Rewarding bike friendly businesses
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Seville, Spain
Posts: 4,403
Bikes: Brompton M6R, mountain bikes, Circe Omnis+ tandem
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 146 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
5 Posts
Rewarding bike friendly businesses
I'd like to reward local businesses that are bike friendly by designing some kind of a sticker that the cycling advocacy group I'm a member of could reward them with. This would say something simple like "Welcome Cyclists" or "Bike Friendly Business," and the proprietor could display it in his or her shop window.
I was wondering if similar programs exist in your towns and cities.
I was wondering if similar programs exist in your towns and cities.
#2
Living 'n Dying in ¾-Time
Rather than ask THEM to do something (more than what they already do), how about mentioning them on a local bike club/forum website -- a paragraph and/or their business logo; or, simply using word-of-mouth to spread it around. Just a thought.
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: New Rochelle, NY
Posts: 38,704
Bikes: too many bikes from 1967 10s (5x2)Frejus to a Sumitomo Ti/Chorus aluminum 10s (10x2), plus one non-susp mtn bike I use as my commuter
Mentioned: 140 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5777 Post(s)
Liked 2,575 Times
in
1,426 Posts
Define "bike friendly". Over decades, I've never had any bike related issues with any business in my area, including many that let me bring it inside and stash it by the side or in an alcove while I'm there.
The only issue I've ever had is with my local branch of Wells Fargo Bank. I usually leave my bike outside while using the lobby ATMs. One day the manager comes out and tells me to stop doing that and bring it in with me because a thief could grab it and run faster than I'd react.
BTW- they do have a rack but it's at the back door by the main parking lot. The manager agrees that it's a dumb place, but the town won't allow it in front. The other WFB branch I often use has a drive up window, and I'm greeted with a nice smile anytime I use it with the bike.
So, IME it's not about bike friendly, but about the few rare exceptions of bike unfriendly business. Otherwise, the post office, bank, super market, fast food joints, pizza shop, and bars would all have signs around here. Even city hall, where the police guards let me leave the bike in the alcove near their desks, though they're careful to remind me to lock it because they won't watch it.
The only issue I've ever had is with my local branch of Wells Fargo Bank. I usually leave my bike outside while using the lobby ATMs. One day the manager comes out and tells me to stop doing that and bring it in with me because a thief could grab it and run faster than I'd react.
BTW- they do have a rack but it's at the back door by the main parking lot. The manager agrees that it's a dumb place, but the town won't allow it in front. The other WFB branch I often use has a drive up window, and I'm greeted with a nice smile anytime I use it with the bike.
So, IME it's not about bike friendly, but about the few rare exceptions of bike unfriendly business. Otherwise, the post office, bank, super market, fast food joints, pizza shop, and bars would all have signs around here. Even city hall, where the police guards let me leave the bike in the alcove near their desks, though they're careful to remind me to lock it because they won't watch it.
__________________
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
#4
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Seville, Spain
Posts: 4,403
Bikes: Brompton M6R, mountain bikes, Circe Omnis+ tandem
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 146 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
5 Posts
All of that is already being done. I want to take it a step further.
#5
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Seville, Spain
Posts: 4,403
Bikes: Brompton M6R, mountain bikes, Circe Omnis+ tandem
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 146 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
5 Posts
Define "bike friendly". Over decades, I've never had any bike related issues with any business in my area, including many that let me bring it inside and stash it by the side or in an alcove while I'm there.
The only issue I've ever had is with my local branch of Wells Fargo Bank. I usually leave my bike outside while using the lobby ATMs. One day the manager comes out and tells me to stop doing that and bring it in with me because a thief could grab it and run faster than I'd react.
BTW- they do have a rack but it's at the back door by the main parking lot. The manager agrees that it's a dumb place, but the town won't allow it in front. The other WFB branch I often use has a drive up window, and I'm greeted with a nice smile anytime I use it with the bike.
So, IME it's not about bike friendly, but about the few rare exceptions of bike unfriendly business. Otherwise, the post office, bank, super market, fast food joints, pizza shop, and bars would all have signs around here. Even city hall, where the police guards let me leave the bike in the alcove near their desks, though they're careful to remind me to lock it because they won't watch it.
The only issue I've ever had is with my local branch of Wells Fargo Bank. I usually leave my bike outside while using the lobby ATMs. One day the manager comes out and tells me to stop doing that and bring it in with me because a thief could grab it and run faster than I'd react.
BTW- they do have a rack but it's at the back door by the main parking lot. The manager agrees that it's a dumb place, but the town won't allow it in front. The other WFB branch I often use has a drive up window, and I'm greeted with a nice smile anytime I use it with the bike.
So, IME it's not about bike friendly, but about the few rare exceptions of bike unfriendly business. Otherwise, the post office, bank, super market, fast food joints, pizza shop, and bars would all have signs around here. Even city hall, where the police guards let me leave the bike in the alcove near their desks, though they're careful to remind me to lock it because they won't watch it.
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: NYC
Posts: 476
Bikes: Schwinn World Sport Jamis Ventura
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I might mention a business as being bike friendly on a Yelp review. However, usually I'll just give that place my business since thats how you should reward them in a capitalistic market for doing something you like.
#7
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Seville, Spain
Posts: 4,403
Bikes: Brompton M6R, mountain bikes, Circe Omnis+ tandem
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 146 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
5 Posts
That's one way to reward them, but not the only one. By urging other cyclists to patronize bike friendly businesses and to boycott those that are hostile to cyclists, we can gain more power.
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 363
Bikes: Lynskey Helix, Serotta Fierta IT, Torelli, Raleigh Carbon Revenio 3.0
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
We have a deli/store that we use as a rest stop on some of our club rides. Staff is very friendly, they have a great selection of drinks and snacks and they actually put a bike rack out in the parking lot. I thought that was a nice touch and definitely makes us feel that we are welcome.
#9
Senior Member
San Diego has the SD Bike Commuter Discount program. For $50/year, businesses can display the sign on their window. If a customer rides his or her bike to the business, they get a discount.
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: New Rochelle, NY
Posts: 38,704
Bikes: too many bikes from 1967 10s (5x2)Frejus to a Sumitomo Ti/Chorus aluminum 10s (10x2), plus one non-susp mtn bike I use as my commuter
Mentioned: 140 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5777 Post(s)
Liked 2,575 Times
in
1,426 Posts
Of course they can keep the $50.00 and still offer a discount, unless there's some sort of rule against that, and have the added benefit that they're not obligated to discount, and can do so if/when it suits their convenience.
Meanwhile, I get what the OP means by bike unfriendly and thank him for the explanation. Otherwise it seems that most businesses are bike friendly in the sense that they're only too happy to serve us and take our dough (as it should be).
So maybe the OP is going about this the wrong way, and should seek a way to highlight those businesses which are bike unfriendly, and pressuring to end the bike lane or lanes involved. Maybe handing out fliers listing the opposition and asking cyclists to talk to them, or spend elsewhere might be more effective. Or if Spanish law prevents naming them or organizing something that's like a boycott, a flier describing merchant opposition (without naming names) to make folks aware of the existence of this opposition so they can mount a pro bike lane petition drive or do whatever makes sense given local conditions.
__________________
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
#11
Don from Austin Texas
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Austin, Texas
Posts: 1,211
Bikes: Schwinn S25 "department store crap" FS MTB, home-made CF 26" hybrid, CF road bike with straight bar, various wierd frankenbikes
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 11 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
#12
Tractorlegs
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: El Paso, TX
Posts: 3,185
Bikes: Schwinn Meridian Single-Speed Tricycle
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 119 Post(s)
Liked 60 Times
in
42 Posts
Define "bike friendly". Over decades, I've never had any bike related issues with any business in my area, including many that let me bring it inside and stash it by the side or in an alcove while I'm there.
The only issue I've ever had is with my local branch of Wells Fargo Bank. I usually leave my bike outside while using the lobby ATMs. One day the manager comes out and tells me to stop doing that and bring it in with me because a thief could grab it and run faster than I'd react.
BTW- they do have a rack but it's at the back door by the main parking lot. The manager agrees that it's a dumb place, but the town won't allow it in front. The other WFB branch I often use has a drive up window, and I'm greeted with a nice smile anytime I use it with the bike.
So, IME it's not about bike friendly, but about the few rare exceptions of bike unfriendly business. Otherwise, the post office, bank, super market, fast food joints, pizza shop, and bars would all have signs around here. Even city hall, where the police guards let me leave the bike in the alcove near their desks, though they're careful to remind me to lock it because they won't watch it.
The only issue I've ever had is with my local branch of Wells Fargo Bank. I usually leave my bike outside while using the lobby ATMs. One day the manager comes out and tells me to stop doing that and bring it in with me because a thief could grab it and run faster than I'd react.
BTW- they do have a rack but it's at the back door by the main parking lot. The manager agrees that it's a dumb place, but the town won't allow it in front. The other WFB branch I often use has a drive up window, and I'm greeted with a nice smile anytime I use it with the bike.
So, IME it's not about bike friendly, but about the few rare exceptions of bike unfriendly business. Otherwise, the post office, bank, super market, fast food joints, pizza shop, and bars would all have signs around here. Even city hall, where the police guards let me leave the bike in the alcove near their desks, though they're careful to remind me to lock it because they won't watch it.
__________________
********************************
Trikeman
Trikeman
#13
Pedal pusher...
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 7,766
Bikes: I've got a bunch...
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
__________________
May you live long, live strong, and live happy!
May you live long, live strong, and live happy!
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Chipoleany
Utility Cycling
85
04-12-20 03:54 PM
ganchan
Commuting
41
10-21-14 09:09 PM