Originally Posted by
rugerben
So I'm still relatively new to this bike-commute thing. Today I had to go deposit some checks in the bank. I rode there, and decided to ride up to the drive thru. I get there, and the woman tells me "I can't serve you on a bike. You'll have to come in sir."
I was truly taken aback. I asked her why, and she said "it's a safety issue. what if someone drove up and didn't see you?"
So I get into the bank and once i get to the front of the line, I bring it up with the teller (same woman as before). She repeats that no bikes or walkers. It's bank policy because of the safety issue. If someone hits me, the bank is responsible.
I asked her if motorcycles are allowed. "Of course!!!"
"So if a car hits a guy on a motorcycle, why is it any different than hitting a guy on a bicycle? He doesn't have the protection of a cage around him either, does he?"
At this point, she gets exasperated and once again falls back on the "it's policy" excuse.
I can understand their point about safety. But if that were REALLY the concern, motorcycles would not be allowed either. sounds like a bullsh*t excuse to me.
I'd be willing to bet it's not policy, but just an other case of another "small" person exercising what little control and much smaller amount of knowledge they happen to have over a given situation. Her rationale is completely off base and more in line with the thinking of a "Soccer Mom" Even with my rudimentary knowledge of the law if you are hit even on private property it's the person who collides with you is liable. Additionally, in a slow speed, cattle chute like environment like what you'd find in a teller line the driver who can't see a person who is in a loud, or colorful shirt and spandex shorts deserves to lose their license . If it were me, I would have immediately gotten the teller's name and taken the issue up with the branch manager.
Most of the terminally ignorant and malicious are banking that you won't want to cause a problem or park you bike (and risk some two legged varmint bolting with it) to then first conduct the business that you were denied in line at the outside window then queue up to talk to an already busy branch manager.
John