Why aren't there more bicycle racks at grocery stores and other businesses? Seriously.

So I keep hearing that gas prices are through the roof and that people only drive when it's absolutely positively necessary.

I understand that some folks have to drive to work since they live too far away and/or they don't have jobs where they can wear clothes that are comfortable to ride a bike in.

Here's what I don't get: Why do people use cars all the time for errands that are close to their house?

Almost all grocery stores are in close proximity to residences. People go to the grocery store that's closest to their house so store owners pick locations that are close to a lot of houses.

In my mid-sized Southern city I almost never see people using bikes for basic transportation, despite a very large and active contingent of people that ride recreationally.

Why is it that people will ride in the countryside 50 miles but blanch at the thought of riding 1.5 miles to pick up a few things from the store?

Could someone explain that to me?

I'd greatly appreciate it.

they'd install bike racks.

That's the question I want an answer to

Ask the store manager to request a bike rack.

:-)

Here's what I usually do:

When I'm checking out and the clerk asks if I found everything I need I reply no.

Then I explain that there was no bike rack.

of the regional manager.

Store managers love to pressure their regional managers with customer requests. :-)

Do NOT ask the clerk. They don't care, don't have any time, and carry no power.


Button hole the manager and regional manager. If it is a chain write a letter to the Prez and CEO.



The last time I had a problem I carpet bombed the corporate headquarters with letters. The response was what they should have done in the first place. I ended up having a nice conversation with the CEO regarding customer service and how to increase it while minimizing costs.

:-)

Rain
Snow
Cold
Hot
Passengers
Distance
Speed

We both had saddlebags also, which help tremendously.

It takes planning and imagination to figure out how you are going to carry everything, especially without panniers. But it can be done, with a backpack, a rear rack, a bungee cord and great willingness to RE-pack what the store has "packed" for you. Either that or just do the self-checkout if you can. That way, you can pack things exactly the way you want them and not have to watch some kid pack the minimum amount of stuff in the maximum amount of bags it is humanly possible to use. (Because, of course, supermarket baggers and checkout clerks are taught to bag groceries on the assumption that everyone will be carrying them home in a motor vehicle of some sort, so it doesn't really matter how many bags they use.)

Edited to add: It's a lot easier, though, when you're single and not buying for a family.

Packing is key and so is having enough storage. I have a front basket and a back rack with a milk carton strapped to it. I also use a backpack.



And yes I shop twice a week and for a whole family. Occasionally we all ride to the store together and everyone carries back what they can.



It can be done and it can be fun.




PS - I live in Minnesota and do this year round. Why? Because the cost of getting rid of 1 car in our family mostly pays for all of the groceries we use. How? Think layers of clothing and spikes on the tires. The benefit? I have lost weight, know my city better, and have a ton of extra energy.




Try it. You might like it.

thanks for being a good example!

BTW: may I suggest that you not use the "enter" button so often between your paragraphs? Your message is really long ... :-)

I ask because I live 12 miles from work, and was curious how long it might take me to bike that far. Do you have any experience biking longer distances?

but there is such thing as inappropriate clothing.

And if you try, you'll be a menace to yourself and
everyone around you including the ambulance crew and
EMTs who'll be scraping you off the pavement.

Tesha

I live in Germany, and people ride their bikes everywhere, in almost every weather. Sure, when there is sleet or freezing rain, they don´t. But in wind, rain, even light snow, the people ride their bikes. I personally walk everywhere to shop and do errands, yes, in every weather, the key is good clothing.

The funny thing about this topic of "using a bike instead of driving the car", is that people in the US think of a dozen reasons NOT to ride their bikes, which distracts from the topic in the first place: How to get your errands done (mobility) without using gasoline.

Have a nice day!

Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, we had snow followed
by rain that ended up as two inches (5 cm) of slush by
Wednesday morning.

Wednesday night into Thursday morning, we had two more
inches (5 more cm) of snow.

Tonight into tomorrow morning we're forecast to have
another 10-12 inches (25-30 cm) of snow.

Because of all of the accumulation, the widths of the
roads are greatly reduced, leaving just enough room
in the travel lanes for the cars (and no space for a
car to pass a bicycle). Many days, the travel lanes
within the roads are criss-crossed by tracks of
compacted ice. The sidewalks disappeared several
months ago so walking is impossible as well.

In a month or two, riding a bike will be safe again.
But right now, it's deadly.

Tesha

you are getting all the snow which we didn´t have this winter :-)

and use a backpack. Granted, I am only shopping for myself so I can understand how shopping for a family would be difficult - especially if the shopping is done only once a week or so. Markets here also charge the customer if they need plastic bags for their groceries, which I think is a good idea.

One back pack
One gym bag

I can fit over 20 pounds of groceries in those two bags which is a lot of food.

And the distance issue was covered in my OP

3 plastic bags in each hand, and then i hang them from the handlebars.
making sure the weight is fairly evenly balanced is important, tho.

And I carry it in this:
http://www.armynavyoutdoors.com/products/Top_Load_GI_Style_Duffel_Bags-363-55.html
(the type with backpack straps)
What's your point?

No possible way to ride a bike with how much snow we've had. There is snow accumulation on the roads almost constantly, often deep enough where the wheels on the bike wouldn't even work. And the shoulders aren't plowed so there isn't space for both cars (on icy and snowy roads so not that stable) and bikes to both be out there safely anyway.

BUT

In nice weather, we use the bike trailer my daughter rode in when she was a baby to carry groceries. It carries tons of them.

And if you modify your rear rack a bit to carry the rear panniers lower, you can put a basket on the rack that will take another 2 sacks. If you mount a "porteur" rack on the front rather than a touring rack, you can carry another 2. Total: 8 sacks of groceries.

Or, if you don't like the idea of all those racks and panniers, buy a 2-wheel lockable trailer. It mounts to a special rear skewer and will carry goddess knows how many sacks.

And if you want to be really cheap, buy just 2 panniers and shop more often.

I have a long-sized plastic milk crate on the back (usually for the dog).

We carry a ton of shit on those bikes. Fill everything up by repacking, then carry a plastic bagful on each side of the handlebars (close to the center).

Our Personal Best... a frozen 18lb turkey and all the fixings for Thanksgiving.

:-)

where I live in Woodstock, GA. Very few people ride bikes. The only people you see on bicycles are the illegal immigrants because they can't get drivers licenses.

Illegals can't get license so they can't drive. OK.



How about the cost of a car?



Or did that not factor into your politics?

If this is so, so can legals and citizens.

at my main grocery store, the rack is an OLD one, poorly designed, and so low that you can't safely lock a bike to it with a kryptonite-type lock, so i generally lock my bike to a signpost or a garbage can(the container for the can is made of steel bars- it works great).

the people to talk to about it would be the managers of the businesses.
or- you could try to get an ordinance passed in your town requiring bike racks for businesses with a certain size parking area.

Ahhh suburbia. First...the closest food store is two miles away and I doubt my wife with her arthritic hip is up for the peddle these days. Around Pleasant Valley Sunday, it's all SUVs and Vans...people buzzing along the main drags at 50 MPH chatting on their cellphones and trying to scream over the kids and the TV cranking in the back seat. Public transportation? Well there is a bus that goes to the train station (5 miles away) twice in the morning and the afternoon...there has been years of talk but no money or action.

In my younger days, I used to ride a lot. I had no qualms of going to the food store or riding anywhere. That's not the case now as more cars and people along with age make it a fond memory now. Fortunately I work out of my house and a lot of my business is done online or on the phone...I only travel when I have to.

I am a big advocate on the development of light rail and similar small systems that can be made very suburban friendly...bicycles may be great in a city, but once things are spread out, a motor comes in handy. It's just what type of motor and how its powered that is the issue.

:eyes:


:hide:

:spank:

I was really looking forward to a peaceful morning, and then Taterguy started a thread about one of the most difficult topics on the agenda ... bike racks.

:-)

:hide:

No, he's not.

And will you share some of the drugs you're doing?

:shrug:

and in which time zone you happen to live in.

Maybe you get confused about what site you're on.

I've never seen it peaceful here.

Since I live out in the country I'm pretty much forced to drive no matter what. I might get a motorcycle when it starts warming up, but it would only be practicle for having fun and being able to carry one or two little items. But I'll have to drive my 16mpg truck for my summer job at the Outerbanks becuase of the job its required for.

I get plenty of excercise riding the dirtbike anyways, a bicycle wouldn't really do anymore for keeping me in shape. Alteast not for the type of riding I do.

lots, access roads, and heavy traffic... these areas are generally NOT bicycle-friendly, nor even pedestrian-friendly. We can thank commercial developers and useless local planning committees for this design, which has become part of our culture.

fuel transportation. Bicycles are common in Europe. Of course the distances are shorter.
:dem:

when we ride bikes to the grocery store, the three of us (husband, daughter, and I) go together, and either my husband or I does the actual shopping while the other one watches the daughter and bikes. It's annoying.

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5679542

Though, I probably won't buy it from Wal-Mart. :puke:

My in-laws have one of those and it tips over really easily, so be careful! :)

or the day after that, or the day after that ...

Wear your mittens!

We are also developing a bike path network (some bike lanes on the street and some on greenway trails.)

We are committed to providing a safer way to bike and a place to park and lock your bike. It will take a while, but eventually we will be a much more bike friendly city.

We also are requiring sidewalks in new developments. Bikers can ride on the sidewalks everywhere but in the downtown area. Our sidewalk network is expanding slowly but surely and the city adds sidewalks in previously developed areas where the need is critical.

It's dangerous and rude to not alert pedestrians that you are approaching them from behind. I know that I'm tempted to throw a rock at the jerks that goes whizzing past me when I had no idea that they were anywhere around.

When I ride, I holler to pedestrians about 5 or 6 seconds before I get to them and alert them to the fact that a bicycle is going to pass them on their left or right. You have to yell early enough that a startled person has time to figure out what was said and which side you're going to pass on. If there is more than one bike be sure to alert the person to that affect (two bicycles passing on your left.) Even after I have warned that two or more are going to pass them, as I pass by I warn them that there are more behind me. You can't believe the number of people that yell thanks for a clear early-warning after they have been startled a few times by inconsiderate riders.

Which is rarely done on bike paths except for some folks fortunate enough to live in locales where the multi-use paths actually lead to destinations they'd want to go.

But since you brought it up here's my request to pedestrians on multi-use paths:

If you hear a cyclist yell: "On your left", it's short hand for: I'm about to pass you on the left.

It is not short hand for: Please step left directly into my path.

:mad:

It's not legal to ride on paths that allow pedestrians.

During the battle of Dien Bien Phu customized bicycles carried 400 pounds of supplies each.

So what you can carry would probably be somewhere in between those two extremes.

Ride into the parking lot. Rack my bike up against a parking meter (haha) or the shopping cart return, grab my "Trader Joe's" carry-bags outta the saddlebags I have on the back of the bike, buy a week's worth of fruit, veggies, bread and wine (usually 2 1.5 liter bottles--thank God Pinot Grigio is vegetarian), pack them in the saddlebags and ride off home.

Works fine, every time! And fruit and veg are a lot bulkier than the stuff that comes in cans or boxes.

But I sympathise with all those who can't do it: I live in a very bike friendly city (not its first choice: SF business fought us tooth and nail, but 10 years of Critical Mass finally got the Supe's attention) and I only buy food for myself. Also, I've ridden in the 'burbs, and despite the wide streets and blvds, I feel safer in city traffic!

America is so built around the internal combustion engine, it's gonna take a lot more than $4.00 a gallon gas to get us into alternative transpo. And face it: some people can't do it, either for health reasons or because they're stuck in their cars commuting 60 miles to work each way! It's a lot easier to pull into Safeway on your way home than plan a ride on your weekend.

It really is a vicious circle. And to answer the initial question, the reason we don't have designated racks for the most wonder transportation in the world is cuz grocery stores and other businesses have no demand for them.

I also rack my bike against the poles that hold the handicapped parking signs. They're always close to the front door.

I would love to walk to buy groceries, and I even bought one of those carts like everyone has in New York. But I haven't used it yet for a variety of reasons - one is, there's a ton of traffic and it's dangerous to cross the street, my own street doesn't have a sidewalk, and there's nowhere at the store to stow the cart when I shop. Sigh.

Hell, I worry about her driving at times during her parkie days.

And while I probably could (I usually walk to some close stores, no need for a bike in those cases) there are plenty of folks who just don't have the time to ride a bike) it is much easier and quicker for me to drive and get things and get back home (and riding a bike in the summer when it is 110+ is not always good for your health, and since people tell me what I do on my own time affects their health care prices I am sure they would not want me passing out and going to the hospital because I rode a bike in the dead heat to get some bread and eggs).

It's called balance and freedom, if you want to ride a bike - I ain't going to bitch at you for doing so.

Why even go to the store most of the time, grow your own food - buy in bulk at costco, etc. If you are not growing a lot of your own food then you are impacting me - because you make more trucks be on the road to bring food to the store you ride your bike to.

We could go round and round on this :)

but the store itself is adjacent to a major thoroughfare with a 50 MPH speed limit. Cycling there doesn't sound too bad in theory, but I'd only bike down that road if I had some sort of death wish--people around here drive like maniacs.

More people could use mopeds or smaller cars.

In Europe they have tiny cars and many use bikes and mopeds.

That will happen here too should gas prices go up high enough.

There's no bike rack at Trader Joe's, but there's one in front of my bank. There's none in front of the local city hall or police station but there's one in front of the post office. These are minor annoyances because I can park and walk two-three blocks, but the one that drives me crazy is the BART station. There is no secure bike parking available beyond a handful of permanently rented lockers.

Granted, I was in the far lane and the teller couldn't see over the other car to tell that I wasn't on foot.

It was kind of amusing but also annoying.