redfooj

...

Doug5150

Perhaps you might consider that the store can be held liable for any injuries that happen on the premises. Such as, elderly people tripping and falling over your bicycle or same people slipping on mud you tracked in.
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If there was something suitable outside to lock the bike to and you didn't have a lock, then sorry ace--that's your fault, not anyone else's. If they didn't have anything to lock a bike to, then you might have courteously suggested to the management that they obtain something suitable (as they are so close to a bike trail).

But even if they didn't have an official bicycle rack, they probably did have something to lock your bike to: at shopping centers, if there's nothing else convenient, I lock mine to three or four shopping carts near the doors. It's not hardly immovable, but it's d4mn difficult to make off quickly with. And you get to park right in front, where your bike is most-visible and least likely to get messed with. See? Everybody's happy!
~

blonduathlongrl

so the store person is doing her or his jod telling you to keep the bike outside, there are rules and liabilities as to why they have to make sure no bikes go in and what happends to her or him for trying to tell someone to please follow the rules? he argues and piss and moan, yeah invest in a lock and merry christmas to that clerk too who you gave a hell of a rought time for trying to do her job.
ohh and merry christmas to you too

twahl

I've found that if I poke my head in and ask if I can bring the bike in, people are usually accommodating. It's not normal behavior, so I really can't see being offended by the reaction. Besides, I carry a lock, just in case. That's my responsibility, not theirs.

Sorry, I think you're barking up the wrong tree.

bmclaughlin807

The Walgreens I pass on the way to work actually TOLD me to bring my bike in and leave it INSIDE the door. They were concerned with someone making off with it while I ran to get my gatorade.

As far as mud... generally people's shoes track in as much or more mud than could possibly fall off of a bike (unless you just came off a VERY muddy trail). I think the store manager was being a jacka**, personally.

edit: Well... it does sound like maybe it was pretty muddy... I take my bike into the bank with me, into Lowes, etc. I don't generally take it into convenience stores or grocery stores (Though I do leave it just inside the door at King Soopers on my way to work if I stop in to grab snacks or something... they're not very busy at that time of day, and nobody has ever said anything about it)

redfooj

the trailhead goes MUP --> Singletrack. so on the return leg, towards walgreens, the last 8 miles were all paved MUP. mud shedded.

i would "invest in a lock", if i were commuting to walgreens, yes. as it was, i was on 3 hour cycling romp.

ALL i required was to rest my bike against the wall--any wall in a 3500 sqft store--to grab and pay for a bag of chips from the 2nd aisle from the door. please, is that too unreasonable? would you have treated your mother in the manner. did i resemble a loitering, juvenile delinquent? im a common citizen needing 30 seconds in the store to conduct a transaction

i dont know about you, but customer service should be about operating with more than 3 brain cells and NOT thinking in ABSOLUTES. hell, thats not just about customer service, its about being a DECENT and RATIONAL person.

DataJunkie

Be that as it may, they set the rules not us. Plus, it is not a public property.

Digital Gee

Let it go.

skiahh

I think you are the one with 3 brain cells in this case. They told you you weren't allowed to bring your muddy bike into the store. Right or wrong, that's their policy and you opted to fight it and start swearing. On the day before Christmas.

You have no right to be in that store and even less right to bring your dirty bike into their facility. And you want sympathy from us because you escalated it to the point of swearing at them for doing their jobs? You're so far in the wrong on this one that you need to go back and apologize to them and in your letter, compliment them for doing their joibs.

Then you go and compound your stupidity by escalating what should have been a minor traffic deal. You had the right of way and took it. No problem. The ladies in the van were probably grumping about your lack of Christmas spirit and generosity, but you had to go open your piehole and say you had the right of way.

Did you have a bad ride? Most of us are usually in a pretty good mood after a nice ride. You, on the other hand are just a tool who whines and takes it out on others when you don't get your own way.

Cyclist0383

Damn straight.

Next time ask first. Or as I sometimes do, ask someone working to pick up your snack and hand them the money at the door. I do this at the liquor store all the time.

redfooj

skiahh,

i will never visit your store, or extend you courtesy on the road


absolutely,
redfooj

donnamb 

This particular incident aside, I think most people would get a better response about bringing their bikes into a store or other place of business if they had a kickstand and did not have to lean their bike against a wall. For one thing, it increases the places a bike could be parked, For another, it alleviates the concerns someone might have about getting the wall, door, window, or furniture dirty or damaged. I live near a grocery store that has no problem with you parking your bike near the registers so long as it's not leaning against anything. I find their policy very generous considering how much covered and uncovered bike parking they do have, enough for about 20 bikes.

skiahh

Probably something we'll never have to worry about since you're in Houston and, if I can help it, I won't spend more time there than transiting the airport.

shakeNbake

+1

Vote with your money. Shop somewhere else.

rousseau

Erm...why didn't you just go to a little mom'n'pop convenience store in the first place?

DieselDan

1) Ask first
2) Carry a lock
3) Quit being a jerk and making the rest of us look like *******s.

kjmillig

Dude, I might be the next guy on a bike to stop there and the same people might be on duty. I live just off Hwy 6, by the way, and know the store you're talking about. So I walk in in biking clothes and get dirty looks from the employees thanks to your tirade? Thank you, all sarcasm intended!

SSP

Would you like some cheese with your whine?

operator

Stop trashing the OP. He's my hero.

MarkS

You can get a cable lock like made for hand-gun safety that will fit in your jersey or your seat bag. Its not much in the way of security but if your transaction is really going to last 30 seconds it should do the trick.

I know I carry too much. I wouldn't go for even an hour trip without at least a nature bar along. For a 3 hour trip I carry a small smorgasboard ...

Hope its merry anyways!

operator

Oh please. If they're going to discriminate based on what you're wearing then it isn't a good place to shop anyways.

capejohn

Do they let baby carriages in? How about wheel chairs? Cruches, walkers, shopping carts? Larks?
The people in the store took it upon themselves to come up with a no bike policy I'm sure.

I watched a guy in KMart, completely ignore the staff trying to stop him from bringing his bike in. He walked to the aisle picked up his merchandise, went to the courtesy desk to pay and the only response anyone got from him was, "sorry". He was in and out in less than three minutes.

That was almost a year ago and we still haven't been attacked by terrorists.

MarkS

As Lance would say -- its not about the bike. Its about the mud.

I-Like-To-Bike

You won't have to do that anymore once you turn 21, or whatever the legal age is in Latvia.

Gus Riley

Well, Merry Christmas!