CAA North & East Ontario to Offer Roadside Assistance for Cyclists

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - March 22, 2012) - More than ever, Ontarians are making the shift to embracing a greener lifestyle, with many commuters opting to use their bicycle as their main mode of transportation. With this in mind, CAA North & East Ontario (CAANEO) is pleased to announce a new service for Members that provides roadside assistance for bicycles.

Launching April 1, 2012, Bike Assist is a new benefit that will allow for CAANEO Members to use their allotted annual service calls for roadside assistance should they encounter a problem with their bicycle and become stranded. Under this new service, CAANEO will transport the Member and the bicycle home or to another safe location of the Member's choosing.

"Be it from a flat tire on your car or a broken chain on your bike, CAA North & East Ontario understands that being stranded is frustrating, which is why we are proud to be able to introduce Bike Assist to provide additional peace of mind for our Members," said Ken Dumont, Vice President of Marketing for CAANEO.

Just as our renowned roadside assistance already does, Bike Assist will provide coverage for Members 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. This benefit is free for our Members and available anywhere we provide roadside assistance throughout Ontario

Bike Assist is one more way that CAA North & East Ontario is helping to ensure the safety of all road users. Recognizing that the number of cyclists on local roadways has increased dramatically in recent years, CAANEO has made a concerted effort to take into account and acknowledge the needs of our Members who frequently cycle by expanding upon our various green initiatives and bicycle safety endeavours. Most notably, CAA has been involved with conducting the Watch for Bikes initiative; hosting the national symposium Changing Lanes: Improving the Bike-Car Relationship on Canada's Roads; and issuing several media releases annually concerning how motorists and cyclists can safely co-exist on roadways.

Following the launch of Bike Assist on April 1, more information about this innovative program, including what types of bicycles are eligible for service, will be available at www.caaneo.ca/bikeassist.

For more than 100 years, the Canadian Automobile Association has provided travel, emergency road services, insurance and advocacy for its Members. Visit www.caaneo.ca.