Anyone have experience with the Better World Club?

[adventurepdx]

I was at an Earth Day event today and came across a booth for the Better World Club.
http://betterworldclub.com/
For those who don't know, it's an alternative to AAA, offering the same services. 

The special thing about them is they offer bicycle roadside assistance as well.  You can get it as an add-on to a regular auto membership, or just do a bicycle membership, which also includes membership to LAB.

At $40/year for bicycle only, it seems like it can be a good deal. It could come useful in touring. But does anyone out there have a membership?  What's your thoughts?

[JHamelman]

And if you are an Adventure Cycling Member, you receive an 10% discount on your Better World membership:

http://www.adventurecycling.org/membership/memberbenefits.cfm#affiliation

.Jennifer.

[noshbygosh]

I have been a member for about a decade now.  I have never needed to use the service once for a bike so I can't really comment.  I did use it once for my car, and it seemed to be the same quality as would be expected from AAA.  I keep paying the annual membership dues to BBW since I know that they advocate for sustainable development unlike AAA.

[adventurepdx]

Jennifer--Thanks for the info!  Forgot about the discount.

[driftlessregion]

Better World Club membership is also a benefit with membership at a higher level in the League of American Bicyclists. LAB lobbies on behalf of cycling to Congress.
I have not used my bicycle BWC benefit. I don't think auto clubs are worth the money and I didn't see appreciable discounts to make me want to add on to the bicycle portion.

[shirlee]

Reviews look pretty bad from people who needed assistance. https://www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/better-world-club.html

[driftlessregion]

I am a member and fortunately have not needed their services. I joined because I'm 74 and have arthritis in my hands such that I can't remove tires myself most of the time. That's also why I switched to tubeless but that is another post topic.

[John Nettles]

AAA offers bicycle service in many states.  My thinking though is you would have to wait an hour or more probably for someone to get to you and they may not know really how to change a flat and/or have the right tube (size, presta/Schrader) and/or tire and/or presta adapter.  I can usually fix a flat in under an hour if not in the rain and I prefer not to wait around.  So for me, BWC and AAA are not needed that much. Just my opinion, John

[driftlessregion]

I finally used or tried to use Better World Club today. I was 10 miles out and had a mechanical difficulty that I couldn't fix. I called and though I didn't have my member # they were able to verify my membership. I spoke with one person who sent me to another. That took 30 minutes. That person promised to call me back in 10 minutes but took 30 minutes. Then it was another 30 minute wait for them to find the "best available provider." Finally I decided that my bike was rideable and cancelled the towing company (maybe they would have sent a pickup or van?)
They wanted a physical address. I was in a little town of 36 people (maybe) so they could search the address of a bar. What if I was in the country with no physical address around?
If I was truly in dire straights I would have waited and my membership fee would have been worth it.

[Westinghouse]

I never heard of it.