Dont leave home without ID

[Trekhawk]

Interesting read at www.velonews.com/news/fea/8843.0.html

Take a look.

[caligurl]

ouch! i guess my road ID wouldn't be good enough for a policeperson then?

i don't carry my license.. cuz i'd lose it! i've already lost 2 work issued id's carrything them other than in my wallet they are gonna get sick of making them for me (plus i have to make sure i have a good hair day when i get them remade/reissued!)

[Trekhawk]

[QUOTE=caligurl]ouch! i guess my road ID wouldn't be good enough for a policeperson then?
i don't carry my license.. cuz i'd lose it!


caligurl - I only carry my roadid too - I think I will just have to use the Dumb Australian excuse if ever Im stopped and hope that works.

[bikerz]

I usually carry my license and my credit card on rides, except sometiems I forget on my local "neighborhood" loops. I also carry a pretty crumpled piece of paper with my ICE numbers and insurance info.

But I'm with Caligurl - I'm always afraid of losing my license, which is why I've been planning on ordering a Road ID for weeks now, and leaving the license at home. But I guess it makes sense that if a bike is considered a moving vehicle that a cyclist ought to have their driver's license with them at all times... I wonder if having the DL number on the road ID would work - then the cops could punch it into their car computers and see that you are who your RoadID says you are...

The broader implications of that article are pretty scary - who would have thought that obeying the laws could be construed as an indication of criminal behavior.

Thanks for the post, Trek - very thought-provoking!

[caligurl]

But I guess it makes sense that if a bike is considered a moving vehicle that a cyclist ought to have their driver's license with them at all times...

not a license with you... an ID! you don't have to even have a license to ride a bike! just a form of ID... but i gather from the article that it needs to have a picture on it to be valid....

that's why i carry my work id... govenment issued.... with a picture!

[bikerz]

not a license with you... an ID! you don't have to even have a license to ride a bike! just a form of ID... but i gather from the article that it needs to have a picture on it to be valid....that's why i carry my work id... govenment issued.... with a picture!

You're exactly right - it's just that the only official or semi-official photo ID I have is my DL. Probably a CostCo membership card wouldn't cut it, even though it has a photo!

[mary9761]

I carry a fanny pack. In it, I have my id as well as a wallet card with medical information that might be needed, (meds, medical conditions etc.) I started wearing the dog tags and medical necklaces again that say to look for the wallet card.
The wallet card has come in handy more than once even before I started riding. I especially feel the need to have this information with me since I normally end up riding solo.

[caligurl]

i bought a little wallet thing to carry in my handlebar bag that has a place for my id when i do carry it.... (clear window)... however... i inevitable forget to take it out and put it back in my car/purse.. then that just happens the be when they are checking id's for getting to work so far i've been able to smile and talk my way on.... but there will come a day that i will either have to go home and get my id (uhm.. right now i can't even find it!) or wait for someone from my office to come "sign me in" and i'm sure that would go over like a... well.. insert your own like a!

which reminds me.. i have to remember to take my license on the organized ride tomorrow cuz we are going on camp pendleton and i will need it to get one base.... or i could go admit i lost, yet another, id and use that tomorrow!

[bcipam]

ouch! i guess my road ID wouldn't be good enough for a policeperson then?

i don't carry my license.. cuz i'd lose it! i've already lost 2 work issued id's carrything them other than in my wallet they are gonna get sick of making them for me (plus i have to make sure i have a good hair day when i get them remade/reissued!)

I carry a photocopy of my license and my health insurance information in a small baggie.

[ladiebug]

K gals. Not trying to sound like a total idiot here, but what is ICE?

[CorsairMac]

K gals. Not trying to sound like a total idiot here, but what is ICE?

no ma'am you're not: ICE=In Case (of) Emergency

[emily_in_nc]

When I had my accident I didn't have my drivers license or medical insurance card with me (though I did have a cell phone for hubby to call 911, and an ID sticker with my name/address/phone inside my helmet). The cool thing was that I was able to get an ambulance, be admitted to Duke University hospital, and even have surgery without ever producing ID or proof of insurance. Of course, I am very certain that this only worked because I could state my name, address, date of birth, and social security number, and I was already in the Duke Hospital system since my primary care physician is in the same network, so they could bring up all my insurance and past medical info on the 'puter.

Kinda strange, though, that I didn't have to prove I was me. I guess a gal in a blue polka-dotted jersey and bike shorts is less likely to pose as someone else than the average joe??

Kinda curious, but it worked for me - thank goodness.... Even after Barry brought my ID and insurance card to the hospital (at my request), I don't think he ever had to show them to anyone.

Emily

[skibum]

I wonder if emergency rooms will just treat you and then worry about ID later. I had a (non-bike) sports injury that required a trip to the ER. One of my teammates brought me in and I had no ID and no proof of insurance. I had a mild concussion so I was even a little fuzzy on some of my personal info. I was able to come up with the important stuff (name/address/etc) but, I couldn't remember my personal physician's name for instance. I had never been to anything associated with that hospital system so I wasn't in their computers. They treated me and sent me home with forms I could fill out and fax in with my insurance info later. I suppose if it turned out I didn't have insurance, they would have tried to get the money out of me personally.

I haven't totally learned my lesson. I always carry ID if I ride alone. If I'm riding with a group, I sometimes get lazy and don't pull it out of my wallet to put it in my saddle bag. I think it's time to make a copy and always keep it in a ziploc in my saddle bag.

[bcipam]

When I had my accident I didn't have my drivers license or medical insurance card with me (though I did have a cell phone for hubby to call 911, and an ID sticker with my name/address/phone inside my helmet). The cool thing was that I was able to get an ambulance, be admitted to Duke University hospital, and even have surgery without ever producing ID or proof of insurance. Of course, I am very certain that this only worked because I could state my name, address, date of birth, and social security number, and I was already in the Duke Hospital system since my primary care physician is in the same network, so they could bring up all my insurance and past medical info on the 'puter.

Emily

2 years ago I had a fairly bad accident. I was unconcious for about 20 minutes and when I came to, I didn't know my name, address, etc. But for some strange reason I knew I had ID in my Camelbak. The paramedics retrieved it and my insurance information and based on that I was transported to a really nice hospital as opposed to the country urgent care which would have been my option.

PS: I was riding with someone but he knew me as a riding buddy and didn't even know my last name. Just good to know I have that information handy if it's needed.

[caligurl]

ok ok OK! i just made copies of my license and insurance card to put on my bikes.....

i seriously doubt that the copy of a license is legitimate id any more so than my road ID.... but i think the insurance card is a great idea to carry!