Better World Club
The Better World Club (BWC) provides services to motorists in the United States and supports organizations seeking to reduce the environmental damage done by automobiles.
History
Better World Club was founded by longtime friends Mitch Rofsky and Todd Silberman. It began signing up members on June 4, 2002. Rofsky and Silberman grew up as friends in Ohio and each pursued separate careers related to environmental responsibility and travel before coming together to form Better World Club. The idea initially came from environmentalists who reported that AAA used anti-environment lobbying practices.[3] When they approached Mitch Rofsky with the idea, he realized that there was an opportunity to successfully compete with AAA.[4]
Services
- Emergency roadside assistance
Emergency
Automobile membership includes 4 service calls per year (defined as: towing, battery assistance, lockout assistance, flat tire assistance, fuel delivery or extrication) – if bicycle coverage is included these 4 calls can be split between auto and bike calls. Basic auto membership includes towing up to 5 miles, while the premium membership increases the limit to 100 miles.[6] A bicycle-only membership provides service up to 30 miles annually with a limit of 2 service calls.
- Travel products and services
Through TravelCool, Better World Club offers discounted travel with
Trip route planning as well as maps covering North America from the city level up through the national level are available free to all members. Maps and travel planners are ordered by phone or email and delivered by mail within 7–14 days.
- Insurance products and services
Better World Insurance, headquartered in
- Other benefits
Other member benefits include gas rebate coupons and discounts at other environmentally friendly companies both online and off.[9] Hybrid car and biodiesel car owners receive a discount on membership (with gas-guzzlers that get less than 10 mi/gal being charged an additional surcharge).[10] All members are eligible to receive the monthly newsletter, Kicking Asphalt, which includes news and information about environmental and travel related topics, new member discounts, and occasional calls for member activism. In order to preserve natural resources, this newsletter is distributed by email only.
Partners
Better World Club partners include: Adventure Cycling Association, Car Talk, League of American Bicyclists, National Wildlife Federation, Organic Consumers Association, Washington Area Bicycle Association, and Working Assets.[citation needed]
See also
References
- ^ Howard, Brian C. (May–June 2003). "Going the Extra Mile – The Green Alternative to AAA Road Service". E/The Environmental Magazine. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved January 31, 2007.
- ^ "About Us". Better World Club. Archived from the original on 10 February 2011. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ Better World, MetroActive (Car Culture column), November 30 – December 6, 2005, retrieved January 31, 2007
- ^ Camozzi, Rosemary. Green Machine: Eco-friendly Auto Club Challenges Long-dominant AAA, The Center for Auto Safety, March 9, 2003, retrieved January 31, 2007
- ^ Sloane, Julie. Mitch Rofsky And Todd Silberman, Founders, Better World Club, Portland, Ore. This auto club is almost a carbon copy of the AAA—without all the pro-pavement lobbying. FORTUNE Small Business, June 1, 2003, retrieved January 31, 2007
- ^ "Common roadside assistance services and ways to receive roadside assistance". Retrieved 2023-12-19.
- ^ Schuetze, Barbara. Auto Club Offers New Spin Archived 2007-09-26 at the Wayback Machine, Portland Tribune, June 13, 2006, retrieved November 28, 2006.
- ^ Rijnen, Harry. BUSINESS TRAVEL; Offsetting Environmental Damage by Planes, The New York Times, February 18, 2003, retrieved January 31, 2007
- ^ Cohn, Lisa. Green giants of business – 10 Portland companies find benefits in helping the city’s environment Archived 2007-09-26 at the Wayback Machine, Portland Tribune, April 18, 2003, retrieved January 31, 2007
- ^ * Gonzales, Cristine. Where the gas is greener – New auto club aims to take on AAA and offer environmental kickbacks Archived 2011-06-08 at the Wayback Machine, Portland Tribune, April 26, 2002, retrieved January 31, 2007