Drunk biking targeted by Denver: Advocates worry policy could encourage drunk driving

If I am riding my bike after drinking and cause an accident or am clearly out of control swerving in traffic, sure it's fair to stop and breathalize me and maybe give me a DUI. That is fair.

However, I am concerned that this law may lead to targeting of bicycle related events (cruisers, tour de fat, urban assault, jazz in the park...) where people often have a few drinks (New Belgium sponsors a ton of them) but don't necessarily ride irresponsibly.  We'll have to wait and see how it's enforced.

For example, as an average weight woman if I have 3 glasses of wine over 2 hours at jazz in the park, this technically would put me over the legal limit.  While I choose not to drink and drive my car AT ALL, I certainly would  not be too impaired at that point to responsibly ride a bicycle.  To have to operate under the assumption that I could possibly face jail time for doing so is completely absurd.

Additionally, I want to say that calling for licensing, taxation and registration for bikers is completely ridiculous. 

1. Children ride their bikes to school.  Should they be forced to wait until they are 16 to ride? Cycling is a healthy and safe way for kids to get around.  With the obesity and lack of exercise related illnesses facing our population, why would you discourage it?

2. Many low income families rely on bicycles for part if not all of their transportation.  It is, after all, the least expensive way to travel. Imposing a new tax on those people would provide an unfair burden on that population.  

3. Bicycles, due to their weights and average speeds cause relatively no wear and tear on roads when compared to cars and trucks.

4. Encouraging cycling reduces traffic congestion in general because IT GETS CARS OFF THE ROAD. People who choose to drive everywhere they have to go should be thankful that those of us who bike some or all of the time have chosen that as our mode of transportation.  

5.It reduces air pollution created by travelling.  

6. It is healthy and fun! With increasing concern about the public costs of healthcare, why would you not want your fellow commuters to get more exercise?  

There are irresponsible bikers out there, just like there are irresponsible drivers, irresponsible pedestrians, and irresponsible drinkers.  But don't generalize all cyclists as scofflaws who should be punished and stay off the road.  That is foolish and shortsighted and unproductive.  This "us vs. them" attitude between cyclists and car drivers doesn't lead to productive dialogue. 

Please just realize that we are all different people who need to get places! We all have different priorities and reasons for making the transportation choices that we make and we should all be allowed to have a voice.

Many of you seem to be missing the point. Any fat idiot with one arm, one leg, and stomach full of booze can end or ruin one (if not a dozen) lives. A drunk cyclist may cause minor property damage, or kill themselves, but they can't take out a church van or a school bus.

The act of riding a bicycle requires a huge amount of intesimal corrections needed to simply stay on the machine. Here's an interesting link:

". What most of us don't realise is just how complex the art of riding a bicycleactually is. So complex, in fact, that researchers are just beginning toinvestigate how on earth we manage to propel ourselves, constantly rocking backand forth with the movement of our legs, on two skinny wheels; simultaneouslynavigating movement in multiple planes while trying to avoid countlessobstacles.

Look at alllll the poor children whining about having to be responsible. Put on your big boy pants, you wanted to be treated the same as drivers, well-- here you go. Ive had moronic hipster douchebags swerving and weaving in the middle of the street in front of me in heavy traffic, acting like they were kings of the fucking road. Now you want to be able to ride around while totally wasted? LIke Ive told one otehr person- go ahead-- go get waaaasted and then play in traffic. Just dont blame the hapless motorist who accidentally runs over your drunk asses due to you being a spoiled little brat. It doesnt matter how heavy the vehicle is, it matters how stupid the person is. Over the course of the last few years Ive seen some extremely stupid cyclists in this city. Im a cyclist and a driver, and the majority of cyclist here completely disgust me. What a collection of assholes. Oh, and Denver Cruisers-- PICK UP YOUR SHIT! You leave garbage EVERYWHERE.

"If you choose to drink, for the love of God, just do it responsibly.... We are not gonna be your mommy.... Know your limits.

There are a few things wrong with this statement.  One, the first thing that goes when drinking is judgement, so how can one know their limits or judge whats responsible when intoxicated?  Two, the vast majority of people with DUIs etc. do possess some sort of drinking problem e.g. having a DUI is not a problem related to drinking?  You'd rather put yourself and others in harms way because you"feel" you can drive home?

I agree that there needs to be more definition with the laws surrounding bicycle based DUIs and they should not be held as severe as car related ones.  But the city still has some obligations to ensure the safety of both the individual and community at large so this is acceptable IMHO.  Attempting suicide is illegal after all...  

So what happens? You're court ordered to do some counseling?  Not a bad trade off for making the choice to drive/cycle while impaired.  Don't forget all RTD buses have bicycle racks, really no reason for it, and if it's more important to spend bus fare on one last drink, perhaps there is a problem...

You do not have to submit to any kind of sobriety test while riding a bicycle.  They cannot take your license for refusal.  Do not give the police evidence to convict you by submitting to a sobriety test.

I'm all for responsible drinking, but this seems absurd.  The law clearly doesn't address a bicycle as a vehicle when it comes to the penalties for a DUI, so how does that make sense? Someone needs to write a bill to clarify the bicycle laws and create a penalty that fits the crime.  What if the cyclist does not drive? If the C.R.S. are silent on bicycles, there needs to be a clarification. 

Curious how many people against this are part of Cruisers.

"If it's close enough to bike to, it's probably close enough to walk to" NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

No

Here's what'd I'd like to see: what if they treated this like the Secondary Seat Belt Laws? In Colorado, you can't be ticketed for the singular act of not wearing a seatbelt, but you CAN be ticketed in conjuncture with another traffic infraction. So riding your bike while intoxicated wouldn't be punishable in and of itself, but if you ran a red light or caused an accident then they could tack a DUI charge onto it. I think that'd make a hell of a lot more sense than the black and white logic of "note: don't enforce this law" vs "we'll enforce it but not excessively *winkwink* " I mean, if you don't plan to seek out drunk cyclists, then codify that shit! Nawmean?

PUI

I find this entire hoopla hilarious. Some ass-hat on a scooter got all butt-hurt because he was issued a DUI while the bicyclist got nothing. Now the police have announced a change to an internal policy that merely tosses fuel on the fire of disagreement between bicycle enthusiasts and motorists. I'm a booze-hound myself, but I'm a pro: if I over-imbibe, I remove myself safely from becoming a public spectacle. I can't stand sloppy drunks, but to equate drunken bicycling to drunk driving is like saying if I attempt to punch someone it is the same as if I fired a gun at them. None of this changes anything in regards to making sure one doesn't act like an idiot whether on a bicycle, in a car, or on foot. Drinking and biking is one of my favorite things to do in the world, but I have left my bike when I've had too much to ride safely, just as I have left my car when I've had too many. The point being, people who have all this loathing and hatred for bicyclists need to shut the fuck up and get on a bike themselves. If you can't have fun on a bicycle, you're half-dead inside anyway so maybe you should be run over by a drunk propelling themselves along in whatever vehicle they choose. If nothing else, the attendance numbers for things like the Denver Cruiser rides should indicate that anyone choosing to shake their fists at bicyclists is on the losing end of that fight...

What crimes can the police be charged with? Wait, that can't happen, even on video. Next will be drunk tailgating, drunk in the recliner, drunk on the bar stool, drunk having sex, drunk riding in the back of a cab. Then suspicion of getting drunk later while leaving the liquor store. Pretty soon anything we say or think will be against the law.

Absolutely...cyclists want to be treated equally on all roads and streets in Denver - they should be subject to the exact same traffic laws as drivers. You can't have it both ways...

Key quote: "The intent is more to enforce it when it's related to an accident," Rock adds. "But clearly if there's an obvious violation, if an officer sees a person is intoxicated, then they have this option."

Because drunk bicyclists kill SO MANY people.

No, because a drivers license is not required in order to ride a bike. If they want to criminalize it, they should pass a specific law addressing the issue.

@James what happens when your drunk ass turns your bike in front of my car?