Biking And Boozing Event Questioned

Summer is upon us, and Mayor Bloomberg has declared July to be Good Beer Month. And there's nothing quite like riding ones bike to a bar and imbibing in some cold ones, right? Actually that sounds like a dangerous idea, but it still didn't stop some folks from putting together a Bike to the Bars event.

Today CityRoom questioned the decision of organizers encouraging riding under the influence (a topic that was discussed earlier this year), and organizer/owner of Jimmy's 43, Jimmy Carbone, told them, “We’re not saying go to 10 bars and get drunk. Europeans get it. After a good bike ride or a run, people have a beer somewhere.”

However, the tour de beer seems to include more than 10 bars across 2 boroughs. It takes place this Saturday and the leader of the pack, Slow Food USA's Cecily Upton, promises, “This is about good people coming together and sharing a ride and a good beer." But should biking under the influence be touted as innocent and promoted as the centerpiece of an event? Maybe we should loosen up, but, this seems way more dangerous than sand and tomatoes combined!

In fact, there have been plenty of accidents because of the combination of boozing and biking, and the site notes that a recent report found that 21% of New York cyclists involved in a fatal accident had alcohol in their blood. And plenty others have suffered minor injuries, even David Byrne isn't immune!

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By Jen Carlson in Arts & Entertainment on July 21, 2009 6:41 PM

Comments [rss]

Guest

Man, I'm glad it's Good Beer Month. I'm tired of all the Bad Beer Months.

Rocknrope

Just don't cut off an asian pedestrian, and if you do, make sure you have your U-lock at the ready.

tolu1973

If you are going to discuss the illogic of having a biking and drinking event, which is kind of stupid, you also have to recognize that any bar in the U.S. that involves having to drive a car to get drunk, makes zero sense with state drinking and driving laws.

Maybe bars should be illegal?

ganghiscon

It's "Good Beer Month." Not "Coors Light Month." People who go to beer bars and drink "good beer" are generally not out to pound a dozen beers, do a few shots, and get wasted.

But that said, organizing an event that sounds a lot like a bar crawl that includes cycling is probably not a good idea.

JacqueMehoff

I just heard this term but don't Harley riders do this thing called T to T, riding from tavern to tavern.

so it's been done before.

defmob

"Europeans get it". Exactly - their drunk driving laws extend to bikes. .05 BAC and you go to jail.

Rfive

I'm waiting for the heroin and rollerblading event. I'm sure its illegal in NYC to bike under the influence. Jayclay?

The Colonel

Is drunk biking not illegal on the streets of New York? I always assumed it was totally illegal.

I know it is in at least parts of Florida. I worked with a guy who got a "BUI" on his bike one night after a happy hour... and was none to pleased.