Drink Cycling Regulations

While cycling home (safely) this afternoon after 7 half pints of Robinsons "Old Tom"

8.5% I wondered if the drink regulations for cyclist had changed at all. The last time I checked a cyclist could refuse a breath test or a blood test. Prosecution depended on the police surgeon doing a line walking test with a few other tests. Have things changed in the last few years? (Can't be too bad, I can still spell)

-- Dave Croft Warrington

Reply to
Dave Croft
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Hmm, I would question whether after consuming 17 units of alcohol you would be capable of judging whether your cycling was safe or not.

Perhaps you mean "I didn't have an accident" which is not the same thing at all.

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"The mood and temper of the public in regard to the treatment of crime and criminals is one of the most unfailing tests of civilisation in any country." (Winston Churchill)

Reply to
PeterE

Following on from Dave Croft's message. . .

What it amounts to is if you can't control your bike. If you can ride it then that's legal.

Breathtesting is not on the agenda as you say.

Reply to
Peter Fox

Could be a fun, new drinking game. (1) Consume as much Old Tom as possible. (2) Get on a bike (preferably at night). (3) First person to cause an accident loses...

Reply to
Alex

The trouble with drink-cycling is I always used to be busting for a pee within five minutes :o)

I always though a horse was the ideal transport as one could drink oneself unconscious & the horse could get you home, but I think you can get done for D&D on a horse.

Reply to
Manky Badger

I would of thought after being knocked off your bike a year or so ago, you would now know the answer..................zero? you say safely above in your quote you sure wasn't safe that time, so I would suggest not this time either.

Join the rest of us Dave, public transport after drinking, the number 16 bus will get you home, 2315 from the bus station, quite good I would say.

Next time your asking the above question, put yourself in the innocent car drivers shoes, how there life could devastated, after killing you, whilst you are over the legal limit for a car, so therefore should not be in charge of any other road using transport, if you were still working your employer would I am sure not class you as fit for work either.

So summing up Dave make your own drink regulations, ZERO I hope? I'll be watching next time you cycle away from the Tavern formally known as Wilkies.

Brought to you by the not just XMAS, but all year round anti drink drive campaign.

Reply to
nospamthanks

"Manky Badger" wrote in message news:cp2ebg$1q6$ snipped-for-privacy@newsg2.svr.pol.co.uk...

If you think a horse would be ideal consider this;

The story of Robin Proctor The story of Robin Proctor is not a particularly happy one. He was a farmer who lived in a Crummackdale farm with his wife and two small sons. He was a good farmer and his business was quite successful. Every night he would take his horse out of the stable and ride down the valley to the local hostelry. These nights of drinking and laughter became longer and longer and sometimes it would be well into the early hours before Robin was ready to make the long ride back up the dale to his house. He would often be so tired and drunk he would climb on his horse and fall asleep.

It was fortunate for him that the horse was old and clever and knew the way back to the farmhouse with Robin Proctor asleep in the saddle. Sometimes he would fall off and wake up with a start as he hit the ground, but often he was still asleep when the horse arrived back at the stable. Being a clever horse it found a way of dropping Robin Proctor into the straw where he would sleep until morning.

One night however the weather was very bad and the wind and the rain were awful. Robin's wife told him not to go out with the weather so terrible but he would not listen and put on his greatcoat and took out the horse and rode off to the inn. He was not a bad man and before he started drinking he put his horse in the stable behind the inn for some shelter, as had some of his friends. The evening was a very merry one and after lots of beer Robin Proctor had become quite drunk. He did however remember that his horse was in the stable. He went to the stable behind the inn, brought out a horse and set off back home. Unfortunately he was so drunk that he hadn't realised that he had taken the wrong horse! It was too late. He set out riding the horse back towards his farmhouse and quickly fell asleep. This horse had no idea where it was going but being a good horse it kept on going up the lanes and was soon in the middle of the moors in the terrible storm, walking in the dark with Robin Proctor asleep on its back. The poor horse continued until it arrived at the top of a cliff and, not knowing any better, it kept on going, plummeting over the edge and falling on to the rocks at the bottom! They were both killed instantly and ever since the cliff has been known as Robin Proctor's Scar. It is said that on wild and windy nights the sound of horses hoofs can still be heard around the cliff!

Reply to
nospamthanks

As you obviously remember I do know the dangers about cycling at 5.00 PM. The last time I wasn't drunk & the motorist suffered for his bad driving. The (safely) part of my post involved riding across parks & along pavements to maintain my security. PS Nobody has fully answered my query about the breath test.

-- Dave Croft Warrington England

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Reply to
Dave Croft

other tests.

I believe you can be charged with drunk in charge of a bicycle, but I can't remember anybody ever being done for this. The police will just do you for D&D instead. The breath test is irrelevant - the police may ask you to take one, but you can refuse, and the results are only indicitive.

I don't defend riding a bicycle when completely pissed, but it's true that by and large you're only putting yourself at risk by doing so. Personally I've fallen of a bike causing injury twice, and both times I was completely sober. OTOH, I know someone who actually rode into the River Thames when drunk and had to be rescued. Probably not a good idea to ride along the towpath in such a state.

Best regards, Paul

-- Paul Sherwin Consulting

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Reply to
Paul Sherwin

You can get done for D&D anywhere.

A great uncle of mine was a drayman in the horse drawn days. I never knew him, but relatives still discuss how he used to pass out after a few hours of deliveries (he used to drink at least 2 pints in each pub). The horses knew the delivery route and would just continue to the next pub, where they'd stop and wait for him to wake up. At the end of the day they'd go back to the depot.

Best regards, Paul

-- Paul Sherwin Consulting

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Reply to
Paul Sherwin

Cycling on pavements is illegal (unless there is a specifically marked cycle path). You do know that, don't you?

Also potentially very dangerous to pedestrians.

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"The mood and temper of the public in regard to the treatment of crime and criminals is one of the most unfailing tests of civilisation in any country." (Winston Churchill)

Reply to
PeterE

You can only get done for D&D in the sense of being over a prescribed alcohol level if driving or attempting to drive a motor vehicle on a road or public place.

If riding a horse or pedal cycle AFAIK the police cannot insist on a breath test (but that is irrelevant anyway as that legislation does not apply).

Anyway, I would suggest that the chances of

(a) encountering a police traffic patrol, and (b) them deeming it worthwhile to pull you over

are utterly negligible.

FWIW I have no problem with someone going to the pub by bike and having a couple of pints, but three and a half of Old Tom is pushing it just a bit.

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"The mood and temper of the public in regard to the treatment of crime and criminals is one of the most unfailing tests of civilisation in any country." (Winston Churchill)

Reply to
PeterE

The pavements I have witnessed you cycling along, are not for cycling they are for pedestrians, so I would suggest Dave pushing your bike or better still walking to the bus station, the motorist who hit you was not on the pavement, he was on the road, along with yourself, he however had not been drinking, yourself I would guess like today had a pleasant afternoon, maybe

7 halfs of something strong? before your accident, of course the car driver came off worse, reference to putting yourself in the car drivers shoes before drinking and cycling as above.

Again your safely quote, I can guess the route you take home, which has little or no cycle lanes and Bank Park does not allow cycling either, so as well as maintaining your own security, think about the pedestrians, mothers with prams you may collide with after your 7 halfs of Old Tom, think how you would feel after knocking a pram over? Maybe then you'll leave the bike at home?

Still brought to you by the not just xmas, but all year round anti drink drive campaign.

Reply to
nospamthanks

Not just 17 units - but the strength and the dehydration effect...

I recall this cyclist near the University. He was completely p****d and kept crashing into the pavement. The policeman politely suggested that he should dismount and walk, otherwise he'd have to book him.

After several pints I feel just fine - except that I wouldn't dream of putting that to the test by attempting to drive - or cycle - anywhere!

Brian

Reply to
BrianW

But felt necessary by many cyclists (not just kids) who don't feel safe cycling on congested roads.

Brian

Reply to
BrianW

Although often practised by big strapping young blokes whom you wouldn't want to tell off about it :-(

(I think this is getting off-topic in this group now...)

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"The mood and temper of the public in regard to the treatment of crime and criminals is one of the most unfailing tests of civilisation in any country." (Winston Churchill)

Reply to
PeterE

Yes, that's basically correct. Dave was also partly right in his belief about the breath test. However, to summarise the law as regards drink and cyclists- It is an offence for anyone to ride a bicycle when they are incapable of controlling it, due to either the effects of alcohol or drugs. The police can arrest you for being drunk on a bike, but they cannot take a breath test or a sample of blood or urine.They may call on a doctor to pronounce on your fitness to ride, but the doctor cannot insist on a blood/urine sample. Even if you provide a sample voluntarily, this cannot be used in any future prosecution.The legal limit of alcohol in the blood stipulated for other vehicle users does not apply to cyclists. Drinking which would result in prosecution for a motorist would not necessarily render someone unfit to ride a bike, in the eyes of a court. However, magistrates tend to base their decisions on the evidence of the arresting officer. If they say you were drunk-you were drunk.

Reply to
Alex

Have you just got back from the pub? :-) D&D = Drunk & Disorderly, the classic charge invoked if you fall out with the rozzers having had a few.

Best regards, Paul

-- Paul Sherwin Consulting

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Reply to
Paul Sherwin

What a load of bull s*it! Before my accident I had 3 half pints of 4%. I wasted good drinking time programming a phone with Ben. I cannot remember the last time I cycled on footpaths before today. Bank Park has no cycle restrictions that I know about & I caused absolutely problems for the

2 pedestrians I passed.

-- Dave Croft Warrington

Reply to
Dave Croft

"Drunk in charge of ..." is the offence I think.

Similar to drunk in charge of a motor vehicle, which is slightly different to drink driving since you don't have to be moving for the former.

The ideal transport is someone else who is sober and will drive you home.

Reply to
Steven Pampling

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