A trip to Whitefish, Montana had us laughing when we came across this fully loaded (pun intended) bicycle. With a six-pack caddy, wine bottle holder, and a single carrier on the front, it appears the would-be bicyclist is prepared to either celebrate profusely, or drown their sorrows.
Curious, I checked to see if it is or is not legal to drink alcohol while riding a bicycle. It turns out it varies by state and what they consider non-motorized vehicles—including horses. Depending on where you live, if you decide to drink and drive a non-motorized vehicle here’s what you might expect:
“You may not be arrested for drunk driving on a non-motorized vehicle, bicycle, etc. You may be cited for any individual violation that is committed, or possibly for drunk and disorderly (if the circumstances fit). Also, some municipalities have ordinances simply for being drunk in public, and if a horse rider were in one of these areas, then they could be arrested for that.”
When was the last time you rode your bicycle?
Tuesdays with Laurie 
this is so good and great story…
Mihrank — Thank you 🚴♀️
No sign of drunken riders or even wine-holders on the many, many bikes in this bike-friendly city Copenhagen. Must be an American thing. 🙂
Shirley — I’m so excited that you’re on such a wonderful adventure in Norway! I’m looking forward to reading about it on your blog when you return 🚴♀️
Good morning, Laurie! Well, I cannot hold back here, since my bicycle is vital to me; it is the mean I use to go to work every day. I own a light, yellow, modified race type with a little old fashioned horn installed on the front, so when I push it, a quacking sound comes out of it and the road cleans instantly.
Thanks for sharing this!
Alessandro — We, too, ride our bicycle almost everywhere (weather permitting). Your quacking horn sounds wonderful 🦆
It is quite effective indeed.
Last time I tried it was a couple of years ago, and after years of not cycling, I almost went straight into a pond! (And no, I had not been drinking). I’ve noticed that some cyclists do not seem to believe that road rules apply to them, but of course, that’s not the case with everybody. Thanks, Laurie.
Olga — I’m glad you didn’t end up in the pond on your bicycle 🙂
And you’re right, there are loads of bicyclists who ride as if they own the road. Hundreds of them get hit by vehicles every year.
And then are are drivers who don’t pay attention and end up hitting (sometimes killing) bicyclists.
We ride our bikes often – with water bottles only!
Arlene — Cheers for bicycling! 🚲
I only ride indoor cycling bikes (stationary) in my “spin” classes. 🙂
Merril — I’ve never done that. I’ve seen it and it looks (really!) tough; much harder than the real thing. My hat is off to YOU 🎩
I have a basic street bicycle stashed in the garage. It needs a “tune up,” gears and chain oiled, tires checked for air, etc.. I have a water bottle holder, small bag on the front for e- supplies (sm. first aid kit, rain poncho, energy bars, tire patch, etc.). I need to get a horn and night light. Hope to start using it in a few weeks when I get back from vacation.
Wisconsin has a 5-page bicycle rules document. A bicycle is considered a “motor vehicle,” equal to all other motor vechicles, in Wisconsin. Therefore, all the rules about “impaired driving” apply to the bicyclist. I was amused to see this reference in a bicycles safety document, “Don’t get the door prize!” Actually, about keeping one’s distance from being “doored” by someone exiting their car. Ouch!
Audrey — Once your bicycle’s had its tuneup and you’re ready to roll, send me an email and I’ll give you the information about the WONDERFUL bike lights we use and the bell (as opposed to horn) we use. We also WEAR lights that are unbeatable!
Will do! Thanks. Gee, I hope I still can ride it!
Haven’t used mine in about three years. That one looks like it needs a bottle opener attached to the frame.
ColdHandBoyack — You’re absolutely right, they forgot to add a bottle opener to their ensemble!
I rode my stationary recumbent bike once last month. Does that count?
Looks like the bike in the photo is meant only for a shopping trip. Otherwise, one would need a saddle pack for sandwiches, snacks, bottle openers, etc. 😀
Patricia — YES, your recumbent bicycle counts!
We have saddle-style packs for our bicycles and LOVE them 🙂
I have only a stationary bike that I look at frequently. Then I imagine myself sailing down a tree-lined road with only the sounds of nature around me, after which I’m exhausted and need a nap.
Carol — Your comment made me laugh 😂
I wondered if the rider was delivering beer for a mini brewery, but then I noticed that all the bottles had been opened. Now I wonder if the rider was collecting bottles to take them to a recycling plant.
That is some fine leather work.
Last winter I started a nightly half-hour workout on my exercise bike. I stopped when I got more active in this spring. (Hmm, yeah, that’s why. : ) )I wonder if I’ll start again next winter?
Leanne — I like your ideas about the bicycle/bicyclist; clearly your creative writing mind at work! Springtime. Yep, I’m sure that’s the reason you stopped your half-hour workouts on your exercise bike 🤣
My bike is my car (I have rain gear and lots of lights for inclement weather). No beer bottle holsters, though. One of the perks of living in the Pacific Northwest is the plethora of amazing brew pubs, so while you’ll see plenty of bikes corralled near them, you don’t see many to-go bottles, at least not in my part of town.
Candace — In Boise, we enjoy those Pacific Northwest perks, too. Visiting your sister here, you may have noticed that St. Luke’s provides bicycles (for a very small fee) ALL OVER town. You can pick one up, and return it, just about anywhere. Have I mentioned before that I ❤️ Boise?
This is a call to action. We’ve written our mountain bikes only a few times since we moved to an address that has no mountains.
A few months ago, son Joel spied my brother Mark’s old bike in Ruthie’s garage in PA. (Read that 1950s vintage) He disassembled it, took it to FL and now after a paint job will be ready for grand-nephew Ian to take for a spin.
That’s how we roll. Great question, Laurie!
Marian — And you got such a gorgeous location… get those bicycles out and enjoy! I love what Joel’s done with the bike he found in Ruthie’s garage. What a treat for Ian!
That looks like a very happy rider: he/she certainly got his/her priorities right! We always ride on holidays and only have a few days left before our Grand Depart, as the French call it! (#Tour de France).
Fatima — Ohhhhhh, that sounds wonderful. I’ll be looking forward to your posts and photographs!
When I was in Amsterdam, I am amazed at the creative ways people used bikes to haul all manner of things.
Jeri — Would have loved to have been there to see it, too!
We have Pedal Trolleys in my town. Fifteen-people power the trolley for tours and pub crawls. I have pedaled on one of those trolleys (for a tour–not pub crawl!) and it is hard. Those 15 people had better be working together! 🙂
LoisaJay — Oh how FUN! Sounds like you live in a happenin’ town 🙂
Ha! Happenin’ and a little drunk town, Laurie!
You made my day! Happy 4th.
I miss riding my bike. That has been
One if my restrictions since my brain
Surgery. I should be able to resume
Riding in September. I think I will get
A three wheeler with motor assist.
I seem to tire easily and the ride home
Up hills might be too much.
Sylvia — I think a three-wheeler with motor assist sounds fantastic! But please don’t ride it on your beautiful, windy, country road. Ride it somewhere where there’s NO chance of someone hitting you, please.
Very interesting bike gear. It’s been close to 40 year since I road a bicycle. In my teens when visiting my cousins on the farm I used to ride one of their bikes – so could be a boy’s or girl’s bike with them on the dirt roads. Only the odd tractor would pass. It was great. I don’t like riding in traffic. Maybe that’s why some cyclists in Toronto ride their bicycles on the sidewalk and nearly scare the you know what when they honk their horn right behind me. And don’ like it when I tell them to get on the road in the bike lanes. Toronto is increasing it’s bike lanes and we all need to learn to travel without infringing on others – vehicle drivers, cyclists and we pedestrians. So, that means riding or driving or walking where you are supposed to.
Or do like I used to – head for the country dirt roads.
Sharon — You painted a picture of the prime reason we ride on the 32 mile long Boise Greenbelt; there’s no vehicle traffic (not allowed) and it’s specifically meant for bicyclers.
Years ago I tried to ride a grandchild’s bike around the block but gave it up as it had handle brakes and required me to bend over like a racer. Would still like to ride an old-fashioned bike but would have to be a bike only trail. In the meantime…I just do my slow jog in the neighborhood. But I do love the loaded bike!
The Coastal Crone — I think a neighborhood job sounds grand 🏃
I know someone who’d love this bike, and the beer holders… lol
I haven’t ridden my bike in ages. It’s the same one I had at school, hence it’s quite a collectors item – with all i’s original bits. Whether it works is another matter…
Sassy Brit — I do too 🍻
Laurie, you know I’m almost ashamed to admit this but I don’t even remember me riding my bike after the 8th grade. I think it just wasn’t something we did…we did records, huge hair rollers, eyeliner, nylon hose….hmmmm, what else…? Oh, yeah! Mini-skirts! You didn’t ride a bike in a mini-skirt. Later when I received a mountain bike as a gift and the poor thing spent a lonely existence in the basement with the spiders and firewood until it was “regifted”. As I remember, I was also a demon rider who still has the scars to show for my bravado. Shouldn’t have given it up, I bet I can still ride one.
Sandi — I bet you can still ride one, too. Me thinks a bicycle built for two would be perfect for you and Dennis 🙂
Partner is just back from cycling Vancouver Island and the San Juans for 10 days the 15th doing the 204 mile Seattle to Portland (STP) in one day. Then training to do Route66 from Chicago to CA next spring. I have not been able to ride my bike since 1992. I sold it ! Never rode it drunk nor does my partner but his biking group drinks a great deal after each days ride. Lots of cyclists out today on the 4th
Patricia — Holy smokes, my hat is off to your partner!
At 100* temperatures, we’ve stayed in today, but I can well imagine that the streets, sidewalks, riding paths, and greenbelts are loaded with bicyclists today.
That’s a party bike, for sure! Unless you count an exercise bike, I haven’t been on two wheels in a very long time! It sounds like fun sometimes. 🙂
Debra — I bet a dollar to a donut you’d love riding and outside bicycle again 🙂
That’s so funny Laurie …I want I bike like that . Do you know , I’m sure it isn’t illegal to drink whilst boating either and believe me we got in some scrapes whilst under the influence when we were left in charge of a barge in The Brecon Becons ha ! ha! .
Bikes mmm gathering dust in the loft …I must revive them .
Cherryx
Cherry — IN CHARGE OF A BARGE would make a fantastic book title with your story inside it’s pages! 🙂
🙂 🙂 I’ve never rode a bicycle in my life. 🙂
ReadInPleasure — Wow! Are you interested in giving it a go at some point, or is it something that just doesn’t appeal to you?
Hi Laurie, This week I rode my bicycle from my town of Glassboro to Williamstown and back again. The trail is on an old railway track that’s been dismantled, and cuts through some beautiful woodlands in South Jersey. The best part of the day was being in the company of my riding partners, my two sisters, and a niece. We had a great time and it is a day I will always remember. I LOVE biking!
TimelessLady — Ohhhhhh, that sounds like the perfect, memorable day!
Last time I rode a bike was in ’83. While riding home from work on Imperial Highway, between Norwalk and La Mirada, I was run off the road by an 18 wheeler (not the first time). Lost a little skin, bent the front wheel and the fork of my bike. I left the bike laying on the side of the road and walked the rest of the way home. That was it for me.
Dennis — This HORRIFIC! That would have been the end of it for me, too.
UNTIL we discovered the 32 mile long paved Greenbelt along the Boise river where vehicles aren’t allowed (nor can they get to it if they wanted).
If you could find something like that in your neck of the woods…
Hi Laurie
I went for a ride down the coast with Ailsa yesterday – the two of us on our mountain bikes.
It was an interesting time.
We put the bikes in the trailer to get them down the coast to Oaro, then cycled down the 4WD track by the railway, then did a short walk down the coast.
Not doing a lot of cycling these days, and may get back into it as it warms up a bit more.
Ted — And I bet that the scenery was breathtakingly beautiful no matter where you looked!
How did I miss this? (Let me count the ways)
We live near a cross-state railtrail bike path and the day before you posted this is ridden about 15 miles on it. Unfortunately, it’s downhill from here to the trails end (15 miles away), and I’ve yet to be able to ride those same 15 miles uphill to home. This is my challenge for 2017. My goal.
I loved the photo of the bike laden with spirits. Seems suited to a caption contest.
Janet — I love your goal for 2017. It sounds wicked hard, but I bet you nail it!
Greatly enjoyed this story Laurie! 🙂 Oh boy, I’m afraid the calendar I own doesn’t go that far back! Ha! But as a teenager and into my 20’s I was an avid cyclist!!
Sam — I think you and Lucille should get a bicycle built for two; you’d have a BLAST! 🙂
Haven’t ridden in several weeks. Priority is finishing all details related to publishing my book, “Redlined” on 4/3/18. Did walk alone Lake MI today – sand swallows building nest in the eaves of NU buildings and the lake glittering at 7a.m.
Linda — I’m so excited for your soon-to-be released book!
It has been a few weeks, but my bike doesn’t have these amenities!
Skipah — That can be remedied; Christmas is just around the corner 🙂