Seattle Forrest

That's some great advocacy there...

steve0257

Only been turned away once. Back in junior high school. I think it was because one of the other guys in the group had ridden over a dead skunk about 5 miles back.

idiotekniQues

a good news tidbit here. after riding all over NYC about 30 miles with a bag on my back, i locked up my bike outside Ippudo, a japanese ramen joint reputed to have top-notch stuff, i walked in with a pretty sweaty t-shirt and was promptly sat with my bag and my seat/seatpost in my other hand. luckily the time it took me to lock up gave me a bit of time to wipe the sweat off of my face as well and cool down a bit.

holy moly the ramen was worth it too.

tadawdy

Those little mountain towns are weird places; some people are very friendly, but some are kind of separatist jerks. The ride from Boulder to Jamestown is a popular one, and you can turn off toward Ward (which is a longer, harder ride). There's a diner in Jamestown that might only still be open because of the business from cyclists.

I miss riding along the Front Range.

radshark

Drive-thrus ban cyclist for safety reasons while serving toxic crap. Hilarious.

I like chip trucks ... every bit as toxic and you don't need to worry about locking up. How nice is that.

Have fun!

CyciumX

Chip trucks? Is that slang for Roach Coach?

sggoodri

Back in grad school, I rode my bike to my girlfriend's graduation ceremony. I was dressed in casual shorts and was sweaty. She wasn't pleased. But at least I got there.

Seattle Forrest

I've been thinking the same thing. This is why I avoid fast food ... not the irony, but the toxicity.

Doohickie

...and I have yet to encounter one.

atbman

[QUOTE=trackhub;10815583]
The Newton Cemetery, Newton MA, does not permit bicyclists. Same excuse: "It's for your safety". I was told that I was welcome to leave my bicycle outside the gate, and walk to any gravesite I wished to visit. Well, something smells bad, and it's not the Boston fish pier. At the Newton Cemetery (which is a private corporation, able to make any rules the like) one can only assume that if I were to drive in with an early 70's muscle car, with open loud, open exhaust pipes, it would be acceptable under their policy. I can understand if they don't want people riding around a cemetery aimlessly, but if you have a friend or relative buried there, which is my case?
In neighboring waltham, the cemeteries are owned and run by the city. Bicyclists are permitted, with some simple rules. Riding only on paved roadways, all vehicles must yield to funeral processions.

If they don't want my business, fine. They won't get it, and I have no problem passing the word. QUOTE]

But surely, if they had your business, it would be very unusual if you went there under your own steam?

Nucks

Is the restaurant inside the park boundaries? If that's the case, their private property rights are partially attenuated anyway and there should be a more lenient dress code policy so that park goers are not discriminated against.

Digital_Cowboy

As a couple of others have mentioned, and as I have mentioned in other threads, I also carry a baggy pair of shorts to pull on over my spandex riding shorts. I think that that goes along way in making people more accepting of having cyclists. But that's not to say that I am "militant" or anything about it.

Such as say going into 7-11 to get a soda or gatorade I'll just go in, in my spandex. The same with going into the grocery store. If I'm going to the library, or a casual restaurant, or BK's, McD's, etc. I'll pull them on before going in. I'll step into the restroom before leaving to remove them.

Doohickie

I personally find it rude to go into a public place, especially an eatery, with just bike shorts (the tight kind). Cyclists are used to it, but the general public really doesn't appreciate people displaying their junk like that.

powerhouse

This thread has nothing to do with "fettish gear". Many bicyclists and hikers were turned away.

In answer to Nucks's post, the restaurant is located well inside park boundaries. The restaurant itself is also on park property and has been around as long as the park itself. Thus, one would think the management would be more lenient toward hikers and bicyclists. The gift shop that was later built that sells beverages and snacks may or may not have been attempt to separate yet not discriminate against hikers and bicyclists who came off the carriage paths, yet cater more toward those who were dressed up and came by car.

Roody

It's not discrimination because cyclists are not a protected class. Just a non-issue for a bunch of whiny spoiled people who don't realize how fortunate they really are--riding $1000 bikes in a paradise while wearing weird clothes that also cost hundreds of dollars, and wealthy enough to spend $30 on a single meal. Boo-hoo!

Digital_Cowboy

Hence not only myself, but others carrying a pair of baggy shorts to pull on over our spandex shorts. I don't know about anyone else, but as I said it depends on where I am going as to whether or not I'll pull them on. If say I am just running into 7-11 for a soda or juice, or Gatorade then no, I'm not going to bother likewise when I ride up to the Farm Store (it's drive, bike or walk up only) I'm not going to pull them on.

But, the library or BK's, McD's, etc. yes I'll pull them on.

Pedaleur

Eateries don't bother me. Or at least I don't worry about bothering others. I have skipped on going into (well, too far into) a church or two while light touring because I didn't have something pull over my outfit.

I'm not religious, but it seems rude to parade around while the pious are praying, and there are usually signs requesting decent attire.

wobblyoldgeezer

Well, no, I can't remember any 'turned away'

But a bunch of us had our bikes valet parked when we turned up at a 5 star for coffee and snacks, and returned clean and detailed

trackhub

[QUOTE=atbman;10831064]Okay, Okay... Bad wording on my part Still, it's a little aggravating when they invent some policy like this, under cover of the safety card.

I like the postings concerning fast food establishments. Heh-heh. That is a little ironic, isn't it?
They won't serve bicyclists "for your safety". Uhhhh, yeah. The safest thing you can do is not eat that u-know-what.

lucille

No, never been turned away. We'd stop for lunch at a pub or casual restaurant and usually choose a patio to be able to see the bikes. I wouldn't feel comfortable going to a nicer place for dinner in cycling clothing. I don't eat fast food, so don't know how they feel about cyclists, but I've never had a problem using their washrooms.

Arschgaudi

What a bunch of malarkey. You people should go out and experience real persecution / segregation / discrimination. Like denial of education or health care. Basic rights kind of stuff.

Posting about how upset you were because you couldn't bring your bicycle inside McDonalds or dine in a restaurant clad in sweaty riding clothes just makes you look like a pretentious bunch of whiners. A big part of advocacy is showing the positive, this forum is replete with negative connotations, insufferable whining and constant gloom and doom.

I've ridden tens of thousands of miles over the decades and have never had a single issue that warranted more than a shrug. Then again I don't feel the need to believe I'm somehow special and more entitled as some of your appear to believe.

I-Like-To-Bike

Wrong! These characters' actions don't make them "look like" a pretentious bunch of whiners; there ARE a pretentious bunch of whiners.

Chris516

I have never been turned away from any establishment on account of my biking attire(or when not wearing it.

The only time I have had a disagreement with a business establishment about locking up my bike, is when the business establishment(and in some cases property management) told me I couldn't lock my bike up somewhere.

So one day, I intentionally walked into a Kmart with my bike(when I lived in Minnesota five years ago) to get the attention of the store management. Sure enough I got the store management's attention. I got them to tell me where I could lock my bike up outside the store. Since they felt their only obligation was to motorists.

cudak888 

Therefore anyone who has given thought to visiting a forum for bicycle advocacy is a whiner. As Arschgaudi pointed out, there are far more important situations to consider in this world.

-Kurt

Digital_Cowboy

What was their response?