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....