Guardian article: Beers and bikes: do they really mix?

flickerx

From: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/ethicallivingblog/2009/jul/06/alcohol-cycling

This evening I will go out for a few drinks and think nothing of cycling home afterwards. Am I wrong to think that way?

I would never consider driving a car after a few sips of wine, but somehow I think it's OK to jump on my bike after four beers. "The police have other things to do than stop drunk cyclists like me," is how I reason it.

And how can I be a danger to other people? I am not driving a tonne of aluminium and steel at 30 miles an hour. If I hit someone, I am not going to injure or kill them. Or will I?

Perhaps the danger is not so much to other people as to myself. Perhaps I should be more careful given that my balance, coordination and judgment will be affected by alcohol.

I once had a colleague who, blind drunk, decided it would be a fabulous idea to cycle down some stairs. He ended up in a hospital with broken limbs — bones sticking out — and was cursing his stupidity when I visited him.

According to the New York Times, some 21% of autopsies for New York City bicyclists who died within three hours of their accidents detected alcohol in the body.

In the UK, the Road Traffic Act 1988 makes it an offence for a cyclist to be "unfit to ride through drink or drugs, that is to say, is under the influence of drink or a drug to such an extent as to be incapable of having proper control of the cycle". Penalties for the offence appear unclear, as you can't be forced to take an alcohol test. In the US, cycling drunk is a crime in nearly every state.

What do you think? Is it OK to drink and ride, or is it irresponsible and dangerous? Have you ever been stopped while under the influence of alcohol on your bike, or had an accident while drunk?

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Some of the comments after the article are worth reading.

Captain Havoc

I used to do it all the time, even to the disco. I still go to the local on the bike for a few pints.

ednwireland

never drink and cycle , or drink and drive full stop , you need all your faculties as much (if not more so) as in a car.
i never understand why people think its ok to drink the cycle home.

DirkVoodoo

I would never cycle hammered, but I often cycle after a few drinks.

I'm not sure about the autopsy statistic, you could be drinking the night before, cycle into work the following morning, get knocked down and you would have "alcohol in your system".

I think you have to know your own limits, I know when I feel ok to cycle and when it is time to get the nitelink. That's all I can say really, I'm not one for being righteous (well, not always!).

Vélo

I enjoy a nice pint on my way home from work. I only do it every now and again but after 20km it's a nice way to cool down. I've never gone on the rip with the bike and I don't think I would.

Canis Lupus

I've cycle lots of time through heavy traffic quite drunk. Never off my face.

I've never really thought about it apart from the risk I face to my own health. I can't see myself stopping it and I rarely drink in pubs now anyway and even less ina situation where I'd bike it home.

Having said that cycling drunk turns you into a cycling monster machine. I think it must be all the sugar from the vodka and cokes.

Lumen

Canis Lupus wrote: »

Having said that cycling drunk turns you into a cycling monster machine. I think it must be all the sugar from the vodka and cokes.

Only in your head.

I once attempted to run a four-minute mile (to the 7-11 and back) after a bottle of vodka. It took me an hour and a half, hammering the whole way.

Canis Lupus

Lumen wrote: »

Only in your head.

I once attempted to run a four-minute mile (to the 7-11 and back) after a bottle of vodka. It took me an hour and a half, hammering the whole way.

LOL. I haven't really cycled past 6km drunk. I wouldn't want to see how crapped out I would get trying to go further

Interceptor

The Guardian? Honestly lads, you've been baited.

How long before they run an article on the dangers of drinking and walking? If you have two or three pints and cycle carefully out of the way of traffic I don't see a problem. If you get monged and try to cross a city in heavy traffic then you are stupid. But if you get drunk and do ANYTHING you are in increased danger one way or the other.

I can only wheelie properly if I have a couple of pints of cider on board...

'cptr

kenmc

Used to do it a lot when I lived in the Netherlands, especially after a rugby match, cos we'd go drinking and there'd be pitchers of beer.
Couple of incidents spring to mind. One day I decided that it would be "great fun" to try and knock a mate off the bike by nudging his back wheel with my front as I cycled behind him. I think you can all guess what happened then
Another time I cycled home from rugby, very wobbly, and as I came up to my apartment I had to go across a big wide patio type thing - anyway - I got into a bit of a spin, did 3 full circles in ever-decreasing radius, couldn't get out of it, and fell down. Thankfully I was off the road at the time!
Oh another time I tried to cycle home from work where we'd had a BBQ afterwards with free beer. I fell off the bike 7 times in 3 kms; twice in the work carpark! Got home at 9pm, went straight to bed and slept soundly till noon the next day.

I have become older and wiser since then, and tend not to, mainly cos I don't like bringing my bike into town to the pub. I'd still probably have a couple and cycle home if I was at a BBQ or something, but I'd definitely be very cautious about it, and wouldn't even dream of going Ninja.

Trojan

I'm afraid I cannot answer this question on the grounds that I may incriminate myself.

rubadub

Interceptor wrote: »

How long before they run an article on the dangers of drinking and walking?

Well it is illegal to be drunk in a public place so you could be done for "drink walking". I have brought up the semi-serious issue of wearing drinking helmets, I know plenty of people who had head injuries while out drinking and see it as a bigger risk than cycling, I see far more rational and logical sense in wearing drinking helmets than cycling helmets.

The danger is people swerving or falling down, causing cars to swerve and crash, this also goes for pedestrians wandering out onto roads and/or jaywalking.

Interceptor

rubadub wrote: »

I have brought up the semi-serious issue of wearing drinking helmets.

<Sigh>

It is an unfortunate situation when people treat the symptom and not the disease. If drivers didn't keep running into cyclists, they wouldn't need helmets either - if people drank in moderation they wouldn't risk their health or danger from injury.

I rarely wish ill on people, but if drinking helmets ever become a reality I will start a covert organisation which goes around dropping pianos off tall buildings late at night...

'cptr

Jip

Was in college with a lad who used to cycle home from the bar he worked in after having a couple after his shift until one time he was found unconscious after falling. Lost his memory and took a while before he recognised any of his family or friends, and obviously missed alot of college. That was my lesson never to do it anyway.

It's obviously the extreme end as I know another guy who still does it occasionaly and hasn't had an accident, well none that he's admitted to anyway.

Interceptor

Interceptor wrote: »

The Guardian? Honestly lads, you've been baited.

How long before they run an article on the dangers of drinking and walking? If you have two or three pints and cycle carefully out of the way of traffic I don't see a problem. If you get monged and try to cross a city in heavy traffic then you are stupid. But if you get drunk and do ANYTHING you are in increased danger one way or the other.

I can only wheelie properly if I have a couple of pints of cider on board...

'cptr

Surprised at The Guardian,this article seems straight out of The Daily Mail!

eightyfish

I did this last night. Cycled home along the Luas tracks. The bike wheel slipped into the track groove a couple of times, scared the crap out of an oul' one smoking outside a pub as this happened. Really stupid thing to do. Never again.

Would be REALLY helpful if they changed the idiotic no-bikes policy on the Luas.

disneyonfire

I used to do this a lot, but after several accidents (only injuring myself) and constant criticism from friends and family I've learned my lesson.

The problem is that cycling is so much more handy than a) getting the bus into town and b) paying €20 for a taxi home, so it can be very tempting to bring the bike even if you know you'll be getting drunk.

As for being in control of the bike when drunk I think its all down to luck really. There have been times when I was so drunk I couldnt even remember cycling home the next day but I made it without any problems and then again I've also fallen off after only having a few beers and still being quiet alert. But given that all it takes to cause major injury to yourself or others is one little slip, I think cycling while under the influence is a bad idea.

Ron DMC

I cycled home drunk last night (well, after 4 pints so not technically drunk). Was all downhill as well, lots of fun.

I've often brought the bike out as it is a lot cheaper to get home than taxiing, but if I really have a few too many and know that I can't cycle, then I'll get a taxi and leave the bike. Don't like doing this though as the risk of the bike getting mauled by drunkards in the middle of the night is quite high.

DirkVoodoo

When I cycle on a nite out I find I drink less, spend less and don't suffer a hangover the next morning. If I do go out on a bender, I will generally be staying somewhere closer to town so no cycling home.

irishmotorist

Not for me. Unlike car drink-driving, I'd be pretty much the only person at risk when doing it on a bike. I'm quite fond of my limbs and other parts.

Also, and not to be discounted, I find it quite impossible to not try to boot it when I'm on a bike. Arriving into the pub sweaty after a 10 minute sprint down the road wouldn't really endear me to the other patrons!

Deisetrek

My best friend's father had the misfortune to knock down and kill an "out of his mind" cyclist a good few years ago , has had to live with it since although he was totally blameless .....so NO I would not drink and cycle

Limestone1

Aside from the rights and wrongs of it , drunk cycling is way more difficult than drunk driving. All that trying to stay upright, balancing properly, putting your feet on the ground before you stop, avoiding the kerb etc etc ....you don't need to worry about any of that when driving....

BostonB

Judgement with Drink < Judgement Dry

Even if not drunk it has to effect you.

amjon

12 pints+second time on a fixed gear+no helmet+delusions of matching a Chris Hoy kilo effort on cobble stones= DISASTER. I was lucky to walk away(straight to A and E) from the crash.

silurian1980

I don't do it a lot but the walk back to Rathgar from town is rather tedious without the bike after a drink or two, or three. I should stop it really, I know I would deserve it if I ended up joining the squashed frogs and hedgehogs in the sky.

A mate of mine tried to cycle down my stairs the other night incidentally. I had to stop him before he persuaded me to do it too. Fecker.

BRENT_EAGLE

IT common sence to not cycle wen hammered but its grand wen you have only had a few
drink drivin is a different case alltogether bikes dont way 2 tones and go 100mph so they are a complete different kettle of fish

Captain Havoc

This thread got me thinking so I arranged a practical experement. Last night I cycled to the pub drank 10 pints of beer and cycled home. The result: I got home fine but my mobile didn't, I haven't a clue how I broke it. It was working when I called for a pizza and wasn't this morning. In retrospect I shouldn't have brought the bike, I won't again.