In a story that seems counter-intuitive, USA Today reports that seven bicyclists were arrested recently in Sacramento for riding drunk.
An excerpt.
“LOS ANGELES — Law enforcement's battle against drunken driving has a new target: bicyclists.
"We were having some issues with fatal bicycle collisions in the area," California Highway Patrol (CHP) officer Adrian Quintero says. "A lot of the issues we were having were bicyclists under the influence crossing over the center (line) and being struck."
“CHP officers last week charged seven bicyclists with riding under the influence during a one-night crackdown in Sacramento. But California is not the only state watching for wobbly bicyclists.
“Most states require bike riders to follow the rules of the road same as car drivers, according to the League of American Bicyclists, which supports enforcement.
"My first thought would be, 'I'm sure glad they're riding a bike and not driving a car,' " says K.C. Butler, executive director of the California Bicycle Coalition.
“Butler wonders whether police need to mount an intense effort to snare drunken riders as in California, where drunken riding is considered so significant that the highway patrol received a state-federal grant to enforce traffic laws for bicyclists in the Sacramento area.”
