I don't have one. Never have, hopefully never will.

Nope. I wouldn't even have a landline if I didn't need it for work.

No, but for people in certain circumstances, they can be the only gear you need to carry.

I carry one, but pride myself on never having had to use it in thousands of miles commuting.

Essential: No. Can one come in handy? Yes.

I do see many posts advising newbies to be sure to bring theirs in lists of "essentials."

I see this as good advice for newbies. A cell phone is the one tool that can compensate for just about any beginner mistake.

Lack of good rain gear, lights, pump, spare tube, chain tool, patch kit, allen wrenches, lock, or even wallet can all be absolved with a cell phone.

It's part of my list of necessities.
Since the cell phone is so popular, public phones are few and far between these days. With so many people being paranoid, you can't count on the ability to knock on someone's front door and even get a response, much less having someone let you use their telephone if you have an emergency.

Plus, I can take pictures and post online status updates during my long rides, whether they are group or solo rides.

There's something distasteful about this for me. I think people should learn to take care of themselves and of eachother.

even worse... I think the cell phone enables and is part of this isolating fear.

I refuse to act as though my society has regressed this far. It is not the dark ages.

To my thinking, we've been manipulated through fear into thinking that the cell phone is an essential monthly expense.

This is a pointless discussion. Some folks will not go to the bathroom without theirs, some don't care to own one. Whichever side of the spectrum you are in will determine whether you carry one or not.

Me, if you are capable of riding, you are capable of walking. Pay phones may be far in between but they are still out there.

Man, so many anti-social Luddites on this website. Yes, mine has a clock on it. I absolutely need it to check the time.

But in all seriousness, it's probably a good idea to have one in case you have some sort of unforeseeable emergency. I wouldn't say essential, but there wasn't an option for "It's probably a really good idea to have one." Immean how much would the cheapest working prepaid phone cost? $20 on ebay? and a prepaid calling card (assuming they still sell those?) would be $5-10 and would expire every 6 months. And a cellphone and calling card would certainly fit in any saddle bag.

I'm just sayin' for like $30 you could have pretty much the best tool for any emergency situation. ( Unless, of course, you get kidnapped by aliens who force a probe into your anus.) Hell, don't even give the number out. Also dialing 911 should work on out of contract phones so the prepaid card wouldn't even be necessary.

So yeh, for $30, why not? My tire levers/glue/patches/pump/multi tool altogether cost more...

Yes I have one and yes I carry it. There is only 3 people whom would call me. My wife, my brother and the dispatcher at work. Work hasn't called me at home in over 3 years but just in case I gotta have one. No I don't talk on it during rides no matter who calls unless the pager feature goes off which would mean that it's an emergency.

Not essential for commuting... but can be useful in emergencies. I always carry one, just in case.

Everything is an "emergency" to people these days. Sheesh.

I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past me I will turn to see fear's path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.
Only I will remain.

It's a dang bicycle, not the Gom Jabbar

It's handy, but not essential. I like my iPhone because it is so much more than a phone: it takes decent photos and videos, it's a voice recorder, note taking device, has maps, I can find places like banks and bike shops, it has NYC bike map, etc.

Whoa ! Do you really believe that every person that carries a cell phone is because they are living in fear ?? I don't think most bicycle commuters give in and submit to Fear, and if they did they wouldn't be riding their bike in traffic.

It's handy but not essential.

Not essential for commuting.

But essential for me. I rarely talk on my phone. But text, email, web browsing, gps, maps, train schedules, etc.

I could live without a cell easy. But I don't see the point as I like it.

I'm not saying that anyone should leave all these things at home because they have a cell phone. I saying that not having any one of those things are the most common newbie mistakes. Even seasoned commuters forget to check the weather or loan out a tube and forget to replenish.

Having a cell phone is a convenience just like having a home phone or the internet is a convenience. Not everyone has the luxury of a flexible schedule that enables them to deal with any repair on the side of the road.

I had to choose "other" on this one. I haven't had a land line in years, so of course I have a cell phone. Is it "essential" for a ride, no. Lot's of good responses (and funny ones ). Pretty personal reasons I think here.

If you have one, certainly bring it. My wife made me get a phone after I was an hour late due to flats. I have a Virgin Mobile phone so it only costs me $5/month, given the level I use it at.

Personally I'd skip it, I'm OK with walking home in the rare case that I have something critical fail, but it makes my wife feel better.

Cell only isn't an option here; there's barely any coverage at my house.

I have a cell phone, but not a land line. Because I don't use it very often, I have a pay-as-you-go account. The per minute rate is higher this way, but I don't pay for 800 and use 80. At the end of the month, this is cheaper (for me) than a land line.

Cell phones aren't essential. People have been on bikes for a hundred years before cell phones existed. Food and water are essential. But, a phone can come in very handy.

Almost any situation. A cell phone didn't help my friend Joe when the aliens kidnapped him and gave him an anal probe.

I live in a rural area, and have a 30 mile round trip commute, with no regular bus line along the route that will allow bicycles. I consider a cell phone to be a must for myself, so I can call somebody to bail me out in an emergency. If there was a bus line along that route, that had a bike rack, the cell phone would be just be a luxury.

Actually it is the real world, not a Dune novel and it sounds like when you turn to see fear's path you see a cell phone!

A cell phone is just a tool. You don't have to carry a pump, you don't have to carry a phone. You will find either one useful from time to time and you will find the phone useful far more often than the pump. There is no fear involved, just convenience and utility. The cell phone is not a regression to the Dark Ages, it is the antithesis of the Dark Ages in every respect. There is no point to launching a Butlerian Jihad against cell phones. In the end the Jihad was a failure anyway.

Ken

I bet your friend has Sprint; they don't have service anywhere including spaceships.