Bicycles

Breathalyzer bike lock stops drunken cyclists in their tracks

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The Alcoho-Lock is designed to prevent drunken cyclists hitting the road
The Alcoho-Lock is designed to prevent drunken cyclists hitting the road
The circular lock is crafted from aluminum and measures 150 x 130 mm (5.9 x 5.2 in)

When you compare it to the wreckage a drunk driver can cause, an inebriated cyclist mightn't seem all that great a threat. But in reality any road user with impaired judgement can wreak havoc through an ignored stop sign or traffic light, whatever their choice of ride. The Alcoho-Lock is aimed at preventing cyclists from hopping in the saddle when they've had one too many, working in much the same way as breath-test locks for drunk drivers.

Japanese cycling store Koowho has developed the Alcoho-Lock citing a lack of awareness around the dangers of drunk-biking. The circular lock is crafted from aluminum and measures 150 x 130 mm (5.9 x 5.2 in). Its built-in breathalyzer detects the user's alcohol concentration. If the level of intoxication is deemed unacceptable, then access is denied. Seems practical enough an idea, right? Well, this is where it gets a little unusual.

Koowho has developed an incriminating smartphone app that connects with the lock over Bluetooth and alerts a loved one of the user's drunken exploits. The partner is then left with the decision of whether or not to remotely unlock the bike from the comfort of the moral high ground, or consign them to a long and lonely walk home.

The circular lock is crafted from aluminum and measures 150 x 130 mm (5.9 x 5.2 in)

Getting drunken cyclists off the road is a nice sentiment, but having to blow into your locked up bike every time you want to use it certainly isn't. There's also the fact that it will carry a price tag of between US$240-$320, for which you could buy several high quality steel locks. Nonetheless, if you're looking for ways to curb your growing penchant for a late night booze cruise and don't mind your partner meddling with your peddlin', then the Alcoho-Lock is available for preorder via the source link below.

You can hear from the creator in the following video.

Source: Alcoho-Lock

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6 comments
ScreamE.R.Wheels
So, one is intoxicated and irresponsible, so get a friend / passer-by to breathe into the lock and off you go. Wonder how many nasty minded people will smear chilli paste (or worse) on the mouthpiece for "laughs"?
Jay_Wilson
There's a real product opportunity here for a tire pump adapter.
AEH in FL
Is bicycle operation while intoxicated a real problem?
Wolf0579
Bloody stupid. What is with this witch-hunt on people that like to drink??? So someone is being responsible and not driving a car, but taking a bike, which is much, much less of a danger to anyone but the cyclist themselves. Now you're trying to criminalize that! I suppose one would say they're just trying to protect the biker from his or herself. Bullshit. Forget the crap in the bibble about "being your brother's keeper"... If anyone tries to be MY "keeper", they are in for a rude and violent awakening. If I WANT a "keeper", I will find my own, thank you very much.
Mik-Fielding
So, you go out for a drink on your bike and lock it up with this? PMSL! Does anybody really think that someone would actually do it and if they did would they do it a second time? Of course not, whoever invented this was really not thinking ...
Captain Danger
@Wolf Big brother knows best. You must wear seat belts , motorcycle helmets, bike helmets etc. Going over the speed limit is a terrible thing. You are free to express yourself with a gender changing operation however...