Riding without a cell phone?

[SimpleCycle]

I don't have a cell phone. We gave them up a year ago when our contract expired. Not only do I not miss it, I LOVE not having it. But I'm beginning to think that cycling might be a reason to get one again.

I live in the city surrounded by desert. Right now most of my long rides off into the desert are with a partner or small group, and they all have phones. But lately I've been wanting to go longer and farther on my solo rides. I don't worry on rides of less than 20 miles because it is all city riding. But I have some slightly longer routes I want to take that put me out in the desert on low-traffic roads.

Right now I just leave my route, departure time, and (generous) estimated return home with my husband. This seems like it should be enough, but for some reason I have had the feeling lately that it is just dumb for me to not have a phone with me. But I don't want a digital leash again. I'm thinking of a pay as you go phone and only giving the number to my riding partners and my husband. To complicate the decision, there are plenty of routes that have no cell coverage anyway.

For those of you who ride without phones, what safety precautions do you take? For those with phones, would you ride without them? Why do you think they are important to have along?

[DeniseGoldberg]

I've been told I'm somewhat of a throwback to a previous era. While I do have a cell phone, I don't carry it with me all of the time. In fact, I usually only use it when I travel - but only if I happen to be touring in a country where my phone works (in the United States). And since I tour alone, it's really more for the convenience of being able to reach friends and family at the end of the day. While I was touring in Maine the last week in June, I had my phone with me. When I took my first solo tour back in 1998, I didn't have a cell phone. I thought about getting one, but when I contacted a cell phone company in Montana to check about coverage where I was planning to ride, they just laughed. No coverage.

When I ride near home, I usually don't carry it. Maybe that's not smart, and maybe that's relying too much on the kindness of strangers if something happens when I'm out on the road. (Actually I think my lack of attachment to phones may be left over from when I worked in a tech support position many many years ago - before cell phones even existed - and spend a good percentage of my time at work attached to a phone.

The fact is that the one time I needed help - when I crashed last year (flipping my bike over and landing on my helmeted head) I don't think I was even capable of using a phone, and I had to rely on people stopping and on emergency personnel.

I always carry identification though. I wear a RoadID that has a lot of information on it - including emergency contact information (a friends home & cell phone, and a family members home phone), my name, health insurance info, the name and phone number of my primary care physician, indication that I have no allergies, and the year of my birth - all information that emergency personnel want to have to treat you. And no, I didn't have the RoadID when I crashed - it was a must have addition when I started riding again. At the time that I crashed I had my driver's license & health insurance card - a good starting point, but definitely not all of the information that is desired.

A cell phone can make things a little easier, since it allows you to contact a friend or family if you need help, or if you need to tell them you're going to be late, or... But then again, if I'm out on the road without a phone I wouldn't hesitate to attempt to stop a car or to walk up to someone's house if I needed help. Perhaps I should change my own habit of riding without one...

--- Denise

[Irulan]

it all depends on whether you'd get coverage where you plan on riding. A cell phone doesn't do you a darn bit of good if there's no reception.

~I.

[SimpleCycle]

Denise, I tend to trust that strangers would stop and help. It seems like the times there wouldn't be someone around to help would also be the times there would be no cell coverage.

I should add that I carry (in my wallet, in my seat bag, and in my jersey pocket) a card with identification, health info, contact numbers, insurance information, preferred hosptial, allergies, and current medications. I made them up on the computer and got them laminated at Kinkos. After one of my friends did her ER rotation at med school, she implored all of us to carry this info with us. I figure it's especially important because I have asthma and take various meds.

There's probably cell coverage in 80-90% of the areas I ride, but I don't really know, since I don't have a cell.

[Crankin]

I wouldn't ride without my phone. Even though there are always houses to stop at, I ride on some "country roads" that are fairly deserted. I would hesitate about stopping someone driving by; I'm not someone who obssesses about "strangers," but I would rather call a friend, child, or spouse to help me if I needed it. This point was driven home to me a few years ago, when my son first started riding. He was crossing a major highway intersection when his cleat came out of the pedal. He crashed and hobbled to the sidewalk. Realizing he couldn't walk well, he was sitting on the curb, when a physician from a nearby hospital was on the way to pick up his daughter from school. He brought my son home. I was furious he had taken a ride with a stranger and that's when we got him a phone.
I hardly use my cell phone compared to most people, since I am a teacher and I can't sit and get calls all day. But when my family has to reach me, it does provide peace of mind.

[singletrackmind]

I don't have a cell, I don't want a (jail) cell. I make sure someone has a basic idea of where I'll be and when I expect to be finished, especially if I'm in the woods. Other than that, I'm on my own but for the kindness of strangers and I've found there are many many very kind people on this planet.

I did read somewhere that you can dial 911 for emergency help from a cell whether you have a plan or not. You could only use it in emergency situations, of course. That you'd have to do more research on yourself.

[snapdragen]

I carry mine, gives my mom piece of mind. (Mom, I'm 48 - I can take care of myself.....) It's always turned off when I'm riding.

There are pay as you go phones -I don't know much about them though.

[Irulan]

there's a fine balance between carrying a cell phone as a tool, and using it lieu of being self sufficient.[generalization] I hear so much stuff where people dont' develop skills becuase they have a cell phone - whether it's basic repairs, navigation skills, trouble shooting, awareness of danger.
-If the weather changes, I'll just make a call
-if I break down, I'll just make a call
-if I get lost, I'll just make a call
-if I am in danger, I'll call 911.

etc. This is sort of an overview, not specific to cycling. I think a cell phone is really false security, you need to know how to take care of yourself.

irulan

[CorsairMac]

I carry a cell phone on all my rides. As a rule I ride everywhere alone and have no one at home waiting and worrying on me. So if anything goes wrong I'll have to call someone to come get me. I also carry my cell phone because it has a built in GPS so if I'm hurt really bad and/or disoriented, if I can Just get to the phone and hit 911 it activates the GPS and the EMTS can find me.

I didn't even think of that until Lynne mentioned it: all my numbers are programmed into the phone as: parents, sister, brother etc....so if I"m unconcious, someone can still get hold of my family/friends.

[Lynne]

I started carrying a cell phone when I was a hiker; I'd come back to the office or back home and get a call "are you ok??? we thought you were dead!" because some idiot had fallen off the cliff on the route I was hiking, or a lady had been raped or robbed, etc (I hiked only fairly well-travelled trails, so it wasn't an issue of being in the boonies where these things were occurring). I had a pay as you go phone.

When I started riding, I upgraded to a regular service cell phone. I've forgotten it a few times and regretted that immensely. One, when I ride with the BF, it's good to be able to call for help if I need it (ie, so even when I'm not alone, I may still need it and DID in fact need it one time). Two, since the BF usually gets ahead and I tend to turn at the wrong time (or not turn at the right time), I find I often have to call and ask what turn I missed or where I turned when I wasn't supposed to. Even when riding alone, I end up calling the BF (which usually goes something like "So, I don't cross that bridge do, I? 'Cause that kind of looks like I'd be heading the wrong way"-of course, 9 times out of 10, I was supposed to cross the bridge...). Three, if something does happen to me, I want to be able to call the BF and friends and tell them where I'll be and whether or not I'm ok. Honestely, after an accident, I'm not sure I'd remember the numbers to tell a co-rider or stranger. The numbers are programmed into my phone, so that's not an issue.

Having said all that, I guess it's fairly obvious that the phone isn't so much for ME as for my friends....

[latelatebloomer]

No cell phone for me. The more I see people with them glued to their heads, the more I enjoy being unencumbered by one. Maybe that'll all go horribly wrong someday, but I, too, believe that if I need help, someone will help me. My husband knows my route and arrival estimate.

I do have address stickers on my bike that include our home phone and my husband's cell phone numbers, and want to do something a little more visible in that regard.

[DeniseGoldberg]

...I do have address stickers on my bike that include our home phone and my husband's cell phone numbers, and want to do something a little more visible in that regard.

I'd recommend carrying your emergency contact information on you - not stuck to your bike. If you get in an accident, the bike doesn't go with you to the hospital...

--- Denise

[MomOnBike]

I try to remember that cell phones are a recent invention and that people lived happy, productive, and reasonably safe lives before they were invented.

Sometimes I take mine, sometimes not. When I took my tour I called home every night, but that was mostly so DH could update the journal. I really didn't need it.

[SimpleCycle]

there's a fine balance between carrying a cell phone as a tool, and using it lieu of being self sufficient.[generalization] I hear so much stuff where people dont' develop skills becuase they have a cell phone - whether it's basic repairs, navigation skills, trouble shooting, awareness of danger.
-If the weather changes, I'll just make a call
-if I break down, I'll just make a call
-if I get lost, I'll just make a call
-if I am in danger, I'll call 911.

etc. This is sort of an overview, not specific to cycling. I think a cell phone is really false security, you need to know how to take care of yourself.

I think you make an excellent point. I really would only need it for an absolute emergency that would necessitate 911. For that, I can carry my cell with no plan. It is in fact true that you can always dial 911 from a cell, even with no service plan. They told me that when I cancelled my old phone.

The reasons I've been thinking about lately are situations I could prevent or solve on my own. I've been worried about getting lost or separated from my group (carry the cue sheet/map, know the route) or having mechanical problems on the way to the start of a group ride (they'll either leave without me or come find me, I can fix my bike) or being out solo and having some sort of situation that warrents a ride home rather than an ambulance (probably something I can figure out without the cell).

I made it the first 22 years of my life without a cell phone, and the last year as well. I may decide at some point I want one for convenience or logistical reasons, but I think I'm probably safe without one, or with the one that can call 911.

Denise, those Road ID things are cool. Which kind do you have? I was thinking the ankle one might work well, especially for my commute, where I may or may not have my wallet and ID on me at any given time. And it occurs to me that people might not think to look in my seat bag or backpack for ID.

[DeniseGoldberg]

Denise, those Road ID things are cool. Which kind do you have? I was thinking the ankle one might work well, especially for my commute, where I may or may not have my wallet and ID on me at any given time. And it occurs to me that people might not think to look in my seat bag or backpack for ID.

I actually have two. I have a ShoeID that I use with my running shoes. I thought I would use that one for my biking shoes too, but I found that I prefer the Fixx - on a chain around my neck - for cycling. A couple of the guys I work with ride too, and they both have the ankle ID. Oh, and I have information on both sides of my ID. On the ShoeID, I used the last line of the front to say "see reverse" - all of the IDs other than the Fixx are curved and attached to a strap, so it's a little less obvious that there is info on both sides. If you want to use both sides you'll need to order your ID over the phone rather than on the web site.

--- Denise