Dan Berkes's Profile

There is no way to hide it. I have a similar portable unit, and quickly discovered that any attempt at trying to hide the hoses or the unit only made the thing more obvious.

Learn to live with it, and silently curse your HOA. Or curse them loudly, chances are they won't be able to hear you over your a/c's exhaust.

Not a BWC member, but I was working for AAA's emergency road service division (for AAA Washington/Inland) until 2006. Although I'm not exactly a fan of AAA, the only real difference between the two clubs seems to be where they direct their lobbying efforts.

If it makes you feel good to support a greener-lobbying club, that's fine, go for it. But if you're doing it to get away from bad experiences with AAA's towing contractors you're going to be in for a nasty surprise the first time you need roadside assistance. There are only so many tow companies in a given region and only so many of those companies will do (or operate/maintain equipment that qualifies for) contract work and when it's busy you're going to wait in line along with every other person on every contract they service.

Regardless, if you drive you really should belong to some sort of auto club or roadside assistance plan (your insurance plan might offer one, so check before you sign up for one). Cars tend to break down when you least expect them and a cash tow can be costly.

That one thing that BWC does that AAA doesn't is offer bicycle service. If I wasn't strictly a San Francisco-dwelling pedestrian I think I might sign up just for that.