Jerseysbest

What do you guys do when you don't have the option of locking your bike up outside?

The reason I ask is that I make a few trips to stores that are pretty far away and have to travel up some big hills, so I'll take my (expensive) geared road bike instead of my fixed gear commuter bike, and don't feel comfortable locking it outside, where there really aren't bike racks anyways.

When I use my fixed gear bike I usually find something to lock up to outside, but only because it isn't worth too much. But my geared road bike is another story.

I have been bringing it inside when I do use it, but I get the strange looks, and finding a place inside to lock up is also a chore. Its just a matter of time before I get someone from the store telling me I can't keep my bike there. Is there anything I can say that won't make me 'disruptive customer' and will convince the store employee to leave me, and my bike, alone?

Cosmoline

For some reason people get weird about bringing a bicycle inside a store. I can see why they'd be mad if it was covered with grime and mud, but they just seem to have a conceptual problem with it. Even if it's clean. I've wanted to bring it in several times, esp. when I only need to grab one thing and it will only take a few seconds. I do bring it into the LBS, of course. But otherwise I haven't tried to buck the system. They'll let me bring a 52" rifle into the store, but not the bicycle LOL

Lamplight

I've never tried it. So many people here seem to be so hostile toward cyclists that I would probably just end up looking like an idiot to everyone in the store.

bpohl

I tried to take my bike into a sub shop one day here in Indy, and the lady screamed at me, "SIR, YOU BEST BE TAKIN' THAT BIKE OUTSIDE!!" I just laughed and left, telling them I was going to Subway, where they have always let me bring my bike in and set it between between booths. In fact, the guy at this Subway, always asks me where I'm riding and how far I've gone.

gwd

I've only had the problem when I forget the lock. Last time I brought it in and the security guard told me to get it out but then he promised to watch it so I trusted him. According to the security guards in the buildings downtown, the street vendors will watch stuff for you for a small fee. Maybe they'd watch your bike. I just use a big lock for my expensive bike. There is always something to lock it to.

Owltooth

I do it all the time. If they have a problem, tell them that there's no place to lock it etc... it's certainly no dirtier than anyone's shoes, if they're concerned with the floors. Just do it and over time they'll get to know you and like you, if you're friendly about it and not running into things...

maddyfish

I just take it in, and keep on walking, just like it belongs there.
At LOWE's where thereis no bike rack ( I'm working on that one) I just tell whomever asks me about it, that I am looking for a tool to work on it( a lie).
At the doctor's office, I tell them that it is part of my medical problem.

Old Dirt Hill

This has always worked for me.

scattered73

The copy shop / internet bar I work at, we have no problem with it even though we have a prvided rack outside of course it is usually full with employee's bikes. Our shop probably sees 5 bikes a day inside and requires no additional cleaning because of the bikes comming in. I personally don't bring my bike into other buisness unless invited to, which happens occasionally, places that I am unable to secure the bike outside just don't get my buisness nothing personal but I just won't risk losing one of my precious bikes, I have thought about buying a used POS just to take to places that can't secure to anything but with two bikes and one on layaway I don't see that I have room for a fourth.

cerewa

It's the solution to some medical problems you've avoided, more likely.

Allen

I've been thrown out of WallyWorld for bringing my bike inside. I used to have permission from one of the managers to lock my bike to the corral that holds the shopping carts. One day when I was locking my bike up another manager had a fit. I told her I had asked permission, no avail. I went outside and tried to use the chain-link fence around the plants, got run off run off from there too, she cited liability reasons and that bikes are not welcome. Haven't been back.

In my town however, we have no bike lanes and I know of only one bike rack. Currently all non-motorized vehicles are banned from downtown as well (keeps unaccompanied teenagers out of the business district, and bicycles impeded traffic and endanger pedestrians). It's not very bike friendly.

oneredstar

I never take it into a store, even a bike store. I bring a lock, lock it up outside and that is that.

maddyfish

AllenG- sounds like you need to run for local government and get that crazy place straightened out!

gerv 

I was much the same way until last week when I attended a conference at a hotel. There was no bike rack, so I chained it to a tree. I asked at the front desk if it would be ok to leave it there all day and they offered to keep it behind the desk for the day.

But... I agree. It might be time for the OP to invest in a cheaper, geared bike along with a good u-lock. If they let the clientele in the door with their bikes, next thing they'll be driving their Hummers through the aisles.

Goriot

I took mine into a 7-11 to grab a drink and I didn't have a bike lock. Only at the cash the lady told me I shouldn't have brought it in. At some other places I've been told to take it outside right away. Its unfortunate.

Even my LBS, no one else seems to bring their bike inside. In fact, I think most people there don't even ride their bikes to the store. I am the only person who leaves it inside.

JeffB502

I take my bike in at the grocery store...I put the groceries in my trunk bag and panniers as I shop, so it's like a shopping cart but safer (it has brakes, heh).

Wal-Mart was alot more friendly than I expected...none of the employees said a thing until I exited, then one of the greeters said (in a very friendly manner) that she would have been happy to watch it at the front for me. I explained I had used it as a shopping cart and she thought that was pretty cool. That's usually the reaction at the grocery store too.

I've taken it inside a few times at the discount tobacco store and they don't have a problem either, even though they have pretty nice wood flooring.

I've only tried 1 drive thru so far, a Del Taco, and they had no problem serving me.

Haven't tried a 7-11 yet, but the employees at the 7-11s around here don't seem too friendly and I imagine I'd get yelled at (which is probably why I haven't tried it, that and I don't go to 7-11 very often).

donnamb 

Allen, does Georgia law allows cities and towns to do this?

ralph12

WTF

thedarkhorseman

This is the same situation I find myself in... I only have one bike, and it's a brand new '07 Specialized Tricross Comp, but I use it for everything including commuting. I plan on commuting to my classes this semester, and I will not lock it up outside because I don't want anyone laying a finger on my bike when I'm not there (there's only 1 bike rack on campus anyways). I asked the head of the campus police and also the maintenance head for special permission to bring my bike into class (as long as the professor would allow it... I was going to drive the first day and talk to them after class), but he was telling me that if I brought my bike into class, then more people were going to try that, too (LAME).

Although, the head of maintenance referred me to the head of the PE dpt, and they're going to give me a room to park it where the door will remain locked (possibly the AC or electrical room?)

More on-topic, though... when going to a store/getting food/goin to the gym I've just parked my bike outside the door where I can see it and pop inside and ask someone if it's okay for me to bring it in and put it somewhere out of everyone's way. People around here aren't really that used to nice bikes, so most of them have no problem letting me do this

elfich

If it is just my bike, I am willing to bring the bike in. Provided I am not going to inconvenience anybody else doing it. So going into a large store, picking up a couple of things and being on my way with no fuss or muss, no problem.
If I have the trailer, I lock up outside. No questions. If I have large shopping run, I lock up outside and sort out my load outside before leaving.

Allen

Comm. Code 86-9
About a month or so ago these (see below) grew on every light post in downtown. Bicycling is still allowed in the area, but not in the historic downtown, the outlying strip mall areas are not effected. It's a push by the Chamber of Commerce to revitalize downtown. Such ordinances can be enacted by a vote of the the city counsel and mayoral approval, much like making pedestrian only areas in the historic districts of large cities.
^^^^
This is how the reasoning of the ordnance was explained to me when I went to city hall and questioned it. I was also told that being an adult I would not be cited for bicycling downtown, but I'm still not allowed to lock my bike to anything on the sidewalks, and would risk having my bike confiscated by the city if I did.



I would love to run for city council but I live a half mile outside of the city limits so I'm not eligible; also being a democrat in the reddest of red states is rather daunting.

We have more draconian things that need to be taken care of first however. One better pay your rent here. Landlords still have the right to remove the front door and cast your belongings into the street for failure to pay. Such behavior is not common, but it's also not rare.



I love my hometown, it really is beautiful, but my current views of its leaders are best left unsaid, they are not polite.

Jerseysbest

Wow, I didn't know towns like that exsisted.

If I ever move, I better do some research so I don't move to a place like that.

andmalc

I have a Xootr kick scooter which folds up nicely for taking into stores, on the subway, or on buses.

Some folding bikes will fold down small and light, and unfold quickly.

Allen

Ok, I'm not airing my hometown's dirty laundry any more. I just went to check my mail and found THIS in the mailbox.

ChipSeal

I always take my bikes in. I have never had a problem with formal restaurants or Wal-Mart.

All the formal restaurants (the ones with servers) will find a place inside that is out of the way to accommodate me, and I make a point to tip liberally. (That is, tip like a conservative: 20% or more!)

At Wal-Mart I park it with the greeter.

About 1/3 of the fast food joints have had a cow about it, much to my amusement. I have had the same joint let me keep my bike with me some of the time, and kick me out about it other times! I am likelier to be disallowed when there are few customers than when they are busy!

I am ready for them now. I say, "Why not?" They always reply; "It is against the rules."

So I ask; "What other things are paying customers not allowed to bring in? Is there a list? Can I see it so that I don't inadvertently bring in another banned item?"

After I give them a hard time for making up rules to keep paying customers from brining their bikes in, I ask them where the bike rack is outside. There never is any.

I always leave after I give them this statement: "You have a wonderful business here! How well it must be doing that you can turn paying customers away at the door! It's OK though, (competitors restaurant) always allows me to bring in my bike."

I always do this in a cheerful tone. I wonder about folks that put obstacles in my when when I try to give them money.