At the end of May, we shared the news that Portland-based Better World Club was on the verge of offering comprehensive insurance for people who ride bicycles. Earlier this month they made it official: the new "BIKEon" insurance product is being billed as the, "first nationwide, comprehensive, and affordable accident and liability insurance for bicyclists."

Here's more from a company press release:

"The nation's bicycle community is growing rapidly, and as more cyclists share the road with cars, trucks and other cyclists, there is greater likelihood of an accident. As a result, the demand for bicycle insurance has never been higher."

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Russ Willis
(Photo © Elly Blue)

Before moving to Portland and ditching his car, Russ Willis was a founding board member of the St. Louis Regional Bicycle Federation. Russ is the author of the blog, Taking the Lane and this is his first editorial for BikePortland. This is the third article in a three-part series on The Bicycle Insurance Gap. See all three articles here.

Not very long ago, when I used to drive a car, I carried liability insurance against the possibility that I might injure or kill someone. (more...)

As I reported in my first piece on bicycle insurance, there is currently no alternative form of automobile insurance for people who do not own cars. If you ride a bicycle and are not covered by car insurance, you should know your options in case of a single-vehicle crash, a hit and run, or a crash with an uninsured motorist.

At-fault motor vehicle operators who have their own auto insurance should be liable for any damages to you and your bike. If you have auto insurance it will most likely cover a crash that you cause, even if you are on your bike.

Problems arise when an uninsured motor vehicle operator and a person on a bike without auto insurance collide, or worse, in the case of a hit-and-run. Lack of insurance is also a problem in the case of single vehicle crashes, such as when you hit the light rail tracks at the wrong angle and go down.
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Lindsay Caron

This story was written by contributing reporter Lindsay Caron. Ms. Caron took a break from working on a documentary about Canadian health insurance to focus on the issue of bicycling insurance. This is her first story for BikePortland. She has also compiled a list of existing insurance options as part of a three-part series on The Bicycle Insurance Gap.

It's not an uncommon scenario: You're riding down the street and are in a collision resulting in a trip to the hospital and a totaled bike. The person driving the car does not have insurance, and may suffer the legal penalty.

Either way, you are stuck with medical bills, a broken bike, time off work, and little recourse -- unless you have your own car and auto insurance. (more...)