Drinking & Driving (but not the bad kind)

[Sliver]

Obviously drinking and driving a vehicle like a car, motorbike, etc. is a horrible idea, but IMO there are other vehicles where it's a little more of a gray area (morally; not necessarily legally).

Just wondering what CP's thoughts are on a couple of hypothetical scenarios. I was debating this with a couple of friends the other day, and they took the stance that someone engaging in the below activity should be charged in the same way a drunk driver in a jacked up F-150 should be charged, while I took more of an "oh, be fun" approach.

Now, there are clearly multiple stages of being drunk. For these scenarios, let's say you had exactly one beer over what you would have legally been allowed to drink to drive a car.

So without further ado, I present the scenarios in question:

1. Riding a bike home from the pub.
2. Riding a mobility scooter home from the pub (maximum speed is the pace of a light jog; has a headlight and tail light).

Any thoughts?

[FireFly]

I have seen a drunk guy fall off his pedal bike into traffic.

It is actually illegal and while it's better than drinking and driving a motorized vehicle, (you won't kill others even though you may kill yourself,) it should still not be done.

[ranchlandsselling]

I've walked my dog drunk.... Can we include that one (I was drunk, not the dog).

[Locke]

Yeah, riding a bike drunk is illegal, mostly because the person is likely to hurt themselves.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by FireFly

I have seen a drunk guy fall off his pedal bike into traffic.

It is actually illegal and while it's better than drinking and driving a motorized vehicle, (you won't kill others even though you may kill yourself,) it should still not be done.

But that breaks one of the rules of the hypothetical scenario - sounds like the guy had more than one beer too many, but who knows.

[CubicleGeek]

Riding a bicycle drunk should be allowed. It really puts the danger on the rider than people around them, maybe slightly worse than walking drunk.

The scooter one confuses me. If it can only go the speed of a light jog, they won't legally be allowed to drive on roads, they will cross the threshold between driving slow and obstructing traffic. If it can be legally taken on roads, then no, it should be illegal.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by Locke

Yeah, riding a bike drunk is illegal, mostly because the person is likely to hurt themselves.

Yes I know it's illegal. But would you ride your bike after having one beer too many? It doesn't seem like a big deal to me.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by CubicleGeek

Riding a bicycle drunk should be allowed. It really puts the danger on the rider than people around them, maybe slightly worse than walking drunk.

The scooter one confuses me. If it can only go the speed of a light jog, they won't legally be allowed to drive on roads, they will cross the threshold between driving slow and obstructing traffic. If it can be legally taken on roads, then no, it should be illegal.

Yeah you just rip along on sidewalks with them. Anywhere you can walk, you can take a mobility scooter (except stairs, of course).

[GP_Matt]

In my teenage years it seemed acceptable to ride your bike after a few or a few too many. Now, I wouldn't, but I don't often find myself out for beer with my bike.

A golf cart though, that might be a better example. I have never golfed with someone who turned down a beer because they were in charge of the cart.

[Temporary_User]

Let's stop posting the false information guys.

Riding a bike while intoxicated is not illegal. You only get a DUI in Calgary operating a motor vehicle. It is or it can be illegal in other cities though.

Just like walking home though you can be cited with a drunk in public ticket.

http://www.calgary.ca/cps/Pages/Traf...d-driving.aspx
(about half way down the page)

[skudr248]

Wondering if you actually would get charged for riding a bike (non-motorized)? That would be a pretty weird court case... I'm now confused as to what the penaltys would be if convicted... :/

[terminator]

You have some wierd conversations with your friends. But I agree, past a certain point a person should not be on a bike.

[troutman]

Mario Kart - Drunk!

[T-Rich]

Definitely not as bad as driving a car drunk but as others have said, it's still illegal. While you are more likely to only injure yourself, there's still the chance that you do something stupid and a vehicle gets into a crash by swerving to avoid you or slamming on their breaks and getting rear ended.

Even if you are the only one that ends up getting hurt, you would still be a tax on the health care system, seatbelts are a law even though you are the only one who would be hurt by not wearing one. What if you fell over drunk and some guy ran over you, even if he is not charged or injured that is going to emotionally mess with him.

All that being said, I generally wouldn't drive after more than two beers, where as I may be willing to ride a bike after three but not four. However I think I would probably be under .08 after three and just don't feel comfortable getting anywhere close to the limit when driving.

[Fobulous]

Riding your bike while intoxicated is no big deal in my books as long as you are not riding on a busy road. Side streets is fine by me.

It is a pain the a$$ to get around cyclists that are on the road as is, I can only imagine how much more difficult it would be if they were hammered and swerving from side to side.

[Jason14h]

We drove a lawn tractor with a trailer on the back drunk about 1/2 KM to the pub with people in the back once.

I'm pretty sure that has to be legal

[kevman]

What about car2go's? They're practically toys, no?

[Locke]

Originally Posted by kevman

What about car2go's? They're practically toys, no?

Drinking and Driving a Car2Go sounds like a hilarious grown up version of Bumper Cars.

[rd_aaron]

One night during welcome week in University I decided to ride my bike home from the bar. I went to jump my bike up onto a curb at a pretty good pace and I didn't jump it high enough. My bike came to an abrupt stop, but I did not as I went right over the handlebars and scraped myself up a bit. Fortunately I don't recall it hurting too bad due to my inebriated state.

I haven't done it since I was a cheap student and even then it was only 2 or 3 times. I suppose it sort of relates to something like motorcyclists wearing helmets in that, why should something be illegal if it only hurts yourself (besides maybe the fact that everyone's tax dollars contribute to health care).

[Bagor]

Originally Posted by ranchlandsselling

I've walked my dog drunk.... Can we include that one (I was drunk, not the dog).

That's fine. A good dog has always got you covered.