Is Triple-A (AAA) anti-cyclist?
#1
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Is Triple-A (AAA) anti-cyclist?
I came across this organization recently, the Better World Club. They seem to offer a roadside assistance plan to compete with AAA. They also point out a number of things AAA has done that are anti-environmental and anti-cyclist (opposing rails to trails programs?).
https://www.betterworldclub.com/competition/aaa.htm
I was just wondering if anyone can support or dispute the claims made by BWC. I'm currently a AAA member and am considering switching to these folks when my membership runs out later this year.
Scott
https://www.betterworldclub.com/competition/aaa.htm
I was just wondering if anyone can support or dispute the claims made by BWC. I'm currently a AAA member and am considering switching to these folks when my membership runs out later this year.
Scott
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They are very pro-motorist. That pro-motorist attitude may at times put them in conflict with cyclists best interests.
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Can't understand them being against rails-to-trails, doesn't seem like it would have much to do with cars...?
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Recently, a AAA agent set up a booth at my job and sold contracts at a discount.
On the booth, they had a bicycle users guide.
I asked the agent if AAA covered bicycles and she said they cover " all vehicles " except for Recreational Vehicles (which requires an additional fee on top of the base fee and this is essentially for motorcycles).
So if I get a flat, they should come out and help me swap the tube and fill up the tire for me ... lol
On the booth, they had a bicycle users guide.
I asked the agent if AAA covered bicycles and she said they cover " all vehicles " except for Recreational Vehicles (which requires an additional fee on top of the base fee and this is essentially for motorcycles).
So if I get a flat, they should come out and help me swap the tube and fill up the tire for me ... lol
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Do I consider the AAA anti-bicycing? No. Do certain members of the AAA's management team need an education regarding bicyclists' rights and responsibilities and positive contributions to our society? Absolutely yes!
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"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
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That sounds like the case to me. Let us know how that works out!
#7
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AAA does NOT in fact offer bike services, despite whatever a salesperson might have said; call the service number and ask for service, and you'll learn that really quickly. They also lobby hard against improved fuel-efficiency standards, tighter highway regulations, rails-to-trails, speed limits, etc. I was a member for YEARS, but no longer am, after having read several articles and position papers and looking into their lobbying activities...
Not a member of BWC, either, but I might well join up!
Not a member of BWC, either, but I might well join up!
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I contacted AAA and they don't offer bicycle assistance.
The carbon-offset thing always struck me a bogus, so I don't really want to buy into it:
https://www.ft.com/cms/s/48e334ce-f35...b5df10621.html
Other than that complaint, BWC seems like a bike-friendly service.
The carbon-offset thing always struck me a bogus, so I don't really want to buy into it:
https://www.ft.com/cms/s/48e334ce-f35...b5df10621.html
Other than that complaint, BWC seems like a bike-friendly service.
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the AAA fights very hard at the national, state and local levels to make sure that all gas tax revenues go to facilities for cars, trucks and other motor vehicles, and that no part of the gas tax revenues go to transit, bike or ped facilities (even though many transit, bike and ped facilities also indirectly benefit motorists).
#10
Portland Fred
the AAA fights very hard at the national, state and local levels to make sure that all gas tax revenues go to facilities for cars, trucks and other motor vehicles, and that no part of the gas tax revenues go to transit, bike or ped facilities (even though many transit, bike and ped facilities also indirectly benefit motorists).
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"I gotta wait for those darn law breaking bikers." is pretty much the prevailing mentality.
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AAA was one of the groups that opposed California’s bike safety bill. I saved excerpts here: https://www.baltimorespokes.org/artic...5695&query=AAA
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The Canadian equivalent, the CAA, recently had a dramatic turnaround, and their new policy endorses all automotive alternatives to ease gridlock.
This was a welcome departure from their previous policy, which included lobbying to fill in Lake Ontario to build another freeway (seriously).
This was a welcome departure from their previous policy, which included lobbying to fill in Lake Ontario to build another freeway (seriously).
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I don't think they're particularly anti-bicycle as much as they are pro-car.
Like me, I'm not particularly anti-car as much as I am pro-bike.
Like me, I'm not particularly anti-car as much as I am pro-bike.
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Does it come as a to a shock to anyone here that the American Automobile Association doesn't put cyclists' needs at the top of their agenda?
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Looking to the AAA for cycling support is a little like looking to the NFL for support of your local peewee soccer team. Related, yes, but, no direct connection.
Caruso
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I was wondering when someone would point this out. AAA was organized by motorists to support and promote the use of motor vehicles. Why would we even expect them provide service to a non-motor vehicle? They would probably not send a tow truck out to help you if you lost a sole on one of your shoes while hiking along the side of the road, either.
Looking to the AAA for cycling support is a little like looking to the NFL for support of your local peewee soccer team. Related, yes, but, no direct connection.
Caruso
Looking to the AAA for cycling support is a little like looking to the NFL for support of your local peewee soccer team. Related, yes, but, no direct connection.
Caruso
Theres a diff between not offering support to a cyclist on the side of the road and trying to stop laws being passed that help cyclists or a letter writing campaign to try and cut funding or prevent funding for making road ways safer or creating more mups etc.
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Which laws, which letters.
None of it surprising, really. The AAA was not chartered with us cyclists in mind, so, I am not surprised.
Caruso
None of it surprising, really. The AAA was not chartered with us cyclists in mind, so, I am not surprised.
Caruso
Last edited by Carusoswi; 08-11-07 at 08:58 PM. Reason: correct typo
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Exactly. If someone were to research those claims further, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to find out the the "anti-rails-to-trails" campaign involved a stretch of rail that they wanted converted into a road (y'know, for cars). Remember, there are two sides to every story, and of course the Better World Club is going to try to paint their competition in the worst possible light. I'm not defending AAA, I'm just sayin'...
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I heard on the news this morning someone complaining that if less money were spent on building bike paths and more on inspecting/repairing bridges, the Minneapolis collapse might have been avoided. Now, that had nothing to do with AAA, but it is a very disappointing to see that sort of association being put forth.
Caruso
Caruso
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I heard on the news this morning someone complaining that if less money were spent on building bike paths and more on inspecting/repairing bridges, the Minneapolis collapse might have been avoided. Now, that had nothing to do with AAA, but it is a very disappointing to see that sort of association being put forth.
Caruso
Caruso
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AAA supports wide shoulders on state roads. which, if reading between the lines of the dodging about shoulder riding going on by john forester in the VC subforum, supports bicycling on roads quite vehicularily.
I'm of the opinion AAA supports some of my interests as a bicyclist- taking state roads with substandard shoulders and improving them, which indirectly improves bicycling safety.
I'm of the opinion AAA supports some of my interests as a bicyclist- taking state roads with substandard shoulders and improving them, which indirectly improves bicycling safety.