Originally Posted by
pdlamb
Really depends on the neighborhood, how long you'll be inside, and whether or not you can see the bike from inside.
I'll occasionally wheel my bike inside a business or bank. If someone asks you to leave it outside, ask them politely to show you the bike rack you can lock it to. (Works better in wide open spaces of a bank than a crowded urban store.)
I've done this a lot, just bring the bike into a bank or wherever, I've found indoor restaurants and mini marts not as obliging but that's understandable due to limited space. But I've never been told to take my bike outside at any place of business, but I can also tell which businesses may balk like you said a crowded store there is no way, just use common sense that's all. I took my bike into a hospital once and the security guard had me place it next to his station and he watched it! Walmart's that I've gone into never had an issue either, and why would they? People buy bikes all the time and are wheeling them around the store.