Biking to the PUB?
Discussion
I must confess to liking a beer and my local is about 4 miles away so i tend to use my bike rather than walk. Any one no the legal implications of drinking and cycling. I allredy no about the physical disadvantages having the scars to prove it and have been doing it for many years (i am now 40) but the subject came up tonight during one of our many conversations and i said NO CHARGE YOUR HONOUR! and took loads of stick, is it illegal? I allways stick to the footpath where possible.
Paul:D
Paul:D
pdr479 said:
I must confess to liking a beer and my local is about 4 miles away so i tend to use my bike rather than walk. Any one no the legal implications of drinking and cycling. I allredy no about the physical disadvantages having the scars to prove it and have been doing it for many years (i am now 40) but the subject came up tonight during one of our many conversations and i said NO CHARGE YOUR HONOUR! and took loads of stick, is it illegal? I allways stick to the footpath where possible.
Paul
Yes, it is illegal. Can't remember the exact statute.
Do remember a Scottish case from university where a drunk guy on a (pedal) bike ploughed into a bus queue and killed someone.
I think it is, I'm sure there has been cases of police arresting drunk cyclists, also drunk horse riders as well, you'd have to be drunk enough to attract their attention though, they don't have breath test stations for cyclists as far as I know, so long as your not riding naked down the wrong way of a motorway singing loudly and out of tune and weaving a lot you should be ok.
My problem with this is that I like a bit of downhill/freeride mountain biking. The one time that I tried this (on campus, no roads) I managed to convince myself if I rode fast enough I could easily clear the two flights of stairs that ordinarily take two jumps.
Basically, I was wrong, it hurt.
Basically, I was wrong, it hurt.
I hit a round about recently and went over handle bars how embarrissing was that! and the first thing i did was look up to see if any one saw me..... what a prat! still got my driving license though, must confess to many other crashes and the wife is allways less than impressed when i bleed all over the bed sheets from various injuries.
Paul
Paul
Hmm. From the Road Traffic Act 1988
30.—(1) A person who, when riding a cycle on a road or other public place, is 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) is guilty of an offence
30.—(1) A person who, when riding a cycle on a road or other public place, is 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) is guilty of an offence
Nevin said:
Hmm. From the Road Traffic Act 1988
30.—(1) A person who, when riding a cycle on a road or other public place, is 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) is guilty of an offence
Spot on, and don't forget another, "Furious and Wanton cycling" Always makes me chuckle the wording in that one, and yes, I have used it.
silverback mike said:
Hmm. From the Road Traffic Act 1988
30.—(1) A person who, when riding a cycle on a road or other public place, is 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) is guilty of an offence
Spot on, and don't forget another, "Furious and Wanton cycling" Always makes me chuckle the wording in that one, and yes, I have used it.
We have got to hear that story...
I have a good bike related story a PC friend of mine told me once. Driving through the mean streets of Edinburgh they noticed a woman on her bike with no lights on at night who looked a bit wobbly.
They pulled alongside to give her a friendly word of advice (i.e. don't be so stupid) and as he started to wind down the window she made eye contact, went wide eyed and started pedalling for all she was worth. In about , ooh, 3 seconds, they caught up with her and pulled the car in front of the bike. Whereupon she stopped and they got out. They asked her to get into the back of the car so they could ask her a couple of questions. In the back she gave a name and address which sounded made up so they asked her if she had any I.D. She claimed she didn't so they asked if they could have a look at what was in her handbag to see if she might have anything there.
At this point she dives back out of the car, picks up her bike and starts to make her way across the meadows (big grass area in Edinburgh). One officer jumps out and legs after her on foot and the other takes the car around the other side of the Meadows on the road to roughly where she was going to exit.
Eventually they catch up with her and it ends up with her pretty much being rugby tackled off the bike. At this point she goes mental and starts kicking, screaming and biting. Eventually they get her into the car and charge her with a damn sight more than cycling witout lights, although they throw that in too now.
Turns out she was a (normally sane) local TV producer who was worried she would lose here job if stopped by the police and she had no idea why she reacted as she did.
And no, she hadn't been drinking, so she was presumably just mental.
>> Edited by Nevin on Monday 12th September 11:17
They pulled alongside to give her a friendly word of advice (i.e. don't be so stupid) and as he started to wind down the window she made eye contact, went wide eyed and started pedalling for all she was worth. In about , ooh, 3 seconds, they caught up with her and pulled the car in front of the bike. Whereupon she stopped and they got out. They asked her to get into the back of the car so they could ask her a couple of questions. In the back she gave a name and address which sounded made up so they asked her if she had any I.D. She claimed she didn't so they asked if they could have a look at what was in her handbag to see if she might have anything there.
At this point she dives back out of the car, picks up her bike and starts to make her way across the meadows (big grass area in Edinburgh). One officer jumps out and legs after her on foot and the other takes the car around the other side of the Meadows on the road to roughly where she was going to exit.
Eventually they catch up with her and it ends up with her pretty much being rugby tackled off the bike. At this point she goes mental and starts kicking, screaming and biting. Eventually they get her into the car and charge her with a damn sight more than cycling witout lights, although they throw that in too now.
Turns out she was a (normally sane) local TV producer who was worried she would lose here job if stopped by the police and she had no idea why she reacted as she did.
And no, she hadn't been drinking, so she was presumably just mental.
>> Edited by Nevin on Monday 12th September 11:17
minicity said:
You definitely can't lose your driving licence by being done for drunk cycling.
But you can lose it for warning motorists about a speed trap if you're on foot
Rule of thumb seems to be if you're not causing a danger to anyone then you're free to go. You are committing an offence though.
r988 said:
Nevin said:
Hmm. From the Road Traffic Act 1988
30.—(1) A person who, when riding a cycle on a road or other public place, is 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) is guilty of an offence
Spot on, and don't forget another, "Furious and Wanton cycling" Always makes me chuckle the wording in that one, and yes, I have used it.
We have got to hear that story...
Unfotunately nothing too glamourous, literally a chap furiously riding his cycle in a 'wanton' manner through a shopping precinct, out onto the pavement and further on down the road causing grannies and all sorts to duck out of the way.
I couldn't catch him as I was on foot so called up a car to head him off at the pass.
Bit like a benny hill sketch really.
minicity said:
You definitely can't lose your driving licence by being done for drunk cycling.
Not if I recall correctly.
You may receive a fine if you don't have a driving licence and are DIC of a bike.
If you have undertaken driving tuition etc and have a licence, you are deemed to have understanding that being DIC of a wheeled vehicle on the highway is wrong, therefore you can be penalised with points &/or a fine.
All, with the usual caveats of IIRC
Chris
Mr E said:
If you have undertaken driving tuition etc and have a licence, you are deemed to have understanding that being DIC of a wheeled vehicle on the highway is wrong, therefore you can be penalised with points &/or a fine.
What's the limit for drinking and riding then?
Not falling off
chris.mapey said:
You definitely can't lose your driving licence by being done for drunk cycling.
Not if I recall correctly.
You may receive a fine if you don't have a driving licence and are DIC of a bike.
If you have undertaken driving tuition etc and have a licence, you are deemed to have understanding that being DIC of a wheeled vehicle on the highway is wrong, therefore you can be penalised with points &/or a fine.
The CTC (formerlly the Cyclists Touring Club) told me to the contrary. They said it was one of the most commonly asked questions about cycling!
All, with the usual caveats of IIRC
Chris
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