Racked with Frustration...
#26
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My observations are that a fairly large number of the people who work in such places ride their bikes to work if they have a place to put them. From what I've seen in New England, there are almost never any bike racks at a Walmart location regardless of whether they're located where people actually ride. I don't know if there's an area inside where the workers can secure their bikes, however.
The lack of bike racks is such an obvious pattern here that I suspect they actually want to discourage bicyclists from riding through their parking lot, possibly for liability reasons.
The lack of bike racks is such an obvious pattern here that I suspect they actually want to discourage bicyclists from riding through their parking lot, possibly for liability reasons.
A survey we put out to the local cycling community/downtown workers indicated people weren't motivated to brave riding in dense traffic because of a nice place to park their bikes. Believe it or not, the survey indicated they would more likely be willing to commute if they had a place to shower/freshen up. Somewhere to put the bike came in dead last.
As I said, I live in a small town and Dayton at the time was 190,000 people at best so I don't know that it's a fair comparison to real urban areas. Around here, everyone knows me and why I ride a bike; anyone else riding a bike for transportation is assumed to be on a DUI suspension, a criminal or indigent. Sad to say, but it's the truth.
Last edited by nomadmax; 10-16-19 at 08:48 AM.
#27
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#28
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In their defense, at least around here anyway, people use motor vehicles a wheel chairs (ironically, the practice usually creates an inability to do anything physical later in life). At the Wal-Marts, grocery stores and mega-sale places around here there's only a slightly better chance someone would arrive on a bicycle and need a parking spot than a guy riding a llama would. I just don't buy into the idea that if there are more bike racks where people want to go, they'll choose to ride instead of drive.
I've been involved in the bicycle advocacy biz and appreciate anyone who fights the good fight to make things better for cyclists. But.......if you don't recognize that cyclists are a small minority and you're always going uphill and into the wind, you're fooling yourself.
I saw this the other day, many people in the USA feel this way about cyclists but don't ever talk about it.
I've been involved in the bicycle advocacy biz and appreciate anyone who fights the good fight to make things better for cyclists. But.......if you don't recognize that cyclists are a small minority and you're always going uphill and into the wind, you're fooling yourself.
I saw this the other day, many people in the USA feel this way about cyclists but don't ever talk about it.
Frankly, someday, I'd love to see an ad that says...
"Is your surgeon a second class citizen? "
"Is your local cop a second class citizen?"
"Is your local teacher a second class citizen?
"Is your neighbor a second class citizen?"
Then each rides by on a bicycle...
"Why treat these folks as second class road users, when they have the same rights to the road as you, and pay for the local roads, just like you."
SHARE THE ROAD
#29
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So don't tell me SoCal can't or won't support cycling like "Boston."
Oddly, my local Home Depot (on Genesee) took out their bike rack, after moving it around a bit, and finally just removing it. They have loads of displays out front for folks to trip over, and plenty of car parking... good luck with a safe handy place for your bike though.
#30
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About a year ago the City of Toronto with support from a local advocacy group launched the BikeSpace App. This app allows cyclists to report locations in need of bicycle racks and where damaged racks need repair.
Response is not automatic as it is primary data collector for city planners and property developers to meet the needs of their community.
Kudos to Toronto as bike lanes, sharrows and infrastructure are not perfect but there is a real effort in place to address a growing cycling population and the need to get people out of their cars.
Response is not automatic as it is primary data collector for city planners and property developers to meet the needs of their community.
Kudos to Toronto as bike lanes, sharrows and infrastructure are not perfect but there is a real effort in place to address a growing cycling population and the need to get people out of their cars.
#31
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About a year ago the City of Toronto with support from a local advocacy group launched the BikeSpace App. This app allows cyclists to report locations in need of bicycle racks and where damaged racks need repair.
Response is not automatic as it is primary data collector for city planners and property developers to meet the needs of their community.
Kudos to Toronto as bike lanes, sharrows and infrastructure are not perfect but there is a real effort in place to address a growing cycling population and the need to get people out of their cars.
Response is not automatic as it is primary data collector for city planners and property developers to meet the needs of their community.
Kudos to Toronto as bike lanes, sharrows and infrastructure are not perfect but there is a real effort in place to address a growing cycling population and the need to get people out of their cars.
So much infrastructure now FAVORS the automobile, and in some cases makes walking or cycling a difficult prospect.
Simple things like bike racks, sidewalks on bridges, bike paths where there are now only freeways... and complete streets... all these serve to put cycling, and even walking, on the same level as driving.
#32
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Is it really about "getting people out of cars?" Or is it more about putting cycling on a level playing field, as a mode of transportation.
So much infrastructure now FAVORS the automobile, and in some cases makes walking or cycling a difficult prospect.
Simple things like bike racks, sidewalks on bridges, bike paths where there are now only freeways... and complete streets... all these serve to put cycling, and even walking, on the same level as driving.
So much infrastructure now FAVORS the automobile, and in some cases makes walking or cycling a difficult prospect.
Simple things like bike racks, sidewalks on bridges, bike paths where there are now only freeways... and complete streets... all these serve to put cycling, and even walking, on the same level as driving.
#33
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Stopped by a different Walmart on the way to work yesterday...parked in their bike rack.
Haven't heard back from the credit union...not even a robo-response to my online submission.
Since my office provides a minor professional service for them, I don't think I'll push it or raise a stink at this time.
Haven't heard back from the credit union...not even a robo-response to my online submission.
Since my office provides a minor professional service for them, I don't think I'll push it or raise a stink at this time.
#34
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Stopped by a different Walmart on the way to work yesterday...parked in their bike rack.
Haven't heard back from the credit union...not even a robo-response to my online submission.
Since my office provides a minor professional service for them, I don't think I'll push it or raise a stink at this time.
Haven't heard back from the credit union...not even a robo-response to my online submission.
Since my office provides a minor professional service for them, I don't think I'll push it or raise a stink at this time.
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#36
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#37
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Every time I go to my credit union, I just take my bike inside. Every time I go anywhere, I just take my bike inside. My credit union doesn't have a rack outside, and I'm glad of it-- because then someone would surely say, as I'm wheeling my bike into the branch, "there's a rack for you outside." Well, if they want to go and stand guard over my bike outside, great. Until then, the bike comes inside with me.
One time in a hotel they told me not to roll them through the lobby, but then didn't have a reasonable answer as to where to store them securely. The other time a clerk at a convenience store on the beach told me I couldn't leave my bike in front, in clear view. I refused to put it around the side where there was nowhere to secure it and out of view, so I rolled it in, to which he tried to make issue which I just ignored until I was paid and gone.
I had often rolled my bike into the local supermarket at used my bag as the "shopping cart" till I got back up front and emptied it back out at the register.
#38
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The local Walmart does have a bike rack but it is located about 30 feet from the door. I prefer parking closer to the entrance and having the support of the wall when I load groceries in my basket.
Other locations with convenient locked bike parking are at the local hospital fitness center (rack is 30 feet away in the parking lot) and the local casino which has no bike rack.
Note: Locking my bike only to a fixed object while parked for shopping or for an hour or two is not necessary nor an issue for my bike in this town.
#39
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Could be all of those. I've certainly got out my car when I found a safe route to ride to work. And many downtown streets have found increases of many hundreds of percent of ridership with the installation of protected bike lanes without the decrease of public transit users. And with increased cycling ridership comes the increased demand for other things to support cycling, like bike racks, bike lockers and public bicycle service stations.
In San Diego, cyclists fought to get a bike path in Mission Valley that went to the beaches... specifically it goes to OB. The Path starts in a baseball recreation area... and is not supported further east, where the tourist hotels exist. There is a complete business opportunity totally missed there... and the city, which thrives on tourism, just doesn't seem to care. They have a potential "highway" to the beach for cyclists, that would not impact beach vehicle parking, would encourage hotel (taxes) use and could spawn other businesses... but no, their SoCal driving attitude just totally overlooks the potential of cycling tourists.
On the other hand, in Fort Worth... they built a nice bike path along the Clear Fork of the Trinity River... and in the Edwards Ranch area... there is a restaurant and BIKE SHOP (MellowJohnnys, at that) along the bike path. There are also easily accessible restaurants in the West Fork Trinity River area in Trinity Park. Now Texas is not exactly "bike friendly" what with "certain attitudes" and the heat, and Fort Worth could use more bike lanes and the like... BUT, these bike paths and the commercial opportunity use are awesome. Too bad other cities do not have said foresight.
BTW, if you happen to go to Fort Worth... 4801 Edwards Ranch Rd #125 , Fort Worth, TX 76109 https://shop.mellowjohnnys.com/
and no, I have no connection... other than to appreciate the situation I mentioned above.
#40
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Is this forum bad luck or something?
For two-and-a-half years, where I've lived, I hadn't seen a snake by the house (I hadn't seen a snake anyplace I've lived, either), yet, after coming across a post, here, where someone mentioned they saw a snake while cycling, I saw a small, garden snake (I guess) by the hose, next to the house.
And, now, after reading this thread, where cyclists who lock their bikes to sign posts were criticized, a security guard decided to admonish me (for the first time in my life) for locking my bike to a sign post near the front entrance of the county library, which is attached, inside, along with a large school, saying, "It's not for that; it doesn't belong there."
Literally, 99.99% of businesses and restaurants in the city suburb don't have a bike rack at all (they're only installed at schools and libraries). So, I have the luck of getting scolded at the only place that has a bike rack for a 15 mile radius.
The bike rack seemed to, basically, be installed in a place that caters more to the school and library staff entrance (it's on the side of the building, around 1/3 of a mile away from the main entrance, and I'm not allowed to enter through those doors, as I'm not a part of the school, nor the library staff; library staff, apparently, have a key to enter their door).
The security guards are only there to watch over and protect the school, not watch over my bike, in case it gets stolen. (They don't even notice that drivers without electric vehicles park in the parking lot in spaces that are meant for electric vehicles to charge their batteries. Since not many people cycle in the suburbs, in the first place, and cycling isn't as popular, as it is in larger, metropolitan cities, not many people are aware that bikes can/are stolen; so, no one would be looking out for my bike or notice if someone was trying to steal my bike).
So, that's one reason why I wanted it near the front entrance: so that I can watch over it through the library windows, in case anyone decided to try to mess with it or steal it, and to get back to it, quickly.
For two-and-a-half years, where I've lived, I hadn't seen a snake by the house (I hadn't seen a snake anyplace I've lived, either), yet, after coming across a post, here, where someone mentioned they saw a snake while cycling, I saw a small, garden snake (I guess) by the hose, next to the house.
And, now, after reading this thread, where cyclists who lock their bikes to sign posts were criticized, a security guard decided to admonish me (for the first time in my life) for locking my bike to a sign post near the front entrance of the county library, which is attached, inside, along with a large school, saying, "It's not for that; it doesn't belong there."
Literally, 99.99% of businesses and restaurants in the city suburb don't have a bike rack at all (they're only installed at schools and libraries). So, I have the luck of getting scolded at the only place that has a bike rack for a 15 mile radius.
The bike rack seemed to, basically, be installed in a place that caters more to the school and library staff entrance (it's on the side of the building, around 1/3 of a mile away from the main entrance, and I'm not allowed to enter through those doors, as I'm not a part of the school, nor the library staff; library staff, apparently, have a key to enter their door).
The security guards are only there to watch over and protect the school, not watch over my bike, in case it gets stolen. (They don't even notice that drivers without electric vehicles park in the parking lot in spaces that are meant for electric vehicles to charge their batteries. Since not many people cycle in the suburbs, in the first place, and cycling isn't as popular, as it is in larger, metropolitan cities, not many people are aware that bikes can/are stolen; so, no one would be looking out for my bike or notice if someone was trying to steal my bike).
So, that's one reason why I wanted it near the front entrance: so that I can watch over it through the library windows, in case anyone decided to try to mess with it or steal it, and to get back to it, quickly.
Last edited by anon06; 10-20-19 at 07:35 AM.
#41
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If not I chain it the to cart return in the parking lot. Usually it's not in the way of parking, plus it sends a message.
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#42
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#43
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Last edited by Milton Keynes; 10-22-19 at 07:25 AM.
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#44
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"I get frustrated because my cane gets caught in the spokes."
"Don't dump your bikes against the wall of a building because my arms get caught in the handle bars and it makes it difficult for blind and low vision people to find the entrance to the building."
"Use common sense. Don't block acess to transit stops, curb ramps, benches, driveways, or doors."
"Bike blocking is not cool. It's rude. It's dangerous."
-mr. bill
"Don't dump your bikes against the wall of a building because my arms get caught in the handle bars and it makes it difficult for blind and low vision people to find the entrance to the building."
"Use common sense. Don't block acess to transit stops, curb ramps, benches, driveways, or doors."
"Bike blocking is not cool. It's rude. It's dangerous."
-mr. bill
Last edited by mr_bill; 10-22-19 at 07:47 AM.
#45
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"I get frustrated because my cane gets caught in the spokes."
"Don't dump your bikes against the wall of a building because my arms get caught in the handle bars and it makes it difficult for blind and low vision people to find the entrance to the building."
"Use common sense. Don't block acess to transit stops, curb ramps, benches, driveways, or doors."
"Bike blocking is not cool. It's rude. It's dangerous."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHXozrBZFOM
-mr. bill
"Don't dump your bikes against the wall of a building because my arms get caught in the handle bars and it makes it difficult for blind and low vision people to find the entrance to the building."
"Use common sense. Don't block acess to transit stops, curb ramps, benches, driveways, or doors."
"Bike blocking is not cool. It's rude. It's dangerous."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHXozrBZFOM
-mr. bill
#46
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