AAA pilot program using electric bicycles for roadside assistance

AAA Northern California has launched a pilot program along the Embarcadero area of San Francisco using Yuba’s Spicy Curry electric-assist cargo bike to offer roadside assistance. AAA gets frequent calls for flat tire assistance, jump starts, and car lockouts in the area from Ghirardelli Square at Fisherman’s Wharf to the waterfront’s Ferry Building.

The pilot program will deploy two of Yuba’s bikes that are equipped with a custom toolbox to offer a rapid response in that area to common, light-duty needs, rather than having to send a tow truck that could be significantly delayed by the area’s traffic.

According to a recent analysis by AAA Northern California, 60 percent of service calls received in the Embarcadero corridor can be assisted without the need for a AAA tow truck. The flat San Francisco waterfront provides the ideal topography for bike patrollers to better assist members who experience certain vehicle problems.

The AAA Patrol Service pilot program will be available to AAA members from 11:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. seven days a week.

Pick up a copy of the current issue of Bicycle Times to read a full review of the Yuba Spicy Curry. Find it at a local book store or bike shop, or grab a digital copy!