Portland groups launch insurance for bicyclists

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Two Portland companies have teamed up to offer accident and liability insurance exclusively for bicyclists. 

Better World Club and Gales Creek Insurance Services announced Thursday a new nationwide, comprehensive accident and liability insurance for bicyclists.

Better World Club, which is based in Portland and bills itself as an environmentally friendly roadside assistance provider and auto club, is offering the insurance exclusively to members of its bicycle roadside assistance program.

The policy, called BIKEon, is provided through Portland-based Gales Creek, a division of JD Fulwiler.

The policy provides up to $100,000 in bill reimbursement and liability payments of up to $1 million for accidents caused by bicyclists that result in injuries or damage to someone else's property. Road bikes, mountain bikes and electric bikes are all eligible for coverage through the policy. BMX bikes and bicycles used for commercial purposes aren't eligible.

"Because there’s been such an increase in the number of cyclists on the roads, there’s also a higher chance that they’ll get into an accident and incur huge medical bills or be sued. As a result, we keep getting more and more calls asking for insurance coverage to cover cyclists comparable to the benefits drivers enjoy,” said Mitch Rofsky, President of Better World Club, in a press release.

"I think it's great news," said Jonathan Maus, editor and publisher of the popular BikePortland.org blog, in an email. "(It's) just the latest example that the market (especially in Portland) is beginning to respect people who use bicycles to get around to the same degree they respect people who use cars. It also shows there's a large enough market of bike riders for companies to invest in/pay attention to."