Mr_H

With the rising gas prices my wife and I have been biking more for our errands. As such, I've noticed that our town has a disturbing lack of places to lock up bikes outside of stores. I've been planning on writing a few letters to businesses asking if it's possible for them to add some.

Before I did that though, I wanted to see if anyone else had done that and had any advice for making this process a little easier and more efficient. We have a bagel and pizza place that I was going to write to (they happen to be next door to each other, so I figured a joint effort may be possible), and in the fall a big grocery store is coming in one mile from the house. There's also at least one drug store that I'd be looking at.

Any advice, suggestions? Much appreciated.

H

ShadowGray

Ask the parking authority for more meters. They'll be happy to oblige, and they make for great lock poles!

Otherwise, I'm interested... I do notice that some places around here do have bike racks... on the other side of the parking lot. This means I have to lock up my bike and then walk across the entire parking lot... wouldn't it make more sense to just put it by the door?

SkippyX

What I find annoying are businesses that go out of their way to be difficult.

A restaurant w/ no place to secure a bicycle that runs you off at their drive though window (at a non-peak hour).

A convenience store that doesn't have anywhere to secure the bicycle and gets mad at you for bringing it in w/ you. It was a big convenience store and the only two people in there were the clerk and me. All I wanted to do was get a bottle of water. She said "leave the bike outside". I mentioned there was no way to secure it out there and I didn't want it stolen. She said it was store policy. I told her my policy is to not give my money to people w/ such foolish policies.

Ah well. Small annoyances, and there are lotsa roads to ride..............

njm

There are even meters with built-in bicycle locking points... see Figure 3 on this page:
https://www.humantransport.org/bicycl...commercial.htm

swduncan

Well, I've never requested a bike rack but I'm in the same position as you - lots of local places that don't have one. Fortunately the local giant grocery store does have one, but others don't.

The approach I intend to take is to contact the local bike clubs to see if they have suggestions. If they don't, I'll stop by and tell them about this rack https://www.barcoproducts.com/store/i...ARTMENT_ID=156, offer to assembled it when it arrives, and ask them how many visits by clients they would have to lose before the $200 was paid back? I'd also mention the value of being "green-minded" (yes, I will stoop to greenmale).

Another possibility is to start a blog listing all the bike-friendly businesses in the area, along with a list of those who aren't, and define bike-friendly around the presence of a safe place to park one's bike. Then send a short email/letter to each business letting them know their status on the list and how to get it changed - with a link to bike parking rack suppliers, along with a recommendation on which rack to get.

Business owners are busy, skeptical, and always want more business. If I can remove the hard part (showing them where to buy the rack, offering to assemble it) and show the value (number of trips to pay for the rack, testimonials from businesses that have racks) I gotta believe they'll go for it. If I can't convince them, why should they?

swduncan

Of course, if it's worth enough to you (or a group of riders in your area), you could just buy a rack, deliver it in the dead of night, and then write a very glowing letter to the business owner thanking them for providing parking.

EKO

It's hopeless in Wichita. I've been to places where the employees/owners/security don't even know they have bike racks. I went to the East Side Mall this past weekend to pick up a suit for a wedding. I was cruising around the lot looking for a rack or at least someplace to lock up. Nothing. I chased down mall secuity in his Jeep Liberty and asked him if there were any bike racks around. "Nope." I ended up finding one not more than 100 yards away.

maddyfish

I've been pestering the local Lowe's for a year. A new Home Depot is being built nearby, and I am already pestering them. If I can get HD to build one, I'll play them off of Lowe's to get one there.

mijohnst

I had a little giggle to myself imaging someone holding a 4x8 plyboard while costing down the street from Lowes...

bab2000

Yes, very good point.

Sunday, biked to nearby store to retrieve prescripts and some grocery items, and could not find a bike rack, so locked bike to the flag pole.

Upon leaving, noticed father-daughter duo, father stood by bikes, while daughter did shopping and was loading up dad's back-pack, then out of the corner saw a red streak, then shortly, a young man came walking by with Panniers in hand, indicating it is a beautiful day for a bike ride, I agreed then rode down and around the corner found the bike rack, in the bushes

Just wondering now, how many LBS's have bike rack at there stores?, I know of two in town that does not, and one that does.

EKO

QFT! I've been to one twice since I moved here, and they don't have anything... What gives? I like the owners (older couple who are all about biking), maybe the strip mall owner is the problem?

JeffS

Imagine that

bab2000

Gas stations can also add racks, as most, if not all in town are serving as C-Stores, generating most of their profits.

Time to bring back FREE AIR for the bikes, and sports drinks and energy bars to the shelves...

Torrilin

Willy Bikes has 2 wheelbenders by the main entrance of their West Side location (I haven't been to their other location, so I don't know what those racks are like). Budget has wheelbenders by the main entrance of every location. Yellow Jersey does not provide their own rack, since there are two city provided racks (modern spec) in front of their building. They're on a street that is bike/ped/city bus only, and all the racks are city provided. Machinery Row provides 2 modern spec racks by the main entrance. REI provides a covered wave rack for the general public, and I know they've got some kind of enclosed arrangement for employees. I'm not sure about the other LBS in Madison, and there may be a co-op type shop that I haven't visited.

The shops with wheelbenders are more than happy for you to bring your bike inside if you're not comfortable with the rack.

Madison has a bike parking requirement and official rack guidelines tho. And the bike shops make a point of complying, since a *lot* of their business walks or rides to the shop... along with the employees.

Az B

It's a local ordinance for all businesses over a certain size to have bike racks. This is great, until I rode over to the new aquatic center built right on the MUP that connects 3 local parks and several neighborhoods. I rode over for a swim, but could find no racks outside, so I took the bike in. The receptionist on duty says, "No bikes in here, it's policy".

"But there are no bike racks outside to lock the bike to."

"Yeah, we've had a lot of people complain about that."

So I call the county planning commission and let them know. "Not our department."

"But for future construction, wouldn't it be?"

"No, call Parks and Rec."

I call Parks and Rec, and get quite the runaround.

It's a really nice aquatic center, 2 indoor pools and an outdoor play pool with slides and stuff. $2 for 50+. I guess I'll just keep locking my bike to the fence around the pool until someone complains about that. And I'm sure they will.

Az

Mr_H

Wouldn't mind that at all. Our town needs some more people on bikes (I've seen a few more, short trips, but a few).

dhofmann

Where's this place at? Let's make a list of people willing to drop by, each on a different day, and purchase something if the store will provide a secure place to put the bike. Kind of like ImprovEverywhere, but with a purpose.

maddyfish

I think that is part of the problem with getting a bike rack there. But I make tons of trips for small things.

bab2000

I worked in Madison a few weeks ago and was most impressed with the appearance that the town and outlying areas are bike friendly. Visited Williamson's Bike Shop on the East, most friendly staff for bigger city setting. The venues I visited was Erik's and a Tek store around the corner.

It is sad bikes racks must be govern. Did check with hotel I stayed, if OK to store my bike in room on next visit, they frowned most questioning, then said why not!

Have not been back, but suspect if I do it will be longer than 1 week visit, so bike will be packed.

RobCrawford

At Lowes, I just bring my bike in and no one has said anything to me, I figure they have all the lawn mowers so that are not going to worry about tire marks.

bab2000

I have not done so, myself, but have seen a few bring bikes in store to shop, picking up their small things. Store aisles are large and did not observe the folks with bikes at side being approached by store staff other than rendering assistance.

EKO

Usually if a place doesn't have a bike rack, but a cart return, I lock up to that. Just have to hope no one does any extreme cart returns and slams them all into the bike.

Torrilin

Well, I wish all business owners were smart enough to realize that racks are a must. If they don't ride, they might not think of it when doing the design, even if they *want* cyclists to use their services. And it's very expensive to add racks in a good design and location after you've put in your building. Much better that the city requires it so that people treat it like sewer lines, water and electricity. Then the rack is visible, solidly attached, and often not a wheelbender. (most wheelbenders are in places where they'd need to repave to do a good anchored in concrete rack)

Madison is a nice place to ride because they've made a concerted effort to be bike friendly in city planning starting from the 1960s. Writing to individual businesses is good, but having local government on your side helps a lot too. I am making a point to attend city planning sessions, so that businesses and the city planners know that cyclists care. Also means I am learning what's going on, and can speak up if I see problems.

nick95673

I always wonder why you can't bring a bike in to a store? The shopping carts go outside and then inside. I mean as long as your tires are clean it shouldn't be an issue.

BA Commuter

I sent an email to Giant Foods corporate offices to request a bike rack. I saw a local store getting built from the ground up, but no bike racks in sight. I don't know if a rack was in their plans or not, however they called me at home and assured me that a rack would be installed.

It is and I use it!

An e-mail/letter is a good place to start with larger companies. For a smaller mom & pop business, I would chat with the owner and explain the need and the benefits...