colleen c

I fell kinda odd and out of place on this one. Not sure where to draw the line. The other day I was running late but needed to get some cash. I rode by the front door of my bank and saw a long line for the ATM machine that was located inside just past the door. I didn't felt like waiting nor locking up my bike so I figure I will go visit my friend and pay her late again next time. As I rode out in the parking lot, I saw the drive thru ATM had only one car and was finishing up. So what the heck, afterall I am somewhat consider as partially a vehicle right?

So I rode up to the drive thru ATM and got my cash. Halfway through my transaction, a car pulled up behind me. I could see the somewhat surprise but no anger look on the driver. No honking, screaming or anything like that, thank God. Then I just pedal my way out.

Anyone uses the drive thru ATM on their bike? What's your opinion on this? Was I wrong? Maybe I won't do that again, but it sure was neat.

travelmama

Better to use an ATM by bike than by car. Get your cash by bike and don't worry about what others think. Just don't rob a bank using your bicycle.

groovestew

I've done it a couple of times, but never had a driver pull up behind me. I still felt a little conspicuous. I seem to remember reading about negative experiences of cyclists using fast food drive thrus. But like you say, it's a lot more convenient than having to lock your bike up somewhere.

no motor?

I've done it before without any trouble. I banked at Chase for about a month, and one of the reasons I left was due to their corporate policy of not letting my ride through the drive though lanes on my bike. I switched to Wamu after asking it this would be a problem, and it wasn't. Then Wamu got bought by Chase, and it was time to find another bank. The third bank doesn't have a problem with this either, and being able to go through the drive through/ATM lanes on my bike was a requirement for my banking there.

HardyWeinberg

My bank has a rack right next to a walk-up ATM which is beyond convenient.

The credit union my kids' stuff is at it is easier to put the bike in the foyer-y thing between outer and inner doors than to use the rack.

d2create

Sure I do, why not???
I use the drive up full serve tellers, too.

groovestew

I find it somewhat disturbing that they would actually have a corporate policy on this. We ride the same roads as drivers, and it's just as (if not more) inconvenient for a cyclist to lock his/her bike to a rack than for a driver to park his/her car. That, and bicycles are grossly outnumbered by motorized vehicles, so was it really enough of a problem to put it in a corporate policy? Good grief. I guess I can understand why they wouldn't want people walking through the drive-thrus - pedestrians don't belong on the roads. But bicycles? They're vehicles too, and should have the same rights and responsibilities of other vehicles on the road.

Seattle Forrest

I usually bring my bike into the "branch" and set it against the wall while I do my business. Sometimes I enjoy the coffee and cookies they set out for customers.

Me too. It's always fast food, too ... I'm not sure why.

wunderkind

I did it once. I don't see a problem with it.
However the drive thru ATMs are designed to suit the seat height of the driver. Therefore I would have to stoop down a bit to work the machine. Not real comfortable. But I am not one of those that take out and re-enter the card for every different transaction. You know who these folks are. Facking annoying!

Pscyclepath

I ride thru them all the time, with no trouble or hassle... and this is even with Bank of America ;-)

khutch

I see no reason to avoid ATMs while on your bike or to feel self conscious while using them. I see no reason to patronize a bank that has banned them either! Your bike is a legitimate road vehicle and within the confines of a bank parking lot and ATM access lane it is as fast and nimble as the motor vehicles that are using the facility. No one would bat an eye if you pulled up on a motorcycle, why should a bike bother anyone? Yeah, when I pull up to the ATM and you are there in front of me you are a (sometimes very) unwelcome inconvenience to me. That's life though, the vehicle you are in/on makes it neither better nor worse. You are a bank customer using an road worthy vehicle and no one has any valid reason to resent your use of the ATM.

Ken

AdamDZ

I did it a few times during my tours, never had a problem. Although, this was in quiet rural areas where people are usually more relaxed. I bet I would yelled and honked at if I did this in NYC. But I don't see anything wrong with that. And the Chase corporate policy is so lame. Lame bank anyway, their ATMs don't accept PINs longer than 6 characters so I was never able to use them.

Bander

Haven't done the drive through ATM at my credit union yet (visits there are rare), but I would. I do use the drive through service at the pharmacy on my bike, and all I've gotten is positive comments from the staff there.

tcs

+13, or whatever we're up to. Regularly. No problems.

tcs

corkscrew

I've used the drive up teller window @ my credit union before. No one even batted an eye.

colleen c

That's kinda like the Santa Cruz bank robber who uses his bike as a getaway car.

I tried that one time but my branch has three ATM inside the building right as I enter. I tried rolling my bike pass those folks waiting in line who are bocking the walking isle and sometime they give me this looks as they have to get out of the way. So I usually lock it up to a handicap parking sign pole that's in the middle of the parking lot. Not totally secure but there is a rental cop.

That will be my fear in the bigger city. Folk who might honk behind me. Personally I have not seen anyone here take their bike into the ATM or fast food drive thru. That might be a clue for me.

thegooddoctor

My first encounter with cycling into drive through "area" of my bank was to deposit and get cash back for a paycheck about 15-20 years ago. The bank was First Security Bank of Utah. They denied me the drive-through service and when I asked why (I was more confrontational when I was a young man) there was some discussion from inside the bank and after a few minutes, they asked me to come into the branch if I needed to discuss the policy. I talked with the branch manager who claimed their insurance policy wouldn't allow bicycles in the ATM or the drive through service windows. I asked to see the policy and needless to say, I was not allowed to see the policy. I smelled BS from all the suits in the bank I dealt with. I called my insurance company and asked about it and they stated they didn't exclude bicycles on any of the bank policies they issue. I pursued it to the top of the bank and finaly they apologized for misstating their insurance policy and changed the banks policy to allow bikes at both drive through and ATM's. About 2 months passed between my encounter and the policy change for all branches of First Security.

EKW in DC

I have and I will. In fact, I've even been known on occasion to walk up to the drive-thru ATM as conditions warranted when not traveling by car or by bike. I takes me no longer to use if I'm on foot or on my bike than it would if I were sitting in a car, so I say "take the lane"!

neil

I've used the drive-through. Why not? If it's too inconvenient to park a car and walk inside, it's doubly so for a bike that requires locking and sometimes dismounting panniers if there's anything valuable in them. Your use of the drive through doesn't hold up the person behind you any more than if you were another driver who'd decided to take this approach, and you're not wasting gas/polluting while idling the way a car is.

neil

I actually find the ones in my area fine for standing at. Maybe it's the high incidence of trucks and SUVs?

commo_soulja

Closest would be going through the Taco Bell drive-thru on my motorcycle. I ordered a combo with a large soda and the employee had a look of confusion. I just tossed my food and soda into my tank bag and rode away. If I needed to use the drive thru ATM I wouldn't hesitate to use it but drive thru ATMs in Germany are few and far between.

Leiniesred

Motorist behind me at the drive up ATM on a Sunday when the inside of the bank was closed: "Hey! you can't take a bike through the drive through."
My response: "In that case, may I borrow your car?"
Motorist had no response to that one. I guess he didn't want to lend me his car. I finished my transaction and cycled off.

kegoguinness

I use the drive-up ATM on a regular basis at Suntrust. I bring my bike into the indoor ATM area of Suntrust, too, and park it there when I need to speak to the teller (this branch doesn't have drive-up tellers).

I've never tried fast food drive-thru (at least not since high school when McDonalds refused to serve me and some friends [but that was 20+ years ago]).

Other places in my neighborhood that let me bring my bike inside:
UNFOLDED:
liquor store
Hudson Trail Outfitters


FOLDED:
Every place I've tried (probably 20+)

Rob_E

I have no problem riding to a "drive-up" ATM. There are two bank locations I know of that don't have walk-up ATMs, so driving/biking/walking up to the drive-up ATM is the only option. I've never tried using the drive up teller. Generally if I'm conducting any business that requires a teller, I'd just as soon lock my bike so I can actually have a face-to-face conversation. And I have heard of a person or two in the area being refused service at the drive-up teller, although the bank in question reversed their policy when someone complained about it.

AdamDZ

LOL, that reminds me that someone has posted here a while ago that a woman yelled to him from her car that cars have priority in drive through ATMs so he needs to let her go first. Needless to say, he took his time at the ATM