Kissena Forum Archive

Close Encounters of the #%&*@! Kind (Legal too)

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I stick my insurance cards and ID in my little plastic baggie with my phone. I figure maybe I"ll get taken care of if they know I can pay.
I stick my insurance cards and ID in my little plastic baggie with my phone. I figure maybe I"ll get taken care of if they know I can pay.
I stick my insurance cards and ID in Mike's little plastic baggie with his phone. I figure maybe I'll get taken care of if they know I know Mike.
RoadIDs are expensive - they sell dogtags for $25 <!>. I wear regular army dogtags with emergency contact #s and carry an insurance card. reg dogtags are $6 online and they will put anything you want on them.
$18 for RoadID seems a bit much, like $25 water bottles. but something is better than nothing
@ jfogden: very true regarding cost. People know to look for a bracelet though; if something bad happens you might not get all your clothes cut off (and the dogtags discovered) until you are at the hospital, which could be a long drive from the race.

That said, something is better than nothing.
For the arts and crafts inclined, another cheap method is printing out a card with all your info on it. I found that the template for a business card which can be found in MS Word works well. (Find the Avery template in the print dialogue) If you print on both sides you can get a lot of info on it.

Here is what I have on mine: Name, Date of Birth, Home City and State, home phone, emergency contact name and phone number, Drs' name and phone number, Blood type, weight, precription medicines, known allergies, insurance group and plan number, and that I'm an organ donor. It's basically all the info that would be on a RoadID or equivalent and the EMT doesn't have to make a phone call, but they may not find it or it could be thrown in a major tumble. On the otherhand, an EMT may not know what a RoadID is.

I keep the card in the baggy with my phone and I also always carry my insurance ID, drivers license, USAC license - and just in case a business card.
Sad road ID item from this weekend (though it could be specific to that guy). I have the bracelet and the dog tag version, I like the dog tag version a little better in terms of comfort.

I was getting food post race and two of the EMS guys see my RoadID dog tag.

EMS guy 1: What branch are you in ?
Joshua: huh?
EMS guy 1: [gestures towards my tag]
Joshua: oh, I am not in the military, its my emergency contact info
EMS guy 2: ohh, thats like those RoadIDs right, just a different kind ?

So these guys knew enough to look for RoadID, but had no idea what mine was since it wasnt a braclet.
I saw someone, a pro on the TIBCO team, who took the Road ID bracelet tag and threaded it in their helmet strap. Makes it impossible to forget, though it might be harder for people to find it since few would know to look there.
The other Fire/EMS/Med guys on the forum can back me up on this; searching for medical information on bracelets is a well established practice in North America.

(It is even on the red cross first air curriculum)

"I didn't know to look for a bracelet" doesn't sound like a realistic scenario for any first responder in Canada or the USA

Bottom Line: Bracelet is best in my (retired) professional opinion.
@ Josh. Sounds like a win win to me. They know roadIDs exist, and they mistook you for a fucking marine. OORAH!
And the phone thing helps if you're unconscious and alone. The locked screen contact, or put "ICE" (in case of emergency) in your contact list in front of the person you would want us to call.

Heh, we'd always have to ask incapacitated patients if we could look through their wallet/purse to find their ID, insurance, contact info etc, so we didn't get accused of stealing their money. I guess it's happened! Oh the stories...let's go camping. I have a can of beans.
@ Jeff Dan had a good point re: the phone "ICE" screensaver - if you really bit it your phone might get nuked too.

I wouldn't go through someone's pockets for love nor money - needles, knives, etc to be found there
Of course, "I accidentally injected myself with EPO, HGG and Clenbuterol (Sp?) while rifling through a fallen cyclists kit" would make an intriguing defense!
Here are the discount details for ROAD ID. Please note, this discount is open for 20 days only, starting May 1st 2012.

This discount is intended for Kissena Cycling Club members only.

*****************************************************************************

Your Road ID Club Discount Coupon code is: PC13866271KCC

This coupon code is good for 20% off of each order placed during the designated 20 day period. This special offer is open to all group members.

Your STARTING DATE is: 5/1/2012
Your ENDING DATE is: 5/20/2012 (Midnight).

Please make sure everyone knows that they can place their order(s) one of four ways:

1. By website: www.RoadID.com. The coupon code can be entered during the Checkout Process.

2. By calling our Customer Service Department: 800-345-6336. We're available Monday through Friday from 8-6 eastern, and are happy to help out.

3. By mail: Road ID, PO Box 17350, Fort Mitchell, KY 41017

4. By fax: 859-341-5965

NOTE: This unique coupon code is intended for use by group or club members only. As it contains a limited number of uses, it should not be posted on a public forum, or on social media channels accessible by the public (Twitter, Facebook, etc.).
Guys,

Two things:

1) the discount window for Road ID is OPEN - get one, or get something like it
2) please go to this form and fill it out. We need your emergency contact info
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dF9taWdKZDJ5clYzUW51TFFsZ3JKc3c6MQ#gid=0

Peace.
^Bump. Only 3 more days
You guys should'a started into a Triplets of Belleville chorus line...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmoWUdzHISM

In what can only be described as "facepalm epic" this doosh-bag's response to John's accent was "Go back to Wisconsin!"

Words fail.
Classic New York moment!
context?
The hate was out in effect yesterday.  Vlad and I were slowly going down the west side path, and he might've been slightly in the oncoming bike path, but there was TONS of room for this lady AND she had the wide path between her and the parked cars if she was really scared to get too close.  Her reaction? A screaming "F-YOU!!!". 

As Reiners pointed out once, how much do these peoples' lives suck that on a gorgeous day in NYC, they get that insanely mad over such a miniscule "rule" infraction?  Just be glad you're not them.
Just be glad you're not them.
Be glad you're not them, and if you have to, kick them in the balls.
Uhoh

I'm in imminent danger of becoming one of those people. You guys better put me down before I "turn".

Remember - only a headshot will keep me from douche-reanimating.

Srsly tho: I'm in Berkeley California right now and life couldn't be better.
Earlier this afternoon, while riding on Flatbush Ave. on my way to Prospect Park, I was clipped on my left side by a livery cab's side mirror near Sterling Place. He mostly hit my hand, though he nipped my elbow as well, and although I nearly lost my balance I was able to stay up, yell, and sprint up to the driver and get him to stop. I called 911, and police, fire and EMT all responded. I appear to be fine, with just two decent nicks in my left index finger. The driver obviously wasn't ticketed (and probably wouldn't have been even if I had been killed), and was quite apologetic (as he should have been). I have to go pick up the police report later this evening, and I think that's it, though if anyone else has ever had the misfortune of a similar experience, I'm curious if there's anything else I should do.

I also want to thank every single person who I've ridden with since joining Kissena, as my improved bike handling skills may have saved my life. Had I gone down, I almost certainly would have been run over by on coming traffic.

Fun side note: One of the firefighters who arrived on the scene has started cycling and apparently emailed someone about maybe joining Kissena.

And in case you were wondering, I did continue on to the park to do my TT efforts for the week. I didn't set any records, but I did them.
Adam,

A police report is the right thing, it establishes that the event took place, now if you have any issues with your hand/arm going forward, you could get the cab company to pay your medical bills.


Damn, Adam.  Glad to hear that you're (mostly) OK.    Here's some possibly useful links I found at Transportation Alternative's website:

What to do if you're hit/doored: http://www.transalt.org/files/newsroom/magazine/981JanFeb/doored.html

Bicyclists Accident "Survival" Guide: http://www.transalt.org/files/resources/other/970423accident.html

Legal Advice on accidents: http://www.transalt.org/files/newsroom/magazine/952MarAprcc/5legal.html

Heal up - and good on you for finishing the TT's.  Strong like bull!
.

Srsly tho: I'm in Berkeley California right now and life couldn't be better.
Go ride up Marin Ave and quit feeling so good.
@Dan I knew I wanted to file a report, but felt a bit silly calling 911 for this (more so after the fact). I think my finger's fine, and my elbow is a little achy, but I'm hoping that everything's OK. It's reassuring to know that I have some protection if I wake up in the morning and find myself in a world of hurt.

@Dave Thanks for the resources. While I was waiting for police I also brought up a link that JP posted on our site a while back: nyccaraccident.net. It was helpful in the spur of the moment, and might be worth bookmarking on your phone.

Ironically, earlier this morning I was thinking about how often cyclists are injured or killed without the driver facing any charges or citation. Just yesterday in PLG a cyclist was struck by a delivery truck and killed, but it was an "accident" and the driver stuck around, so "no criminality was suspected."

http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/06/13/cyclist-emma-blumstein-killed-by-truck-driver-in-brooklyn-no-charges-filed/

Sadly, the NY Post only devoted four sentences of copy to the incident, and implied that the cyclist was to blame: 

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/brooklyn/klyn_cyclist_killed_after_colliding_Z64tdi6JW6ghkYyDcqUiRM

Of course, this is the Post, so I shouldn't be so shocked about it, but still.

In my case today, the driver didn't want to hit me, but he also didn't want to move over and give me any room. While talking with me after the incident, the driver was surprised at how light my bike is, and how exposed I am to the cars around me. He looked at my helmet, complimented me for wearing one, and seemed to suddenly understand the risk cyclists face from drivers.

Unfortunately, I don't think many drivers get this. In the case above, the driver said he "couldn't stop."  It reasons that the driver must have been taking that turn pretty fast. Problem is, the person on the other end of the accident isn't able to tell her story. Cars literally get away with murder in this city.

//rant
I'm sickened by this.

“she was just coming so fast and I was already into the turn; I just could not stop”.

It was a game of chicken and she didn't yield - or he didn't see her. She has the right-of-way and the person turning left is obviously supposed to yield to oncoming traffic.

Please expect the worst of everyone. It is the only way to survive, literally.

Yeah, I find it disgusting that Baron Bloomberg pouts his chest out about being "green" with bike lanes, progressive with soda laws, and rezoning everything to help his developer buddies make billions, but despite a mountain of evidence, does nothing to force pressure on the unsupervised NYPD to do anything about how it's literally legal to kill cyclists with your automobile due to "I didn't see them" reasoning.

What a buffoon.