R578645

I have 3 Walmarts that I ride my bike to depending where I'm at. Two of them have little kiddie grade school type bike racks that aren't even bolted to the ground. The new store doesn't have anything. I talked to customer service and they told me to do the contact suggestion thing online so I did. I don't like locking up to the handicapped signs when those people are trying to park or leave. Dangerous! I'm sure it wouldn't cost them very much to do it. Target and even Costco, where a bike would be pretty much useless without a trailer, have modern big tube bicycle racks.

tim24k

Al the Walmarts around here have good bike racks. Maybe because we are so close to Portland, Or where everyone has a good bike rack out front. Although many other stores don't.

FenderTL5

Other than bike shops and the city provided sidewalk racks downtown, I don't think anyone has racks here.

ThermionicScott 

Sounds like Target and Costco are more deserving of your money. Ride a little farther if you have to.

prathmann

I stop by the local Costco every once in a while on the way home from group rides to refuel - get their samples as appetizers followed by either the hotdog/soda or the pizza slice. They do have a bike rack but the location is terrible. Around the side of the building where a bike could easily be stolen and it's also where the employees stack up the extra carts so one has to first move the carts out of the way and also hope that no one will smash them into your bike later. Target has numerous, well-placed bike racks. Our local mini-WalMart has a bike rack but the full size one a few miles away does not.

megalowmatt

They clearly do not care for our bike riding ilk in their establishment.

cuzzinit

My walmart does.... some do some don't. Many of the Distribution centers i go to have them for employees with a roof overhead

irwin7638

If they don't provide safe parking for their customers, why would you do business with them?

Marc

blastro

Is that a serious question.

R578645

Its a brand new store in a better location. They got a lot of food there and some cheap ice cream. All it needs is a bike rack.

loneviking61

My Wal-Mart has six bike racks, nice big racks to tie up too. Costco, not a single one!

Thrasymachus

Almost no stores or shopping complexes in northern New Jersey have bike racks. The only ones I can think of are at a local shopping complex with two restaurants plus other stores, thus most likely the people who actually ride there are the Central and South American underpaid labor, a Shop-rite, and that is it. Even most schools in my area don't seem to have bike racks, and even if they do few to no kids ride.

B. Carfree

I shop at a Costco every few months and rarely bring a trailer. Big baskets on two bikes can handle quite a bit of volume, particularly if one is willing to strap bags on top. My wife and I typically leave with more material than most of the customers who came in huge motor vehicles.

I wouldn't know about the Wal-Marts and Targets.

DX-MAN

We have 5 Walmarts in my town; one, I've never even SEEN, I won't go to that side of town, that's where the "new rich" are (they fought against that WM, too). Another is located in a spot that's as bike-UNfriendly to get to as any place in the county. The other three. . . well, two have racks, one is well placed. The other is where I work, my bike goes in with me. There's a barely-used corner about 15 feet from my work area, and my beloved Kona hangs out there 43 hours a week (counting lunches -- I can't ride at lunch, I may NEVER go back, and family needs the income). I know it sits quietly, watching me with sadness as I toil to make Chinese crap rideable.

I-Like-To-Bike

Safe parking = bike racks? Huh?

Do you need a bike rack for every place you go?

irwin7638

Absolutely. I've quit shopping at stores which don't provide parking for bikes.

Marc

wolfchild

Yes our walmarts have bike racks and so does our Target..For all the anti-walmart rants, what's wrong with saving few dollars when grocery shopping ??..Do all "real cyclists" have to shop at WholeFoods ??

howeeee

naw, certain areas have very little bike riding,,,I have 2 Trader Joes about the same distance from me, one is in a trendy little city with many young people biking, the other is an affluent suburb. One has a bike rack and the other doesnt. If a store sees bikes tied up on everything they will soon put in a bike rack,,if not they wont.

I-Like-To-Bike

Probably a good way to limit your shopping expenditures, unless you spend your money on-line instead.

I-Like-To-Bike

The key qualification for self described Real Cyclists is the provenance of their bicycle. Must have LBS lineage at best; department store bikes are an automatic ticket for the not-real cyclist club as an unworthy lowlife.

R578645

The expensive food is over at Savemart. They like Pro Sports and stadiums and that's what your paying for when your hungry. They have bike racks and a recyling center around the corner that attracts bums that hang out. Theres also bums at walmart and other chains. Talked to one guy who showed me some big dents on his bike as someone tried to steal it. I avoid that one now.

beckieanne

I agree with you on this point. how ever i feel bound to point out that there are some shops that people use for what ever reasons, and will do so regardless of whether or not they have a bike rack. Me and my husband use a local rite-aide for our pharmacy, and it has no bike parking of any kind.( we usually bring our bikes in, and so far no one has complained) and while it may seem like a no brainer to those of us who ride, for the average corporate wage-slave in charge of design and building of a given site. it can some times boil down to local laws and site considerations. here in utah for example, a business must provide a bicycle parking rack ( i could not find the exact formula) for their customers. i do know that this formula is generous to the business and not to the cycling crowd. there are requirements for cycling parking, but as i am certain of it, any of the big chain stores ( wallmart, costco, etc,etc) can , and usually do get excemptions to any requirments that hurt their bottom line. i my self do not condone any one for shopping where ever they can. i shop where i receive good customer service, and if they do not have a cycle rack. i try to get them to add one.

regards
Beckieanne

wolfchild

Bike racks are not a neccessity for me. If I see one I'll use it. If there is no bike rack I use a lamp post, sign post or some railing. Only few places and stores in my city have bikeracks. I can't believe some cyclist will refuse to shop at a store that doesn't have a bike rack...It's ironic but none of our "high end" bike stores have proper bike racks, since most cyclist drive when they go shopping for bike parts.

CbadRider

I cleaned up the thread a bit. Anti-Walmart Corporation threads belong in P&R. Please keep this thread to the discussion of whether or not your local stores have a bike rack.

IAMAMRA

I guess you should just ride it into the store...