Better World Club

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The Better World Club logo

The Better World Club provides services to motorists in the USA, and supports organizations seeking to reduce the environmental damage done by automobiles. It is generally considered to be an alternative to the American Automobile Association (AAA), which provides similar services but also lobbies for government subsidies to automobile use. It describes itself as "the nation's only environmentally friendly auto club." It offers a bicycle membership and caters to hybrid car owners. Nationwide membership was just under 20,000 people as of June 2006.

1 History
2 Member Services
3 Partners
4 See Also
5 References
6 External links

[edit] History

Better World Club was founded by longtime friends Mitch Rofsky and Todd Silberman. It began signing up members on June 4th 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 were fighting with AAA over some of their anti-environment lobbying practices. When they approached Mitch Rofsky with the idea he realized that there was a market to compete with AAA.

[edit] Member Services

[edit] Emergency Roadside Assistance

Emergency roadside assistance is available to both automobile drivers and bicyclists. A bicycle membership can be purchased separately or added onto an auto policy for a smaller additional fee. Services are available across all 50 states and DC the USA and Canada. 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 automobile and bicycle calls. A bicycle-only membership includes 2 calls. A basic membership includes towing up to 5mi and a premium membership includes 100mi.

[edit] Travel Products and Services

Through TravelCool, Better World Club offers discounted travel with eco-friendly travel partners. Partners must emphasize sustainable practices such as recycling and building environmental awareness. Carbon offsets are included in the travel planning fee if a travel consultant is used. Discounts are available at eco-friendly lodgings, as well as at larger more well-known hotel chains. Discounts are also available on hybrid and biodiesel rental cars, available in select cities.

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.

[edit] Insurance Products and Services

Better World Insurance, headquartered in Cambridge, MA, offers auto insurance as well as travel insurance. Carbon offsets are included free with the first year's auto insurance and offered for a nominal fee after that. Better World Insurance also advocates for pay-as-you-drive auto insurance, and offer it to customers in the limited locations where it is available.

[edit] Other Benefits

Other member benefits include gas rebate coupons and discounts at other environmentally friendly companies both online and off. Hybrid car and biodiesel car owners recieve a discount on membership (with gas-guzzlers that get less than 10mi/gal being charged an additional surcharge). Better World Club will also waive the one-time $10 sign-up fee for new members transferring their memberships from AAA. 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.