Drinking and cycling. Is there a problem?

[classic33]

Has Cycling Culture Got a Drinking Problem?

"More men are cyclists than women, but even factoring for that, they're over represented in cyclist traffic fatalities. And when 1 in 4 cyclists who were killed in 2012 were alcohol impaired—some of them severely so—then yes, there is a cultural problem there that needs to be addressed. Even if it comes at the cost of cyclists making concessions to people who too often blame them totally for accidents that only drivers can actually prevent. Some drunk cyclists are also drunk drivers. There's not a good argument for tolerating either."

 

[Globalti]

No, cycling culture in the UK and the US doesn't have a drink problem.

A small number of people with a drink problem get killed or injured while riding their bikes in the UK and the US.

 

[Drago]

It does indeed have a serious drink problem. The Guinness goes all over the place when I'm down on the drops.

 

[Cuchilo]

I think there are quite a few people that use a bike to get to and from the local watering hole . If it stops them getting behind the wheel of a car then is it really that much of a problem ?

 

[Drago]

It is if they cause a smack and ruin some innocent car drivers life.

 

[Cuchilo]

and the alternative is they do it with a car .

 

[Drago]

The sensible alternative is to walk to the pub, or nominate a designated driver, or drink at home...

There are numerous safe options for the socially responsible dipso.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

It is if they cause a smack and ruin some innocent car drivers life.

Is this greatly different from the havoc a drunken pedestrian can create, though?

 

[Cuchilo]

The sensible alternative is to walk to the pub, or nominate a designated driver, or drink at home...

There are numerous safe options for the socially responsible dipso.

Wow , I wasn't aware of those options

 

[Drago]

Is this greatly different from the havoc a drunken pedestrian can create, though?

Probably not, although drunken peds is a different topic to the one at hand.

 

[Brandane]

Getting out of ones face and then jumping on a bike is one of the few remaining pleasures in life which hasn't been outlawed (unless completely bladdered, which I am aware IS illegal).

Long may it continue. It's not like we are in charge of a potentially very fast moving ton of metal; we are only going to hurt ourselves.

 

[Sara_H]

1 in 4? Really?

 

[Firestorm]

I thought "drunk in charge" covered a multiude of offences including bicycle and parambulator

 

[machew]

I thought "drunk in charge" covered a multiude of offences including bicycle and parambulator

Road Traffic Act 1988 s.4(2)
Driving, or being in charge, when under influence of drink or drugs.

(1)A person who, when driving or attempting to drive a mechanically propelled vehicle on a road or other public place, is unfit to drive through drink or drugs is guilty of an offence.
(2)Without prejudice to subsection (1) above, a person who, when in charge of a mechanically propelled vehicle which is on a road or other public place, is unfit to drive through drink or drugs is guilty of an offence.
(3)For the purposes of subsection (2) above, a person shall be deemed not to have been in charge of a mechanically propelled vehicle if he proves that at the material time the circumstances were such that there was no likelihood of his driving it so long as he remained unfit to drive through drink or drugs.
(4)The court may, in determining whether there was such a likelihood as is mentioned in subsection (3) above, disregard any injury to him and any damage to the vehicle.
(5)For the purposes of this section, a person shall be taken to be unfit to drive if his ability to drive properly is for the time being impaired.
(6) constable may arrest a person without warrant if he has reasonable cause to suspect that that person is or has been committing an offence under this section.
(7)For the purpose of arresting a person under the power conferred by subsection (6) above, a constable may enter (if need be by force) any place where that person is or where the constable, with reasonable cause, suspects him to be.

For the purpose of the Act a bicycle is not a mechanically propelled vehicle.
However you can be arrested for other offences, including being a smartarse

 

[Racing roadkill]

I'll often stop for a beer, on a ride. however, I wouldnt get trollied and then ride.

A guy (who lived near me) had a few drinks, then rode his bike. He went through a red light onto a busy road, It didn't end well.