Yes, cycling while drunk really is a crime

[Resi]

In Europe you can loose your drivers license if they catch you riding a bike drunk... same rules as for driving a car.

[XMcShiftersonX]

I agree that the rules should apply to bicycles too. You can cause harm on a bicycle just like anything else. I mean obviously this guy almost did. And of course all of us cyclists in the NW know of the lady that just died after being struck by a cyclist, who was not impaired. I imagine the problem would be a lot worse if people were allowed to ride impaired. Not to mention, if a cyclist who was drunk was riding out in traffic and caused a car accident or something if they were being reckless. Just another reason to not drink in the first place!!

[Biciclista]

Eden's right, we've had this discussion before at my house. there are plenty of other laws a drunk cyclist can be cited for, but the bicycle is not a motor vehicle.

[moderncyclista]

I don't think we have a law for that here either. We can be cited for other offenses "Drunk and Disorderly," "Public Intoxication," etc -- but the bicycle isn't treated like a car. Interesting.

[Eden]

I think it makes sense.... the reason the car is treated as it is, licensed with lots of special rules is because it really is a deadly item. While there are times, as we recently found out, that an accident can occur where someone else beside the rider is killed in a bike accident, it really is pretty rare.

But automobiles..... around 5,9000 pedestrians are killed and another 85,000 are injured by motor vehicles every year. About every 13 seconds someone dies in an automobile crash and about 1/2 of those crashes involve alcohol. Motor vehicles are deadly on a large scale and often it is not only the driver that dies or is injured. Most cycling accidents involve injuries to or death of only the cyclist. I don't think that it shouldn't be unexpected or outrageous that motor vehicles are more heavily regulated than bicycles.

To put the numbers in some perspective.... automobile accidents are the #1 killer and maimer of children and young adults in the US- more than any other type of accident, more than any illness - in fact more than all childhood illnesses put together! (where's the telethon for that?) Automobile accidents are not far down the list for older adults too.... if I recall correctly its only 4th or 5th down on the list...