How do you get help if you get hurt while cycling alone?
If you get hurt cycling alone, get yourself out of the traffic lane, then call 911 for any head strike, suspected broken bone, heavy bleeding or crash involving a vehicle. Give the dispatcher the road name, direction of travel and nearest cross road or mile marker, not a segment name. After that call, tap SOS or message a Guardian with your location. On long solo rides, a live link plus a return time means someone notices and can find you even if you can't make the call.
What to do after a solo crash
01Get clear of traffic, or make yourself visible
The next car is the biggest danger after a road crash. If you can move, get yourself to the shoulder, a driveway or behind a guardrail, and drag the bike after you. If you can't move, keep your helmet on, turn on your rear light if it's still attached, and wave down the first driver to stop traffic and call for you.
02Check before you stand
Cyclists usually land on a shoulder, hip or outstretched hand, and often hit their head. Before getting up, feel your collarbone for a bump or step, test your wrists and look at your helmet: a crack or crushed foam means your head took a real blow. Neck pain, tingling or numbness means stay still and call 911.
03Call 911 and describe the road, not the ride
A dispatcher can't use "the climb on my Tuesday loop." Try: "I crashed my bike on County Road 12, heading north, about a mile past the Miller Road intersection, near a red barn. I hit my head and my shoulder may be broken." Mention if a vehicle was involved and whether the driver stayed. Keep the line open and follow their instructions.
04Alert your Guardian with SOS
After the 911 call, tap SOS in Holler. Your Guardians get an email and push with your location, and the live link shows the road you rode in on. On rural roads a Guardian who knows the area can meet the ambulance at the right turn, collect your bike, or bring your ID to the hospital. Holler never calls 911 itself.
05Put a backstop in place before you clip in
Set a return time for the whole ride with a buffer for a flat or a headwind. If you haven't checked in five minutes after it, your Guardians get an overdue alert from Holler's server, even if your phone is in a jersey pocket with a cracked screen. You can also opt in to crash detection (beta), which starts an "Are you OK?" countdown after a possible hard fall and stillness.
06Get checked even if you ride home
Adrenaline masks pain for an hour or more. Watch for a headache that builds, repeated vomiting, confusion or slurred speech, which the CDC lists as danger signs after a head injury that need emergency care. Replace the helmet after any crash where your head hit, even if it looks fine.
Related questions
What if a driver hit me and left?
Call 911 right away and say it's a hit and run. Note the plate, color, make and direction of travel if you saw them, ask witnesses to stay, and photograph the scene, your bike and your injuries. Our guide on what to do after a bike crash walks through the paperwork that follows.
Does crash detection replace calling 911?
No. Holler's crash detection is an opt-in beta that can miss real crashes and can false-alarm on rough roads or a dropped bike. When it does fire, it alerts your Guardians, not emergency services. Our crash detection explainer covers what these features can and can't do.
What does a good setup look like for a long solo ride?
Say you're doing a 60-mile loop through farm country, leaving at 8 and usually back by 12:30. You share a live link with your partner, set a 1:15 return time and turn on crash detection (beta). If you crash on a quiet road at mile 40, you call 911 and tap SOS. If you're knocked out, the overdue alert goes out at 1:20 with your last known position on the map.
What should I carry for a crash, not just a flat?
A charged phone on your body, ID or a Medical ID on the lock screen, a small first aid kit with gauze and tape, a light jacket and some cash or a card for a ride home. The solo cycling safety guide has a full kit list.
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Sources, checked September 2026: CDC HEADS UP: Concussion signs and symptoms, Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute: When should I replace my helmet?, NHS: Head injury and concussion.
More safety answers, or see the safety guides.