Anyone have experience with "Better World Club"?

[5555624]

On a mailing list I am subscribed to, someone was asking about a AAA for bikes and someone mentioned “Better World Club.” http://www.betterworldclub.com/ They do provide roadside assistance to cyclists, along with some other benefits to cyclists. (There’s a discount at City Bikes, among other things.)

Although I don’t see that I would need roadside assitance, I had never heard of them and was wondering if anyone here had any experience with them?

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[jrenaut]

I have never used them, but Greater Greater Washington approves, and they generally know what they’re talking about. The WABA supports them, too, as they have a signup affiliate code (see linked article).

[DCLiz]

Yes, I’ve been a member for at least five years. I had to use the service once, and the response time was good (to Capitol Hill). I miss the AAA discounts at hotels and on Amtrak, but I consider that the price I pay to not allow AAA to lobby in my name against things that I value. If you get the premium membership (higher towing mileage), they reimburse you a certain amount of gas money quarterly, so that makes up for the lost discounts a little bit. Also, you can get bicycle coverage.

[paulg]

I just swapped from AAA to Better World Club after getting annoyed with AAA’s negative stance on biking in the district and local area. Why should I support them when they don’t support the things I do and the infrastructure that makes it possible.

BWC will give you a discount if you switch from AAA, which I took advantage of. I’ve only been a member for a few months so can’t comment on the service.

Click and Clack from Car Talk on NPR seem to like them as well and have a page on their website for them, if that helps!?

I say go for it and promote cycling.

[5555624]

@paulg 6807 wrote:

I say go for it and promote cycling.

That’s what I’m thinking. Thanks.

[baiskeli]

We are members – we also switched from AAA because of it’s anti-bike stance (believe it or not, AAA is getting better about that – it used to be much worse). My wife used the service once and it was fine. They used to give you a discount on gasoline – you send in your receipts and get a partial refund of something like 5% – but I don’t know if they still do that now that gas costs so much.

[creadinger]

Wow, thanks for the eye opening posts. My wife just renewed our AAA membership for the year… does anyone know if they refund any money for cancellations?? I’d like to look into this BWC instead. Is it just DC area? Or is it nationwide?

The main reason we started up with AAA was because for a few years recently I was driving a very used 1994 Honda, and the possibility of a break-down was more likely than I wanted to believe. It’s great to know that there are alternatives though! I love that they’ll help you with bike problems too. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve left the house on a long ride and 30-50 miles out realized I didn’t have my mini-pump on me etc. I’ve been pretty lucky in the past.

[baiskeli]

@creadinger 6820 wrote:

Wow, thanks for the eye opening posts. My wife just renewed our AAA membership for the year… does anyone know if they refund any money for cancellations?? I’d like to look into this BWC instead. Is it just DC area? Or is it nationwide?

Others know more than I do, but I know the national has been bad in the past, and DC (Mid-Atlantic) has been really bad. The DC spokesman is famous for lobbing attacks on bikes. However, lately the national and some of the locals have gotten better. The national (I think) even had a booth at Bike to Work day this year, and the guy there was very cool. Not sure if the DC chapter has followed suit though.

[DCLiz]

AAA is bad on more than just cycling issues. For instance, they don’t have a great track record on global warming and have opposed using federal funding for mass transit. BWC donates 1% of revenue (not profit) to environmental cleanup and advocacy.

[Brendan von Buckingham]

I signed up with BWC about a year ago. Used them last month when my car got a flat, then the doughnut blew out too (which was because the doughnut was either over inflated or the pavement was 180 degrees, remember that week?) BWC got a tow truck to Petworth in 60 minutes which towed me to Clarendon. Cost me $2.00 because I was over my 5-mile free towing limit.

The call center was in Portland, Oregon, so I bet that’s where they’re headquartered.

BWC was serviceable for a bunch of commie hippies, but I’m rethinking my membership only because I’ve realized my auto insurance offers the same roadside assistance.

[DaveK]

@Brendan von Buckingham 6950 wrote:

I signed up with BWC about a year ago. Used them last month when my car got a flat, then the doughnut blew out too (which was because the doughnut was either over inflated or the pavement was 180 degrees, remember that week?) BWC got a tow truck to Petworth in 60 minutes which towed me to Clarendon. Cost me $2.00 because I was over my 5-mile free towing limit.

The call center was in Portland, Oregon, so I bet that’s where they’re headquartered.

BWC was serviceable for a bunch of commie hippies, but I’m rethinking my membership only because I’ve realized my auto insurance offers the same roadside assistance.

My two cents – I would never have roadside assistance with a 5-mile towing limit. Imagine what happens if you’re on the interstate coming home from Shenandoah or something. I’ve always stepped up to the 100-mile plan and I’ve had to use it a couple of times. I’m sure just those two instances paid for the plan.

[jrenaut]

@DaveK 6954 wrote:

My two cents – I would never have roadside assistance with a 5-mile towing limit. Imagine what happens if you’re on the interstate coming home from Shenandoah or something. I’ve always stepped up to the 100-mile plan and I’ve had to use it a couple of times. I’m sure just those two instances paid for the plan.

Agreed – I’ve needed two tows, and both were well beyond 5 miles. One was just a hair shy of the 100 mile limit.

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