Using 乗る as a passenger


When I first heard of "`自転車に乗る`" in a song, I thought it was about riding on a
bicycle instead of riding a bicycle, because of the kanji "`乗`." Then, I
realized that `乗る` does not only mean riding as a passenger, e.g. "`電車に乗る`,"
"taking a train ride."

For example, there is also

> 「飲んだら、乗るな。乗るなら、飲むな。」

This tells me that `乗る` can be used to mean "operating a vehicle," or, in the
case of a bicycle, to ride one.

However, is it possible that "`自転車に乗る`" also means "to ride on a bicycle," or
do I have to say something like "`(私は)自転車に乗られる`"?

If I want to specify riding in/on something as a passenger as opposed to
`運転する`, how do I go about this using 乗る, or is there a different
verb/expression involved?

For instance, how do I say something like, "My friend's giving me a ride to
the park on his bicycle now"? Given my rather limited Japanese, I can only
think of:

[code]

    今(僕は)友達が乗ってる自転車で公園に行ってる。
    
[/code]

This is quite a mouthful, if not unnatural. Nonetheless, if this works, does
it apply to cars and other vehicles as well?

[code]

    今(僕は)友達が乗ってる宇宙船で木星に行ってる。
    
[/code]

いつもお世話になっております。ご教授お願いいたします！




(<乗り物>に)乗る is an unspecific verb that basically says nothing about whether
you're a driver or a passenger. Imagine how people _usually_ use that
vehicle/boat/etc. 自転車に乗る _usually_ means riding a bicycle, but it can be used
regardless of whether you're holding the handlebars or not.

Of course 乗る in 飲んだら乗るな only refers to driving a car, but it's a well-known
rhythmical slogan which everyone should understand without explicit 運転. 電車に乗る
said by a layperson safely means getting on a train as a passenger, because
everyone understands that most people do not operate a train.

> how do I say something like, "My friend's giving me a ride to the park on
> his bicycle now"?

This is a good chance to use もらう: 「友達の自転車に乗せてもらって公園に行っている。」

自転車に乗られる means "I am mounted by a bicycle", which makes almost no sense.




(<乗り物>に)乗る is an unspecific verb that basically says nothing about whether
you're a driver or a passenger. Imagine how people _usually_ use that
vehicle/boat/etc. 自転車に乗る _usually_ means riding a bicycle, but it can be used
regardless of whether you're holding the handlebars or not.

Of course 乗る in 飲んだら乗るな only refers to driving a car, but it's a well-known
rhythmical slogan which everyone should understand without explicit 運転. 電車に乗る
said by a layperson safely means getting on a train as a passenger, because
everyone understands that most people do not operate a train.

> how do I say something like, "My friend's giving me a ride to the park on
> his bicycle now"?

This is a good chance to use もらう: 「友達の自転車に乗せてもらって公園に行っている。」

自転車に乗られる means "I am mounted by a bicycle", which makes almost no sense.

