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Bicyclist oozes beer, not blood, after crash in Madison

Posted by Tom Held of the Journal Sentinel on Oct. 25, 2011

cycling

A bicyclist who veered into the path of a Madison Metro bus on Friday had a blood-alcohol level of 0.26 and leaked beer onto the street, according to a story posted on the Capital Times web site.

"One witness at first thought the man was bleeding from the chest after seeing liquid shooting out from that area of the body, but later realized it was beer, not blood, squirting from cans inside his jacket," police spokesman Joel DeSpain said in a news release.

That somewhat humorous description of events reminded me of the not-so funny facts about alcohol and crashes involving bicylists.

Roughly 24% of the 630 cyclists killed in roadway collisions in 2009 had blood-alcohol levels of 0.08 or higher, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Alcohol was a factor in 40% of the fatalities, when the motorists are factored into the numbers.

In 33% of the crashes, either the motorist or the bicyclist had a blood-alcohol level high enough to be intoxicated, according to the standard of 0.08.

41 Comments for "Bicyclist oozes beer, not blood, after crash in Madison"

  1. Did the beer survive?

    klisch Oct 25, 2011 10:52 AM

  2. I would like to know if this bicyclist had valid driver's license.

    Willing to bet he was riding a bike with reversed road bike handlebars and no helmet. Typical DWI rider.

    Tax Payer Oct 25, 2011 10:54 AM

  3. whoever click's on the "thumbs down" is in denial.

    Tax Payer Oct 25, 2011 11:04 AM

  4. A nice blend of humor and seriousness. Well done all around, Tom.

    FredCity Oct 25, 2011 11:08 AM

  5. and here In Milwaukee of a bike path on the hoan And all the whiners say it ia all the car/truck drivers fault that they get hurt.

    olderwisernow Oct 25, 2011 11:10 AM

  6. What I would like to know is why the bicyclist wasn't charged with DUI? We always hear how bike riders have the same right to the road as drivers and they are expected to follow the same rules of the road as drivers. Well, if I was in a car accident and my BAC was 0.26%, I sure as heck would have been arrested and charged. I'm getting sick of the double-standards and recklessness of bicyclists blowing through stop signs and stop lights, swerving from lane to lane, and now riding drunk, all without any repercussions. If I were to start blowing through stop lights on my motorcycle, I would be pulled over instantly and probably given 2 or 3 citations.

    GreatApe Oct 25, 2011 11:16 AM

  7. learn some grammar.

    Tax Payer Oct 25, 2011 11:18 AM

  8. It's a two way street. Both parties will always have those bad apples in the bunch, but you can't blame the all bicyclists.

    Tax Payer Oct 25, 2011 11:26 AM

  9. the lack of validity in your comment shows how people like you should be deported to a different planet.

    Tax Payer Oct 25, 2011 11:30 AM

  10. All the more reason to make the Hoan, an all bike only bridge! Just kidding!

    telling it like it is! Oct 25, 2011 11:33 AM

  11. actually, bicyclists can and DO get charged with DUI. The story doesn't say that he wasn't charged. Just that the news release did not mention any citations.

    mp0006 Oct 25, 2011 11:33 AM

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