What should you do if someone follows you while cycling?
If someone follows you on a bike ride, whether on foot, on another bike or in a car, use your speed to put distance between you and ride toward busy roads, open businesses and other people. Note the vehicle and plate if you can. Call 911 when you are stopped somewhere safe or if they threaten you. Tapping SOS in Holler lets your Guardians see your live location as you ride.
What to do on the bike
01Work out what kind of follow it is
A car that hangs behind you on a country road may simply be waiting to pass. A driver who slows alongside, matches your speed, or reappears after you turn is different. A rider who sits on your wheel for miles is usually harmless; one who follows every turn off your route is not.
02Turn toward traffic and people
Leave quiet lanes and bike paths for a main road, a town center or a busy gas station. Pull right up to the storefront, not the edge of the lot. A lone cyclist on an empty road is exactly where a problem driver wants you to be.
03Remember the vehicle
Get the color, make, and as much of the plate as you can, plus the direction it went. If your bike has a rear camera light, it may have recorded the car. Say the details out loud or into a voice memo so you do not lose them.
04Stop safely before you use your phone
Handling a phone while riding fast is how a scare becomes a crash. Get somewhere with people, stop, keep the bike between you and the road, then call 911 if you were threatened, harassed or are still being followed. Start with the road name and nearest cross street or mile marker, then the vehicle: "Silver pickup, partial plate 7KD, has followed me for two miles."
05Send an SOS so someone is watching your route
If the follower keeps coming and you have to keep riding, one tap on Holler's SOS sends your Guardians your location by email and push, and they can follow the pin as you move. Holler cannot call 911 for you, but a Guardian can if you cannot.
06Report it even if they drove off
Call the police non-emergency line afterward with the time, location, vehicle and any camera footage. Save the clip before your camera light loops over it. If it happened on a popular club route, let local riders know so others watch for the same vehicle.
Related questions
Should I try to outrun a car?
No. You cannot outrun a car, and sprinting on a bike near a hostile driver is dangerous. Instead, turn off onto a route a car cannot easily follow, such as a path, a pedestrian plaza or a parking lot with people, and head for help.
Is road rage from a driver the same as being followed?
A driver who shouts and drives on is common and upsetting. A driver who turns around, waits for you or follows you after an argument is a threat. Report it to police with the plate, and do not engage.
How can I ride with less risk of this happening?
Share a route with someone you trust, ride roads with some traffic, and carry a charged phone where you can reach it when stopped. Our solo cycling safety guide covers route planning, and the cycling safety hub has more.
What if I can't stop safely to call?
Keep riding toward people and traffic, and let Holler's SOS carry your location to your Guardians so someone who knows you is watching. On an iPhone, pressing the side button five times starts an Emergency SOS call once you're stopped. Our what to do after a bike crash guide covers the aftermath if it turns physical.
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Sources, checked September 2026: Alexandria (Indiana) Police Department: Personal safety tips, Apple Support: Use Emergency SOS on your iPhone.
More safety answers, or see the safety guides.