For years I wore a small plastic sleeve on a lanyard around my neck that carried personal and medical information (as well as a bit of cash). I now have a Road ID, but often still wear the lanyard. Contact and medical information in jersey pockets, in helmets, in saddle bags do no good. You need to have the information attached to your body for first responders to find easily without hunting. Jerseys get cut off, bikes detached from riders (multiple injury cases particularly), and helmets are either removed or kept in place (for head injuries). Whether you choose to carry this information on you is up to you. I ride being very alert to my surroundings but still feel that I will go out of this world from an inattentive driver ("I never saw him"). I want my family to be contacted and responders to know that I am also an organ donor (if it's the end of me).

BT

Been using the product for over a year now. I actually have a couple of them, one strapped to each of my helmets so it is always handy. Cannot imagine why someone would not opt to wear one. But then again I cannot imagine why so many folks will bomb the trails, greenways, and roads without a hlemet either.

By the way Chuck, I looked at your website posted and noted the Three Foot plate deal. How long has it been in place in Tennessee?  I know they recently initiated it in Colorado.  What was the old statute that this replaced? Why was it felt that the old one was outdated or inadequate?

If here in Michigan, an attempt is made to change our statute to "three feet" I will argue against it.  I do not consider three feet to be adequate as a safety margin at all and am surprised to learn that other devoted cyclists do.  In my mind five feet is barely adequate.  I can reach out three feet, and in fact, when I was leading a ride summer before last and signaled a left turn my finger tip was hit by the mirror of a passing car that came around our entire group on a clockwise arcing road across a double yellow line.  Of course he was breaking several laws but for now I am happy with our law that stipulates that drivers pass at "a safe distance." More vague but it gives prosecutors more leeway.

Be safe.

EJ

Chuck,

You and I share a very similar perspective. I just read yesterday as a matter of fact that Michigan passed legislation to improve education regarding cyclists at the drivers ed level. I also hope it includes at least one test question on the drivers written exam.  It may very well but I have not seen the final legislation as of yet.  The League of Michigan Bicyclists has been instrumental in lobbying for constructive change. If only we could encourage more cyclists to at least contribute a nominal amount (instead of just complaining!).  I'm sure you know the drill!

This past summer a pal was passed, rather buzzed, by a pick up truck driver on a Sunday morning. He was caught at the light. The rider asked calmly if the driver realized he came so close at which the predictable, explitive stream came forth.  The rider was upset and ended up dropping his water bottle and when he went to pick it up the driver pulled over and intentionally hit the rider and then backed up and did it again. His ankle was smashed and required surgery and plates etc. He is one of the best Tri guys in the state and very well liked and mannered.  Anyway, the driver even admitted to the police who came and arrested him that he intentionally hit him, or at least intended to hit the bike.

So, the charges were reckless driving and at first Felonious assualt which was for some reason altered to Aggrevated assault and the driver entered a plea to the reckless driving and the assault charges are dropped. Here the victim has rights and is supposedly allowed to speak and I'm not sure why this obvious malicious and vicious attack is not pursued by the prosecuter. As I live in the district of this court I am about to pursue it.  I think this deserves jail time.

Heads UP!
EJ

I decided long ago that the more information I can provide, the better I am going to be in the end.  After all, it is me that is important and how "safe" I want to be.  I got the interactive one and it allows the first reponders to have a boat load of information that I may not be able to provide.

I will never ride without it again.

bob anthony

This is a  no brainier for me. After years of riding around without much more than  an expired drivers license. I realized that this was fool hearty of me. A  few years ago I was mountain biking in PA, leading  a ride with a few  friends. One of the guys, I'll call him Victor, lost control on a fast,  steep downhill decent. He made a mistake and got seriously hurt. He  wasn't able to tell us that he was allergic to penicillin or that he  underling conditions. Not having that information for medical personnel,  nearly killed him that day.

I wish he had a RoadID that told us  what we needed to know. That day, I had to call his wife and tell her  happen and close he came from leaving Us. I must admit, I blamed myself  for awhile, for not know what I needed to know as the Ride Leader.

On  the Road or on the Trail, I like having my RoadID on me. I hope that  know body ever has to read my RoadID because the worst has happened but  it sure nice to know I've got a backup plan.