member profile
A Bump in the Road
How caa’s Bike assist saved
a stranded cyclist in winnipeg
While out for a leisurely bicycle
ride
last summer in the southern reaches
of Winnipeg, CAA Manitoba member
Ashley David Atkinson encountered
a bump in the road—figuratively and
literally.
“A two-inch-long screw went right
through my tire,” says the 49-year-old
cyclist. “It would have meant a very
long walk home.”
But rather than hoofing it back to
Fort Garry with his bike in tow,
Atkinson simply placed a call to CAA
and asked for a ride. Through the
Bike Assist program, CAA will pick up
stranded cyclists and their bikes, and
drop them off at home, at a bike repair
shop of their choice or at CAA Rewards
partner Olympia Cycle & Ski. (Rest
assured: Your two-wheeled ride will
be secured to the truck using a special
bike bracket.) Or for minor issues, a
CAA driver can often fix the problem
on the spot to get you peddling again.
“I’ve probably used it five or six times
over the last few years,” Atkinson says.
“My pedal fell off while I was near
12
summer 2017
CAA manitoba
Deer Lodge Centre a few years back.
Since I didn’t have a cell phone at the
time, I walked to a gas station and
waited for a pickup there. I highly
recommend this for anyone who travels
on two wheels.”
Bike Assist services are included
with every CAA membership: The
same towing-distance limit in place
for towing automobiles applies to
transporting bikes. However, towing
limits within Winnipeg are waived
to take you and your bike to Olympia
Cycle & Ski.
Bike Assist is an oft-overlooked
part of the emergency road service
program that’s the hallmark of CAA
membership. When you’re behind the
wheel, there’s nothing more comforting
than knowing help is on the way if you
run out of gas or blow a belt on the
highway. CAA members like Atkinson
can enjoy that same peace of mind
from behind the handlebars.
Need Bike Assist? Just dial *222 on
your cell, no matter where you are
By shel ZolkeWich