Originally Posted by Bekologist
I ride to malls sometimes to do clothes shopping and the whatnot. Whatch out for dazed and distracted shoppers in a cinnabon induced coma talking on their cells about the great deals Abercrombie and Fitch had while digging thru bags of their latest purchases.
Otherwise, sounds like you've got it figured pretty good. But parking lots are filled with distracted drivers, as they aren't really 'driving' yet, still in 'parking' mode.
I like riding in malls all the time and enjoy the experience of not having to struggle for parking. Some cars can be real dangerous to the cyclist because the parking situation forces them to spend up to 20 minutes going in circles. Some malls have light traffic but other malls are filled up by noon. These are the ones you have to be carful and ride in the middle of the lane. A lot of malls keep the buses parked in the back and you have to watch for them too. I find it discriminatory that those taking public transportation have to wait in the cold far away from the mall because the store does not want transit users waiting inside when the bus has not arrived. Such is the life of the transit rider.
During Christmas and holiday shopping, it's a jungle. I won't park up front and prefer to stay in the back and lock the bike on a pole far away from the door.