Arrested for drunk driving on a bicycle → excuses himself by saying “I wasn’t driving because I was pedaling with one foot”．．． is he safe？

An interesting incident occurred in Niigata. A woman who was arrested on the spot for drunk driving on a bicycle is said to have denied having driven the bicycle, claiming that she was not actually driving because she was pedaling with one foot. ◼What kind of incident was this?
According to reports, in the early hours of November 10th, a police officer on patrol spotted a cyclist going into a side street to avoid police, and questioned him. The woman smelled of alcohol, and a breathalyzer test revealed that her alcohol level was above the legal limit. The woman was arrested on the spot on suspicion of drunk driving and admitted to having been drinking. However, he claims he was not riding the bike because he was pedaling with one leg. It is not clear what this woman was doing when “peddling with one leg,” but straddling the saddle, pushing down on the pedal with just one foot, and then immediately continuing to kick up while not using the other leg at all, takes a considerable amount of physical strength. This method is used in pedaling training for racing bicycles. Rather, since it is an excuse to the effect that “I am not riding a bicycle,” perhaps it is what is called “hopping around on a bicycle.” Instead of straddling the saddle, you place one foot on the pedal and use the other foot to kick the ground in a hopping motion to move forward. ◼ Is it safe to “peddle with one leg”?
The revised Road Traffic Act came into effect on November 1st, and now anyone caught riding a bicycle while under the influence of alcohol can be sentenced to a maximum of three years in prison and fined up to 500,000 yen. The question is what exactly is meant by “driving,” and the Road Traffic Act provides a definition. On the road, it means “using it in accordance with its intended purpose.” In the first place, the Road Traffic Act defines a “bicycle” as “a vehicle with two or more wheels that is driven by human power using pedals…”, with certain exceptions such as those operated on rails. Considering the original function of bicycles and the purpose of the Road Traffic Act, such as preventing danger on the roads, “one-legged pedaling” is simply one of the “intended ways” of using a bicycle and is therefore “prohibited.” In addition, under the Road Traffic Act, a person who is pushing a bicycle is considered a “pedestrian.” However, if the distance to your home is long, even if you push the bike at first, you will likely start to feel tired and think, “I’ll just ride it for a little bit,” and then go ahead and do it. If you know you’re going to drink alcohol, you shouldn’t be cycling in the first place. (End)
[Yahoo! News Tsunehiko Maeda, former Chief Prosecutor of the Special Investigation Department]
2024/11/11 (Mon) 9:35.

excuse me.

自転車の飲酒運転で逮捕→「片足こぎだから運転していない」と弁解…セーフか？（前田恒彦） - エキスパート - Yahoo!ニュース

新潟で興味深い事件があった。自転車を飲酒運転したとして現行犯逮捕された女が「片足こぎだから運転していない」と弁解し、運転行為そのものを否認しているという。どのような事案？　報道によると、11月10日

news.yahoo.co.jp