Commuting - Anybody commute by a bar/pub?

Anybody commute past a bar/pub on your commute?

There's one right across the street from my work.
Yesterday, this woebegone looking fellow exiting the bar parking lot came to an abrupt stop upon seeing me. As my wheels passed his car, we made eye contact and it was a long, disgusted, f*ck-you look between us. It was creepy and made me think about a lot of things.

Riding past this bar is really unavoidable for me.
So far I giving up my car and cell phone and I think beer might me next.
I like beer too but I hate the ubiquitous nature it has.
Everyday there are a handful of cars outside the joint.
AA should consist of ppl getting on a bike and riding the streets...it would clear their systems and minds :)

Aztoaster

No, but I pass a drive-through liquor store....

No, but I pass a drive-through liquor store....

(shudder) We used to have 1 left in my town. Code enforcement and the state alcohol control board kept at it until they went out of business. I wonder why people don't see that people driving cars shouldn't be handed alcohol. Duh!

Yes, quite a few of them. Proably about a dozen over my 9mi commute.
Al

I commute TO a bar/pub sometimes...

There used to be a drive through store in California that sold beer, and a person would have to step outside of the car for long enough to get the beer to avoid the issues of selling alcohol to people in a motor vehicle. I don't know if it was because of the law or insurance.

There's a pub where I sometimes pass in Little Five Points (Inman Park--Atlanta.) There used to be a big sign out front that said, "Home of the Painkiller."

Funny how I remember that, but can't remember the name of the establishment.

I commute TO a bar/pub sometimes...
Is that really a commute? Or a recreational ride...

"Alcohol... the cause of and solution to all life's problems." Homer Simpson.

I commute past bars all the time. Of course this is Milwaukee. Lots of bars, pubs, nightclubs, etc. here. You can stumble out of one bar, fall down, get up, and find yourself at a new one. Not that I've done that.

Some pubs are fun and friendly. Some bars are just places where livers go to die. Your experience with Mr. Happy Guy sounds like the latter.

You sure you can't find a way around this place?

There's a pub where I sometimes pass in Little Five Points (Inman Park--Atlanta.) There used to be a big sign out front that said, "Home of the Painkiller."

That would be the Brewhouse Cafe, corner of McLendon and Moreland in Little 5. The sign is still there, though I've never had a Painkiller. Best Guiness with a fish n' chips in the city, though.

Point well taken, the pub's a bit more pleasant than the office, so qualifies as recreation.

There's a bar in the basement of the building I work in. The elevater even goes down to it, so I suppose I could commute through it if the bartender didn't mind.

The people going in and out are walking, not driving, and they're in a pretty happy mood.

The municipal liquor store in the town where I grew up had a drive through. It really isn't a problem to hand alcohol to people driving a car. The problem is when the people in the car would OPEN the containers. This wasn't a problem apparently.

And to answer the question...depends on which way I go...when I pass one at night on my bike I get the typical A$$Hat Jeers.

"Alcohol... the cause of and solution to all life's problems." Homer Simpson. ... Some pubs are fun and friendly. Some bars are just places where livers go to die. Your experience with Mr. Happy Guy sounds like the latter.

Couldn't agree more rjkresse. And for contrast, I don't think there's been a time that I've been to my favorite local pub where I haven't seen other bikes parked out in front.

I think we all have to bike through places we'd rather avoid. I say chin up and eyes forward, the road out in front of the bar is only so long.

I commute past a couple of bars, but it's no biggie. Drinking and driving has become akin to eating live babies in terms of society's tolerance of it [at least around here]. One of my favourite bars has two bike racks out front, and there is almost always at least one bike locked up there. In the summer, it can be hard to find a spot sometimes. I'll ride tipsy, but not hammered. I never drink and get behind the wheel of a car.

No, I don't commute past any bars or pubs, I usually commute TO them! ;)

Why can't we just let grown adults have their fun without passing judgement?

A pub in my town ususlly has a few bikes in front.
My messenger buddy hangs there.
I like to sit on the patio with a pint and watch people look at my tweeked out bike.

On Sunday night someone parked a Cervelo -nice!
Wish I'd known who so I could chat them up about it.

A beer after a long summer bike ride can be a very refreshing beverage.
A drink for winter riding would be a Shaft.

Expresso (chilled if you like), mixed with dark rum and milk/over ice.
I like mine warm, in a thermos for trail riding.

A pub in my town ususlly has a few bikes in front.
My messenger buddy hangs there.
I like to sit on the patio with a pint and watch people look at my tweeked out bike.

On Sunday night someone parked a Cervelo -nice!
Wish I'd known who so I could chat them up about it.

A beer after a long summer bike ride can be a very refreshing beverage.
A drink for winter riding would be a Shaft.

Expresso (chilled if you like), mixed with dark rum and milk/over ice.
I like mine warm, in a thermos for trail riding.
http://ruthlessreviews.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_eek.gif

There used to be a drive through store in California that sold beer, and a person would have to step outside of the car for long enough to get the beer to avoid the issues of selling alcohol to people in a motor vehicle. I don't know if it was because of the law or insurance.

Heck there used to be a gun store/liqueur store combo in the area in El Cajon. Get your firearms, pick up ammo and sixpack.

How's that for a combination?

"Alcohol... the cause of and solution to all life's problems." Homer Simpson.

Gee, I don't remember that one, and I don't think I've blocked it out either. The one I remember is (and have an audio copy on my computer at home somewhere).

"Donuts, Is there anything they can't do?" The very same Homer J. Simpson. The J of course stands for Jay, I think.

No, but I pass a drive-through liquor store....

Those are all over the place in the more, ummm, "rural" areas outside Houston. One establishment (where you could actually drive through and order a margarita, mixed drink, etc. in a styrofoam to-go cup, straw and all) just got busted and shut down for selling to minors.

It just makes me shake my head in amazement.

Yeah, they need to lower the drinking age...

I go past a few. Never an issue. I've heard here on the BFs that there is a bar for bicylists probably in NYC. The dood probably lost his girl friend to a guy who rode a bike.

I have driven down the coastal 101 through Washington State a few times. What always amuses, is the gas station in Humptulips. Beside the till is a bucket of iced bud. Behind the till is a display of ammo.
The roadsigns around there appear to be made from laced sheet aluminum.

I ride past a few. One is a bit of a hazard, it's very popular on a Friday night and you've got to look out for taxis that pulling up in front without notice to pick people up, and people wandering across the street without looking because they are on the phone to their friends arranging a meetup point. I just have to be aware and careful there and it's not a problem, in fact it can be quite fun getting past all the cars that the taxis hold up, and buzzing the people crossing without looking ;)

A block from my work, there's one of the best microbreweries I've ever been to. My co-worker friend and I go there almost every evening after work. Then we ride home together, since we both commute down eight miles of gorgeous bike path along the Poudre River. The brewery is Fort Collins Brewery, and I can't praise it highly enough. Fort Collins has some world reknowned breweries, like New Belgium (makers of Fat Tire Ale), Odell's (90 Shilling) and more...but this one takes the cake, in terms of quality of beer. New Belgium is SUPER bike friendly though, and they also happen to be right on the way home...life is good, what can I say?

I ride past two bars and a stripper joint. "The Shady Lady." Their sign is a silhouette of a big burr-oak tree with a mudflap girl sitting under it. One bar is "The Bigger Jigger," and it's a pretty rough dive, and the other is "Cantina Mexicana Y Restorante," which is, as the name suggests, a Mexican restaurant and bar. It has a HUGE mural on the side of the building, of a sexy cartoon bandita brandishing a pistol and standing behind a banner proclaiming "Viva la Raza."

I love my neighborhood.

life is good, what can I say?

Lucky you. I'm a big New Belgium fan. In fact, my brother was out there about a month ago and I made him bring back two cases with a variety of flavors. They don't distribute around here. But I'll put in a plug for Atlanta's excellent Sweetwater Brewery.

I also here the Poudre (pooter?) has some trout in it. Indeed, life is good.

I ride past a few. One is a bit of a hazard, it's very popular on a Friday night and you've got to look out for taxis that pulling up in front without notice to pick people up, and people wandering across the street without looking because they are on the phone to their friends arranging a meetup point. I just have to be aware and careful there and it's not a problem, in fact it can be quite fun getting past all the cars that the taxis hold up, and buzzing the people crossing without looking ;)

I do my share of late\early riding, most of my near collisions have been from taxis in the suburbs.
They ignore traffic rules and speed off to the next pickup without a scan of the road for bikes.
Guess it never crosses thier minds that some poor fool might be cycling @ 3 AM on some safe sidestreets.

Heck there used to be a gun store/liqueur store combo in the area in El Cajon. Get your firearms, pick up ammo and sixpack.

How's that for a combination?

We say the same thing about Meijer's, a Michigan-area supermarket chain. They're very large stores, with groceries, clothes, sporting goods, and everything else and are open 24/7/364. The saying goes "Meijer's - where you can get a shotgun, ammo, and a case of beer at 3:00 in the morning."

Well you can't really buy beer at 3:00 AM at Meijers becaus state law prohibits sales after 2:00. But I guess you could get the gun and ammo.

I ride by a hip-hop bar where there were a shootout and mini-riot last summer. A block past it is the clubhouse for the Family Motorcycle Club. There's a sign on the door: "Stop. If you don't know if you are welcome here, you are not."

Lucky you. I'm a big New Belgium fan. In fact, my brother was out there about a month ago and I made him bring back two cases with a variety of flavors. They don't distribute around here. But I'll put in a plug for Atlanta's excellent Sweetwater Brewery.

I also here the Poudre (pooter?) has some trout in it. Indeed, life is good.

Yep, the Poudre does indeed have some trout. I see fly fisherman all the time as I ride by, and I toss a midge in myself on occaision. I live less than a 1/4 mile away from the river. Also, yeah...the Pooter is about the funniest name ever. Lived here all my life, even went to Poudre High School, and the name still makes me giggle.

We say the same thing about Meijer's, a Michigan-area supermarket chain. They're very large stores, with groceries, clothes, sporting goods, and everything else and are open 24/7/364. The saying goes "Meijer's - where you can get a shotgun, ammo, and a case of beer at 3:00 in the morning."
Heck, I can do all that all 365 days a year at the Walmart in town, but they don't sell handguns or alcohol by the drink.

For a local emporium with ALL the necessary essentials, I like to stop at Faeth's Cigar Store in Ft. Madison IA. Inside is an old wooden bar that was originally set up at the Chicago World's Fair. Of course lots of stuffed animal heads for the appropriate atmosphere. Also serves up genuine Leinenkugel's Beer from WI, my second favorite after Yuengling Porter from PA. In season, BigButt Doppelbock is available. This week's special: FREE Box of trap shells with shotgun purchase. Top that!

As for threats to my cycling pleasure I would be more concerned about passing by a local high school on Friday night after a game just ended. Or a church just after services when the drivers are full of visions of the powers of the supernatural. Getting the "look" from a patron of a bar on the street doesn't register on the scale at all as far as I'm concerned. I must have passed 50 bars every day when I commuted daily in Phila, not a problem at all.

My ride home takes me up 18th St., NW which is bar central for DC.

I've heard that some RAGBRAI riders try to hit every bar they pass. A group in Denver had a bicycle pub crawl race, ONCE. Better would be the ride that the Bicycle Club of Irvine, CA had years ago. In a 10 mile loop they hit 8 coffee shops. I knew the area; they missed three shops.

I have a specific drinking bike. :D

I ride past two bars and a stripper joint. "The Shady Lady." Their sign is a silhouette of a big burr-oak tree with a mudflap girl sitting under it. One bar is "The Bigger Jigger," and it's a pretty rough dive, and the other is "Cantina Mexicana Y Restorante," which is, as the name suggests, a Mexican restaurant and bar. It has a HUGE mural on the side of the building, of a sexy cartoon bandita brandishing a pistol and standing behind a banner proclaiming "Viva la Raza."

I love my neighborhood.


You're not too far away from Gerry's Silver Slipper on Independence Ave. Now that's a first class establishment.

My commute has no entertainment value. Well, I guess some of you guys out there find hills to be entertaining.

Eric

You are right, I am not very far from the Silver Slipper. I have not investigated said establishment, but I do know where it is at. I live near enough to the McDonalds on Independence Ave., that I can smell fryer grease when the wind is wrong!

Where do you commute to? I go from Northeast to Downtown daily. Not too hilly except coming up on Euclid and again just after Prospect on 9th St. Going home on 12th seems less hilly.

My commute takes me up Clark St. in Chicago, including the stretch by Wrigley Field. Bar density within a few blocks of Wrigley is so tremendous, if I tried to count all the bars in that area I'd probably probably wreck. Its more like, which door does NOT lead to a bar. (Hmmm, I'll have to investigate that by trial and error one day). Mostly, its not a problem, except when cars suddenly stop in the traffic lane for valet parking.

Walter

(shudder) We used to have 1 left in my town. Code enforcement and the state alcohol control board kept at it until they went out of business. I wonder why people don't see that people driving cars shouldn't be handed alcohol. Duh!

There's a place in Tallahassee, Flordia called Mike's Beer Barn. If I remember correctly, you could actually drive through the store. I presume you could also ride a bike through it. I also seem to remember that they sold beer straight from a keg in gallon milk jugs.

I go by several of them. They're all in the lower income areas of my route. No surprise there. I've had no problems. Yet.

I just moved from downtown for a couple months until another place opens for me. But up until 2 weeks ago I was riding from downtown K.C., MO to Mission, KS. I figured it's about 6-7 miles one way. It's not too bad except coming up out of Turkey Creek was a real...turkey.

With all the shootings and stabbings at The Oasis lately, I had been a little nervous when riding down Southwest Boulevard