Is it illegal to ride a bicycle when drunk?

Is it illegal to drink and ride your bike?

The best advice is not to drink alcohol if you intend to cycle. If you do drink then there is a good chance you will be committing a criminal offence.

It is illegal to ride your bike under the influence of drink or drugs, and you would be guilty of this if you were unfit to ride to such an extent as you are incapable of having proper control of the bicycle.

You would be committing an offence whether you were on a footpath or on the road.

Although it is an offence to cycle under the influence of alcohol, a police officer cannot force you to provide a breath, blood or urine sample. They can ask, but if you refuse and are subsequently charged with cycling under the influence, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) wouldn’t be allowed to use your refusal as evidence against you.

What if it’s not proven that I’ve been drinking and riding my bicycle?

Even if Magistrates aren’t convinced you were under the influence whilst on your bike, if you have been riding in a dangerous, careless or inconsiderate way then you run the risk of being convicted under one of these separate offences.

If, for example, you cycled through a red light and were stopped by the police who suspected you were under the influence they could charge you with careless or inconsiderate cycling and cycling under the influence. The Magistrates could then find you guilty of the careless and inconsiderate cycling charge but not the cycling whilst under the influence.

If you “jump” a red light, you risk a Fixed Penalty Notice of £50 no matter what. It is illegal for any road user not to comply with the Road Traffic Act 1998.

Why riding a bicycle drunk is considered a criminal offence

Cycling under the influence of alcohol is never a good idea. It affects reaction times, causes inhibitions to disappear and can render you incapable of controlling a bicycle. Recent research has shown that intoxicated cyclists are 10 times more at risk of being injured in a cycling accident than sober cyclists.

Accidents caused by reckless or dangerous behaviour on the road, regardless of whether you are a cyclist, pedestrian or motorist, can have huge implications for you and other road users. Injuries caused in such accidents are often life-altering and can even be fatal.

What would be the punishment for cycling under the influence?

The maximum penalty for cycling whilst under the influence of drink or drugs is a £1,000 fine. This is also the case for careless or inconsiderate cycling. The maximum penalty for dangerous cycling is a £2,500 fine.

You wouldn’t, however, get any points on your driving license should you have one, as it isn’t a driving offence.

Legal assistance from Slater and Gordon

Every road user is legal obligated to respect the rules of the road and ensure their actions do not put anyone else at risk. Whether you are a motorist, pedestrian or cyclist, if you’ve been injured because of someone else’s negligent or reckless behaviour, you could be entitled to claim compensation.

At Slater and Gordon, we pride ourselves on taking a holistic and compassionate approach to road traffic accident claims – providing high-quality, leading legal services while also securing the best possible rehabilitation and treatment options to give our clients the best chance at recovery.

To find out how we can help you, get in touch today on 0330 041 5869 or reach out online.

All information was correct at time of publication.