(Photo © J. Maus)
Back in July, we reported that the American Automobile Association’s Oregon/Idaho chapter had decided to extend their roadside assistance service to bikes.
Now that the program has been rolled out and in service for a few months, it looks like AAA is putting some marketing muscle behind the program. This morning I spotted a new billboard on SE 7th between Washington and Alder that touts the new service (I also saw one of their roadside service trucks with a bike rack on it the other day downtown).
Regardless of how you feel about AAA (they are a massive force in lobbying for interests that don’t always mesh with bike movement goals), it seems like this type of mainstream presence (and corporate acceptance) marks a crucial step in bikes becoming a viable and respected transportation option in the U.S..