Programming nota: Bikas’ entire writing team is going out of town for a few days – we’ll be back in town, rightin’ reedin’ and respondin’ next Wednesday June 27th 2012. Here’s a quick post while we pack -
Rye Baerg at LACBC’s research presentations night – photo from LACBC Facebook click for their photoset
Earlier this week, I attended the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition‘s event Supporting a Bikeable Los Angeles with Research. The three research presentations were excellent, and are summarized at Better Bike. Bikas plans to cover them a bit more when we get around to it, but one fun anecdote.
Rye Baerg did a presentation on the survey work he did to create L.A. City’s bike parking ordinance, which was approved but is still awaiting final legal language before going into effect. He explained how to get bike parking in places where there isn’t any, especially supermarkets. Rye suggests that you walk in, carrying your bicycle. At that point he gestured as if carrying the bicycle on his shoulder. Once you’re inside with your bike, ask to speak with the manager. Rye suggests that you let the manager know that you’d like to shop here, but there just isn’t any bike parking… and that maybe you’d go elsewhere if you can’t park here.
I don’t know about your local supermarket, but I find it irritating that the staff at my local Vons always asks me “would you like help out to your car?” I respond politely that I came by bicycle. There are some crappy wheel-bender racks over to side at this Vons, so I end up locking to the metal pen that holds the shopping carts – where there’s usually a bike or two already locked.
Anyone else have any good tips for getting bike parking at your local stores?
boyonabike
06/29/2012
I’ve had some luck getting bike racks placed at my local Albertson’s and at a Smart & Final nearby. I start with a polite letter to the store manager. I note in the letter that I’m a regular customer, that I’m not the only one who bikes to the store, and that encouraging more customers to bike to the store will free up parking spaces for cars. I include a picture of a good rack (i.e., so they don’t get a crappy wheel bender rack), and offer to help provide advice for placement, if needed. I include my phone number and email so the manager can contact me. Then, in about a week or two I follow up with the manager at the store. Both times I’ve used this strategy it has worked.
Mark Elliot
07/03/2012
Thanks for the h/t. I have had zero luck with my local Vons (in Beverly Hills), which is a poor corporate citizen. No amount of complaining or cajoling will get corporate HQ to change their awful bagging practices (paper bags with no handles, consistently putting one item like a milk jug with a built-in handle in a plastic bag). But this gives me renewed impetus to give it another try. Me loves a challenge.
FWIW, I will really work the Whole Foods & Trader Joe’s angles. I think this is where ‘big grocery’ is vulnerable. The former for the better experience, the latter for the non-union labor. “Gee, I’d love to continue shopping at Vons. It’s right here in my neighborhood. But Whole Foods makes me feel better about shopping there, and all my friends are telling me to go to Trader Joes for the lower prices.” I’ll let you know how I make out.