Bikes, Beer and Birds..... (no offence intended.....)

gtvlusso

Anyone here ever cycled whilst intoxicated - go on, it;s Friday and fun!

To start things off - I had 2 pints at lunch and will have to do the best part of 20 miles tonight to get home......I will be "legal" in an hour or so though, so technically not drunk, but I am sure I will have a slow and fart laden ride.

Last time I cycled proper drunk I crashed into my own wheely bin and fell off - that was after watching the rugby with mates...."Don't worry love, I won't take the car as I may have a beer or 2 - I will cycle instead!" Because it is clearly safer....

Big Red S

Yeah, an awful lot more than I should've done.

Working in a a bike shop kinda does that to you. So does going to uni...

lost_in_thought

Oh I've done it more times than I care to remember!

Certainly over the limit cycling back to ealing after the friday bikeradar beer'n'curry, for example...

Also, my local-est pub at home is down a series of dark back roads, so I can often be seen cycling home a few sheets to the wind at about 2am with my beer jacket on...

gtvlusso

I also hit a re-cycling box....We Bristolian folk have the most confusing re-cycling scheme ever......and I now have one box less as it broke when I went hammering into it.

Sewinman

Be careful with DUI - I stacked it whilst wasted and trying to ride down a grass slope to a road in Balham. Woke up in the middle of the road with a 4x4's lights in my eyes and blood pouring from my head. The guy said i had been 'asleep' in the road and he only saw me at the last minute. Left hospital at 8am (arrived at 11.30) and had call in sick to work. Took weeks to recover.

I was absolutly smashed.

p.s. I know its wrong. :oops:

_Brun_

A few months ago I'd imbibed my fair share of post-work Friday pints. I try to be 'sensible' and stick to bitter when I know I'm having a few - premium lager would be suicidal. Anyway, after collecting a bottle of wine from the offy I got to my gaff any attempted to hop up the kerb.

Bad idea: Didn't 'hop' high enough. Bike stopped. Brun didn't.

So straight over the bars and flat onto the pavement. First reaction was to check whether there were witnesses, of which there fortunately were none. Picked bike up, which hadn't suffered except for the front light coming off (this has since been 'permanently' attached with duck tape, and hasn't been nicked yet despite being left in some pretty crap places - touch wood). Came through it ok save for bruised thighs and a scabby chin to which my beard hadn't afforded much protection.

There was also the time I locked my back brake and slid very sideways into the back of stopping bendy bus. It overtook me whilst already indicating left, and by the time I'd looked back from over my shoulder to see if it was clear to go round, I had a face full of brake lights. I was obviously adamant that the driver was at fault, but considering my state of mild intoxication I sensibly realised I wouldn't have a leg to stand on (legless?) if the authorities became involved.

Big Red S

Did the wine survive?

_Brun_

The wine was ok after the accident, but didn't survive to see the next morning.

knight2k

Around a month ago I met a couple of friends down in Chesham (3 miles away) for a few cheeky beers on a Friday night. I was cycling up the hill (12%) back to my village on the booze bike when the gradient became a bit too much and “Timber” I fall sideways and hit the deck.

After a few moments of chuckling to myself, I decide that lying in the middle of a darkened country lane at midnight is probably not the best place to be. So I pick myself up and ride the rest of the way home.

Fast forward to the next morning – where’d that black eye come from, why does my thumb and elbow hurt so – oh yeah. D’oh! It was all very embarrassing explaining it away on the Sunday morning club run.

P.S. The kebab strapped to the rack made it home safely and was very tasty too!

gabriel959

It is really sad and stupid to see that some people still cycle or drive whilst drunk. They are just asking for trouble.

gtvlusso

Sod off gabriel959....

Sewinman

Now now, fair play, we've all had a few.

gtvlusso

Sewinman wrote:

Now now, fair play, we've all had a few.

Okay - With respect, Sod off gabriel959....

gabriel959

Well, don't you think it is rather stupid and hypocritical to criticise car drivers for their bad behaviour when we (cyclists) are even worse.

I've never had any if I was going to cycle or drive.

CiB

Once dropped off into a leaving do for a couple, and left much much later, and fell asleep on the bike riding the last 100 yards to my house, being woken up by a loud bang when I ran into a parked car. No damage, no-on got hurt. The rest of journey had been on cycle paths, deserted at that time of night.

The reason it's less of an issue is that if you're a bit sloshed in a car there's potential for a huge amount of damage to 3rd parties. On yer bike, and the damage is likely to less to all concerned - doing 35mph down on the aerobars isn't v likely after a gallon of beer. Sod off gabriel959.

Jamey

lost_in_thought wrote:

Certainly over the limit cycling back to ealing after the friday bikeradar beer'n'curry, for example...

Is this a regular thing? Is it secret? Can I come to one?

always_tyred

gabriel959 wrote:

Well, don't you think it is rather stupid and hypocritical to criticise car drivers for their bad behaviour when we (cyclists) are even worse.

I've never had any if I was going to cycle or drive.

You angel.

Bikerbaboon

not feeling the love this friday afternoon for por old gabriel959, tis a bit silly to drink and ride but all the storys show that.

Im always a skin flint about getting taxies back and the more drunk i am the further i think i can run while holding a kabab...... 10 mile and still have a kabab warm was my longest attemped ( got back but lost the kabab on the run back).

anyway while running blind drunk i tend to have a habbit of runnign full wack in to anything below eye level so wheely bins get it, road cones, walls, managed to hit a phone box with some one in it b4 now while having a pizza im my hands...



please dont think that i majicaly turn in to an olimpic long distance runned on my home bound running. the 10 mile "run" took about 4-5 hours and i was sobering up by the time i got back and the hangover was stating to set in.

have fun this weekend.

biondino

I'm kind of leaning towards Gabriel's view here (and please don't tell me to sod off ). It may not be as dangerous to others but it's a pretty stupid thing to do in many situations, and there's a little too much pride in some of these posts...

Is it true, btw, that you can get points on your driving licence for road crimes you commit on a bicycle, or is it an old wives' tale?

Jen J

Isn't it illegal to drink and ride? A guy I knew years ago had his bike impounded for doing so.

But I'm teetotal anyway, so not really an issue for me...

Big Red S

biondino wrote:

Is it true, btw, that you can get points on your driving licence for road crimes you commit on a bicycle, or is it an old wives' tale?

I don't know exactly why, but I've seen police asking for driving licenses on CM.

Possibly just for identification, but apparently no-one had one, so I didn't see what they did with them.

heavymental

well, its all quite funny until this happens

http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/c ... bars-18998

At which point Gabriel will look down at you and say "I told you so."

Jen J

Big Red S wrote:

biondino wrote:

Is it true, btw, that you can get points on your driving licence for road crimes you commit on a bicycle, or is it an old wives' tale?

I don't know exactly why, but I've seen police asking for driving licenses on CM.

Possibly just for identification, but apparently no-one had one, so I didn't see what they did with them.

Can't see how it would be - you don't need a driving licence to ride a bike, so how can it be affected by doing so?

Big Red S

Jen J wrote:

Big Red S wrote:

biondino wrote:

Is it true, btw, that you can get points on your driving licence for road crimes you commit on a bicycle, or is it an old wives' tale?

I don't know exactly why, but I've seen police asking for driving licenses on CM.

Possibly just for identification, but apparently no-one had one, so I didn't see what they did with them.

Can't see how it would be - you don't need a driving licence to ride a bike, so how can it be affected by doing so?

For the same reason as offences committed on a motorbike affect your car license, I'd imagine. If you happen to have a driving license, I don't see any reason why committing a traffic offence on a bicycle should be treated differently to doing the same in a car.
If you don't, then of course there'd be different penalties.

dal105

Jen J wrote:

Isn't it illegal to drink and ride? A guy I knew years ago had his bike impounded for doing so.

But I'm teetotal anyway, so not really an issue for me...

I believe there is an offence for being drunk and having/riding a bicycle, but there is no official "limit" as there is for motor vehicles. I think I read that is also not an offence to refuse a breath test in the same way as it is for motorists.

I have the odd pint and ride, but nothing excessive - not worth the damage it may cause.

gabriel959

biondino wrote:

I'm kind of leaning towards Gabriel's view here (and please don't tell me to sod off ). It may not be as dangerous to others but it's a pretty stupid thing to do in many situations, and there's a little too much pride in some of these posts...

Is it true, btw, that you can get points on your driving licence for road crimes you commit on a bicycle, or is it an old wives' tale?

Thank you mate!!! Some support there!!!

They are only telling me to sod of because I come from the fancy land of lycra and shaven legs of the Roadies (I hope )

Jen J

Big Red S wrote:

Jen J wrote:

Big Red S wrote:

biondino wrote:

Is it true, btw, that you can get points on your driving licence for road crimes you commit on a bicycle, or is it an old wives' tale?

I don't know exactly why, but I've seen police asking for driving licenses on CM.

Possibly just for identification, but apparently no-one had one, so I didn't see what they did with them.

Can't see how it would be - you don't need a driving licence to ride a bike, so how can it be affected by doing so?

For the same reason as offences committed on a motorbike affect your car license, I'd imagine. If you happen to have a driving license, I don't see any reason why committing a traffic offence on a bicycle should be treated differently to doing the same in a car.
If you don't, then of course there'd be different penalties.

But isn't there one licence for motorbikes and cars? So any offence on one would have to affect the other? (Not tring to be awkward here, I'm just genuinely confused)

dal105

From CTC legal advice site....

A police officer must have reasonable grounds to believe that a cyclist is drunk before apprehending him. The reported cases make it clear that whether a cyclist is under the influence of drink or drugs to such an extent that he is incapable of having proper control of his bicycle and is therefore guilty of an offence, is a question of fact. Before a cyclist can be found guilty it must be proved beyond reasonable doubt that the offence for which he is charged has been committed. In the absence of a breath test or other specimen a court would consider the available witness evidence from the police officer and any other relevant person. The refusal of a cyclist to provide a breath sample cannot be taken as an admission of guilt.

With respect to drink riding, you say that you would like to know what you can get away with. I am afraid I cannot advocate drinking any alcohol whilst cycling, but the advice you have been given would seem sensible. Interestingly, it is also an offence under s.12 of the Licensing Act 1872 to be in charge on a highway or any other public place of a carriage, horse, cattle or steam engine. A bicycle or tricycle is a carriage for this purpose. If a person is drunk and in charge of a bicycle, the appropriate offence is that under s.30 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, which is a more serious offence. However, if you do get drunk and then walk home with your bicycle you may be considered a person in charge e.g. pushing a pedal cycle. And will therefore have committed an offence only under s.12 of the Licensing Act 1872, which can result in imprisonment up to one month. This particular law applies to England and Wales only.

always_tyred

gabriel959 wrote:

biondino wrote:

I'm kind of leaning towards Gabriel's view here (and please don't tell me to sod off ). It may not be as dangerous to others but it's a pretty stupid thing to do in many situations, and there's a little too much pride in some of these posts...

Is it true, btw, that you can get points on your driving licence for road crimes you commit on a bicycle, or is it an old wives' tale?

Thank you mate!!! Some support there!!!

They are only telling me to sod of because I come from the fancy land of lycra and shaven legs of the Roadies (I hope )

I'm a roadie, but I never really got the shaved leg thing. Whenever I get road rash, the hair comes right off as well, so that old explanation goes.

My guess is that its all a bit homoerotic.

How are you liking the commuting forum?

Naomi

You can get nicked for being drunk on a bike. You can also get nicked for walking home drunk if you're staggering out on to the road. Not sure about points on a driving licence though because not everyone who cycles a bike can drive a car.

Here's a quick run down on things from http://www.criminal-solicitors.com/bicycles.htm

Bicyles

It is against the law to ride on footpaths or pavements by the roadside. Magistrates can fine £1000.
A £200 fine is set for furious cycling.

The Licensing Act 1872 makes it an offence to be drunk in charge of a bicycle (or any other vehicle or carriage) on a highway or in a public place.

Magistrates can hand down a 1 month prison sentence and a £200 fine.

The Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle Regulations 1983 require that the specifications of the bike are fixed on a secure plate; there should be brakes to comply with section 6 of British Standards (1981) fitted to the front wheel.

The bike should only be under power by means of a switch biased to the off position. The height of the saddle should be more than 635mm above ground level.

Magistrates can set a fine of £1000 if they are contravened.

Electric bikes cannot be ridden by children under the age of 14 (£500 fine at Magistrates).

Magistrates can fine £200 if a bicycle rider is carrying a passenger without the bike being properly adapted to do so (ie: a tandem).

It is an offence for more than one person to ride a bike if it is not under power or adapted. See the cycling sub section for more on this.

Magistrates can set a maximum fine of £2500 for dangerously riding a bicycle.
Magistrates can set a maximum fine of £1000 for riding a bicycle without due care and attention, or without reasonable consideration for other people using the road.

It is an offence to ride a bicycle whilst unfit through drink or drugs.

Magistrates can set a maximum fine of £1000.
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always_tyred

What if you got a little drunk and cycled furiously on the pavement without due care and attention?

Would you have to hand over your bike?