute to the bars and nightclubs to meet friends, and after a few, I commute back home. I am very rarely slosh-bamm-drunk, but have ridden after sharing a couple of pitchers with the buddies at the local brew-pub. Surely there must be some statistics on this, and I'm sure I could benefit from being more educated in this topic.

Manderax
:confused:

From the California Vehicle code . . .

"21200.5. Notwithstanding Section 21200, it is unlawful for any
person to ride a bicycle upon a highway while under the influence of
an alcoholic beverage or any drug, or under the combined influence of
an alcoholic beverage and any drug. Any person arrested for a
violation of this section may request to have a chemical test made of
the person's blood, breath, or urine for the purpose of determining
the alcoholic or drug content of that person's blood pursuant to
Section 23612, and, if so requested, the arresting officer shall have
the test performed. A conviction of a violation of this section
shall be punished by a fine of not more than two hundred fifty
dollars ($250). Violations of this section are subject to Section
13202.5."

"Highway", by the way, includes streets.

Drunk cyclists are a danger to pedestrians and other cyclists, and can even be a danger to cars (though much less so). That said, you are probably more of a danger to yourself than anyone else.

Bike to the bar, walk back. Hell, if you aren't that drunk you'll probably sober up about half way through the walk.

andy

NEVER DRINK AND RIDE

because you spill it.

I suspect that those drunk cyclist you see wobbling back from the pub would ride like that sober.

My favourite pub (The Fat Cat, Nelson St, Norwich, Norfolk) has a bike stand for its customers. Another Norwich pub had a bike stand installed as a memorial to a cyclist/real ale drinker who recently passed away.
The cycle campaign group and real ale society seem to be interchangeable.

Ive seen one pub in London, frequented by couriers, which had a few score courier bikes locked up on multi-story rails around the pub.

Even the UKs foremost petrol-head idealogically-unsound car reviewer rides back from the pub by bike.

Riding whilst off your face on any mind-altering substance is just stupid as well as illegal.

Not more than $250.00? No jail time? A mere slap-on-the-wrist when compared to driving. Heck, they are practically endorsing it as an alternative.

Walking would be best, but through the big city? At 1a.m.? Better have mace.

Basically forget about it. Just imagine if you got taken out by a driver while riding home drunk. I know who'd be viewed as the guilty party in that one.

I rode home 'falling down' drunk a few years ago. It was easier to ride than walk. Not too swift, but we do stupid things when we are teenagers and most of us survive.

That said, I would never do that again. I don't really drink anymore anyways so it's a non-issue now.

To answer your question, no I don't think that biking instead of driving drunk is morally 'better', even if it does endanger others less (note I said 'if').

Drinking and riding? Never concurrently, but sometimes consecutively. Given the choice between driving or riding home from the pub, I'd advise riding any day. Like always, though, ride according to prevailing conditions, ie. go slower and be more cautious. If you get to the point of drunkeness where caution is thrown to the wind, get a cab (even walking probably isn't advisable under those conditions).

I heard that drinking messes up your balance enough to affect your riding. But whadda I know - I'm a teatotaler. I've never had a problem riding after a nice spot of tea.

Seems reasonable. A non-sober cyclist will probably be the victim of his indiscretions. Often not the case with a non-sober motorist.

If you're too whacked to bike then get a cab and tell em on the phone that you've got a large package (NO, I don't mean that !!), and they will send a van or something, some of those dudes up in the north shore of B.C , ride stoned ... yeah thats right after smokin' the sticky green ... and look at the **** they do.... lol...what ever floats your boat !!!

I have only ridden while drunk once, but I think it was good enough to make up for all the times that I haven't.

About six months ago, my friend Tyler and I were at a party at the home of a third friend. During the course of this party, both Tyler and I had sampled a great number of choice malt based beverages. That evening I also had the pleasure of introducing Tyler to another guest at the party, on Mr. Jack Daniels; the three of us were to become good friends over the next several hours.

At about two in the morning we decided that it was time to leave. We were going back to Tyler's apartment, about two miles down the same street, which happened to be the main drag on campus. We had had the foresight to ride our bikes (when I say bike, I should point out that I was riding an old Huffy kid's bike that I probably outgrew when I was ten), though we were a little worried about riding home. Our concerns were set aside as soon as we left though, because only a few steps from the front door, I somehow managed to trip over the bike and land in a crumpled heap in the front yard. I became tangled in the bike and unable to stand, though it didn't really matter, as my histerical laughter rendered me fairly immoble anyway. Upon witnessing this, Tyler doubled over laughing and fell on top of me and the bike. This, of course, made the situation worse, and we stayed on the ground for several minutes pointing at eachother and laughing like monkeys. Eventually we realized that most of the other party guest were watching us by this time, that we were probably embarassing ourselves, and that the time to bow out gracefully and long since passed us by.

We were assisted on to our bikes by people that I am now certain were sure we would kill ourselves on the way home and began our journey. As the traffic was fairly sparse and I was confident in my ability to not die, I began weaving across the four lanes of one way traffic. Tyler was not impressed, and he attempted to rescue me from myself. I stopped to taunt him, he didn't, and this caused a minor pile-up in the middle of the road. I tell you, there is nothing like lying in the street watching a truck drive towards you to sober you up in a hurry.

We forgot our little brush with death rather quickly though, because we were soon whooping it up with great gusto once more. When we passed fraternity row, we were taunted and jeered at. We responded with Shakespeare. Loud, drunken Shakespeare. I still don't understand it, but at the time we thought it was very funny.

The remainder of the ride is a little blurry, but we apparently made it home alive. We celebrated by falling into a dead sleep on the floor. It was all great fun, though I think it may be a while before I am willing to try it again.

Whatever could you mean, Buddy? I had a sheltered childhood in Werris Creek, you know.

I can imaging Lightboys ride, it still happens to me sometimes and i don`t mind it .
Its so funny to ride your cycle when had a few drinks, especially with others
Have you tried to follow this white marks on the cyclepath, after a pubtour..........

I limit myself to a pint and a half, from experience I know I start getting sleepy after two of a lunchtime. I'm also lucky in that it's a very quiet private lane almost all the way to the pub.

Richard

When I lived i Dublin I ALWAYS walked to the pub. After closing I staggered home with a stop by the chipper for a smoked cod and a single which was duly consumed en route.

Maybe there's no chipper on your way home.

Drinking anc cycling is a dangerous game...
r

What is a single ?
a portion of chips (US fries)??

Correct!

Great after a few pints of Guinness...

Yes i agree, but late at night there`s almost no traffic on the cyclepath, so the only danger is to fall from your cycle, or hit a curbstone
And off course you`re sober at home!

I`ve thought about it, and i still agree that its not the most safe way to travel from pub or party, but its a lot safer than drink and step into your car.
Last night in the youthcentre (i work there) a lot of girls and boys did go by cycle to a party 7 miles further.
The point is; i`m glad they don`t take the car but cycle home with some friends!

It also depends on what you are drinking.

Do your lot go in for that horrid scrumpy stuff?

Jokes aside, you never can tell what injuries you could sustain from a fall in an enebriated state! We tend to become more courageous under the influence.

You can sing silly songs whilst staggering towards the chipper.

Yesterday, before daylight, I met a friend for a ride in a part of town where all the bars are and I was amazed at how may bikes had been left from the night before. Some of the bikes were way too nice to have been there, but it was probably the sane thing to have done at the time.

Take a cab.

I was genuinly taken by the amount of barf I saw all around.

Driving while intoxicated is an absolute no.

Cycling while intoxicated is something I wouldn't do, especially in the dark. I'd hate to damage my bike!

Walking while intoxicated might be the only way to get sober!

If you're that drunk get a cab. I mean, what's the cost of that to someone who's gonna spend $40 on booze anyway?

:confused:

I don't like drinking and riding. Having a head spin and jumping doesn't feel to good.