anthegreat1

hmmm . . . .I'm really not sure how i feel about this. The bike is a rather unique creation. It can be a childs toy, hipster vanity, essential job equipment, or primary means of transportation. They probably had an incident of people acting a fool in the parking lot and thus the rule. It would just cause conflict if they allowed some people to ride and others not to. The security guard and company would get hell trying judge who could and who couldn't ride.

lil brown bat

A lot of property owners don't allow skateboards because of skateboarders' fondness for doing grinds and thereby damaging benches, curbs, walls, steps, rails, etc. I've never yet seen a bike doing a grind, but if you do, please post the vid.

BroadSTPhilly

Chris H,

I think that the way of thinking you espouse needs moderation. It is true that the same people saying walk your bike through the parking lot may also be the ones saying we should ride on the sidewalk. However being a hardliner about every issue makes you less likely to change their minds not less. We will make more gains as reasonable citizens demanding that their rights be respected than as agitating activists striving for a car free world. You can't let the perfect be the enemy of the good.

Artkansas 

At the Ralphs in La Quinta I was always amused to note that the shopping center prohibited bicycles on the property, but Ralphs had bike racks out in front of the store. Fortunately, there was no enforcement on the prohibition on bicycles. Of course, maybe that is why the bicycle store that was there, went out of business.

The important thing to know is that there may be different rules for the parking lot and the store as they are under different managements.

Given the circumstances, I'd walk the bike across the parking lot and lock it inside the store. Of course it may be an enforcement issue. What you may be able to do is ride in unless challenged, and if challenged, get off the bike and walk it into the store.

eAspenwood

agreed that a little moderation goes a long way towards a productive discussion, but if u think Chris H's response was bad you'd be really taken aback by the SS/FG forum. some serious hatin' going on in there. its sort of entertaining, but definitely not the most productive thing.

Chris H

I don't disagree with you at all. I think approaching instances like these with tact, and a little charm, goes a very long way in achieving your goals.

As I stated earlier. When contacting the customer service side of things, a well written and thought out letter can go a long way. I generally prefer a written letter as opposed to e-mail. It is not as easy to hit the delete key when it's on paper. People in that arena generally respond to nicely articulated and well thought out remarks, as long as you remember your audience and don't talk down to them.

ews

Stop writing 69 cent checks and maybe they'll reconsider.

Sirrus Rider

I say send them a strongly worded letter and get everyone you know in the area to do the same. As gas prices go up a "no bikes" policy is going to make them very look very "un-green" and make them look bad.

richardmasoner

The policy is almost certainly because of children riding their bikes all over the place. The local manager's application of this to somebody who is clearly using his bike for transportation is ridiculous. I'd make a stink about it.

I'm very tempted to stop taking my business to my local Nob Hill (owned by Ralph's) because of this incident.

kila kila kila

You're kidding, right?

Lalato

The policy on bikes likely has to do with kids riding bikes in the parking lot. It's easier to ban all bikes instead of banning just kids on bikes. Same goes for that one in a million skater that commutes on four tiny wheels.

The store is concerned with the safety of kids... and they don't want to get sued by angry parents when some dumb kid tries to pop a wheelie and ends up underneath an SUV.

Yes... your bike is your main mode of transportation. They're not saying that isn't the case. They just don't want to have to make a judgement call every time a bicycle comes into the parking lot to decide whether this one is worthy of riding (adult commuter)... and that one is not worthy and must walk (kid on a BMX bike).

I can see both sides of this... and I must say that their offer of allowing you to bring the bike inside is a very generous one. A really nice bike rack would work too.

--sam

HumbleGrendel

Stores already ban loitering. Why not enforce the loitering rule on kids hanging around on their bikes? If an adult or kid rides to the store on a bike, it should not be prohibited. The OP has every right to be furious. For those who think it is fine to walk the bike . . . would you do it if you had to walk 1/4 mile in the parking lot? 1/2 mile? 1 mile? Some stores and shopping centers can have an awful lot of asphalt between the public street and the front door.

CastIron

I'm wondering if their insurance covers auto users on their lot? Higher risk group, too. The argument doesn't hold water.

That silliness aside, they seem rather accommodating once you do arrive.

Tex_Arcana

I know it's not quite the same.

There is a decorative high arch bridge over the fake pond with a waterfall in the center of the apt. complex where I sit at the gate logging in visitors. That bridge is a magnet for kids on cheap Wal-Mart bikes. Lots of times they barely make it over, most of the time they pay no attention to the cars whipping around them and see lots of near misses. It's fun (I've ridden over it myself after hours/on my way home when the traffic has died down) sure but I don't want to see a helmetless kid splattered all over the front end of a car or truck.

Even though I have not been told to keep the bikes off the bridge, I take it upon myself to avert a dangerous situation by telling the kids to leave.

Since I'm "just a guard" I find the method that works best is to tell them that traffic is too heavy, they do not have proper safety equipment, and that the people around here drive like jerks and they will kill you.

I'm not power tripping. I'm looking out for the safety of the kids (maybe better then the parents that put them on crappy bikes with no helmets). The fact that the property might be sued is irrelevant to me since they never asked me to stop the behavior. Call me a a**hole for doing it. If it seems like I'm power tripping to you or talking down to you please try my job for a while. I deal with all kinds of people that don't know me, or my job, but see me as an "authority figure" that they can give some grief. My personal style is to ask nicely, be polite, make "suggestions" and say "please" and "thank you". This tends to disarm most and gets compliance but most of the time I get the "you're not a cop and you can't tell me what to do" attitude. If you get a 'tude from "just a guard", please try to understand that they are trying to do a job and that no one seems to appreciate at all. They catch grief from the "guests" if they do it correctly and from the employer if they don't.

genec

Yeah right... My local VONS in Clairemont Square removed their bike rack during a recent minor remodel.

On the other hand, my local Home Depot has installed bike racks in a new open and obvious area... I used to have to go behind the displays on the front sidewalk to find bike parking. (That's the Home Depot at Balboa and Genesee... just in case you happen to need some small items suitable for carrying by bike... I probably wouldn't pick up a load of plywood that way though... )

The local Henrys on Genesee doesn't have bike racks either... and my office here in "the 5th best cycling city" has one rack, no showers and a no bike in office policy (although they don't enforce it).

This area has a long way to go to live up to that coveted title.

genec

Why not post a sign saying "Bicycle riding permitted for shopping only" instead of no bikes. Further why not dedicate one parking space to bikes... so the guards can see the destination of the cyclist and determine the difference between kids jacking around and serious shoppers.

The problem is the overall view of bikes as toys, vice serious transportation.

genec

Depending on the size of the lot... some local shopping centers are quite large.

annc

If the problem is kids using the parking lot as a playground then the solution is to kick out kids using the parking lot as a playground. It has a simple test, "Is the person playing in the parking lot?" If security enforces this rule, then the problem will be solved without annoying other people.

zeytoun

The private property argument comes up every time something like this gets posted.

It's wrong, and is about as legally simplistic as saying "it's a free country" while mooning someone.

Property in the US is not just public vs. private. Private of various types comes with restrictions on the owner. Public of various types does not grant unlimited rights to everyone on it. Look up land use codes.

Any shopping center in the US, is granted development permits on the condition of agreeing to terms of the locality, especially things like footing the bill for nearby intersections and providing convenient access for the public, law enforcement, etc. They cannot just band a type of vehicle arbitrarily, especially if their property is easily accessible to the public.

For those in doubt, look up the cases where malls blocked access from public busses, and the resulting liability that ensued when people were injured or victims of crime travelling from the bus stop to the mall. Liability is the cover story. The truth is discrimination against "undesirables" (they want to shelter their affluent customers from anyone not owning a car).

squeakywheel

Security guard at a grocery store?

Throwmeabone

Sure a bicycle is a legal vehicle on the road, but you're not going to convince those people. I would be thrilled if they let me take it inside and watch it for me.

Pinyon

Around here, that could quickly turn into some type of critical mass situation, where 50+ bikers, some with recumbent bikes, slowly walk their bikes through the store on a busy weekend afternoon...

zeytoun

You don't need to convince them. Tell them to call the cops.

neopipil

The policy is not about safety. It is about liability. The store does not want be liable if you get hurt on their property. Motor vehicles normally carry some type of insurance that will cover any damages to yourself or vehicles involved in an accident on their property. Makes perfect sense from a business perspective.

lil brown bat

You call that a grind, hmmm? Okay. But show me the part where he busts a chunk off the curb.

Otherwise, it's still irrelevant to compare a bike ban to a skateboard ban.