Let me tell you about my secret weapon for being in the moment…it’s as simple as not owing a smart phone.

It may come as a shock to many of you out there, but our family owns nothing more than a cheap pay as you go cell phone.  We keep it in the vehicle for emergencies and might use it for one or two calls per month.  Yeah, we just might be the only ones left in the world without a smart phone.

I get asked about it all the time and people cannot believe that I can run a website (or even function on a daily basis) without an iPhone or some other similar device.  But it’s been this way for years and I don’t really plan on changing things.

I’m a guy who’s on my computer a lot, and I’m the first to admit how disconnected I am to things around me while on it.  But here’s the beauty of it all.  When I’m away from home or if my computer screen is shut, I’m in the moment and can focus on my Family or whomever else I’m with.  No distractions, no temptation to get online, and no pinging or dinging sounds from my pocket.

I’ll also never be one of those drivers who spends more time looking at their cell phone screen than the road, because I simply do not use one.  Oh, and you haven’t already, I invite all cyclists to join our “Drop the Phone” campaign.

I have no problems with smart phones or how consumed many people are with them.  I’m just saying that I prefer my life this way and feel so free by not having one for myself.  It really is my secret weapon.

I still might have a few things to learn about living life in the moment, but I sure do know that being cell phone free is something that helps get me closer to being fully there.

I have a very simple idea that will not only help save cyclists from getting hit on their bikes, but will also save the lives of pedestrians, other drivers, and yourself.

I don’t hold a firm stand on too many things, but I am totally against people using cell phones while in a vehicle.  Let me put it this way….I would liken the use of a cell phone while driving to holding a loaded gun in your hand, with a good chance of it going off.  Yeah, that’s how unsafe I feel it is…and if something isn’t done about it soon, we’re going to lose a whole bunch more cyclists than we already have.

There are a lot of things drivers do that distract them from paying attention to the road, but the use of cell phones (talking, texting, checking e-mail, or anything else) is the greatest distraction of them all.  I’ve lost track of all the times I’ve seen a driver sway into the shoulder lane or do something even worse, just because they are on the phone and not paying attention.  What if a cyclist or pedestrian would have been right there on the shoulder?  Yeah, that loaded gun would have just been fired off.

I don’t need to push this issue because it’s a no brainer.  Cell phones and driving equals bad news.

Cyclists Leading By Example

Using cell phones while driving seems to be taken as a right these days and if there is going to be any chance of influencing people to drop their phone while on the road, I think it is up to us to lead by example.

So here it is….I’m challenging all our Loving the Bike readers and cyclists worldwide to be the change we wish to see in the world.  Take it upon yourself to never drive with a cell phone in your hand, or glance down at one (or GPS or anything else) while on the road.  Tell your friends that you’ve taken the pledge never to do this and that you encourage them to do the same….and to tell their friends about it.

Let’s all lead by example and start making the streets safer for everyone.  Drop the Phone – Save a Life.

I would like to thank my cycling friend and Chicago bicycle accident lawyer Jonathan Rosenfeld for his help with this cell phone initiative. If you get a chance, check out Jonathan’s site Chicago Bike Injury Lawyers (www.chicagobikeinjurylawyers.com) for more information on distracted driving and other topics related to bicycle safety.