Mom on bike vs. drive-thru burgers....

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I hope this hasn't been posted already somewhere on TE, but anyway, in the news today:
Power of bike mom vs. drive-thru (http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2009-08-19-twitter-bicycle-drive-through-bike-tweet_N.htm)

[Tri Girl]

That's awesome! Who knew Twitter could do good things for the environment? Cool!:D

[snapdragen]

Egg-cellent!:D

[shootingstar]

I hope she will work with Burgerville on accomodating drive through cyclists for this chain. It's great to protest, but better to take action to improve and change the minds of fast food chains with drive thru outlets.

I didn't realize that this was a problem with most drive-thru fast food chains...until now. You see, not having a car..we don't use drive through services. :)

My partner just reminded me that the drive-thru banks in the U.S. don't want to serve cyclists either. Is this true? If so, please name those banks.

Drive-thru banks have not caught on here in Canada.

As for the safety issue, that is ridiculous. When one buys tickets for British Columbia Ferries, cyclists end up lining up in the same line as the cars at the ticket booth. (Cyclists might start off in their own lane, but they quickly get moved /intermixed with the waiting car customers too by the time they reach ticket booth.) Thousands of people go through the ferries at the major points daily.

[Fredwina]

She was on the TeeVee new when I was in Port-o-land last week, but the chain headquarters was "reviewing their policy" . good to see progress

[badgercat]

My partner just reminded me that the drive-thru banks in the U.S. don't want to serve cyclists either. Is this true? If so, please name those banks.

I've never run into that problem, because my credit union has a dedicated bike-thru lane. :D It's right at the window, about half the width of the car lanes, and pretty much fantastic.

Incidentally, the McDonald's in my previous college town had a dedicated walk-up window, but I imagine that had more to do with keeping the late-night drunkards outside of the restaurant than any sort of environmental statement.

Back to the original topic--cool story! I hope the bike-thru idea spreads further, even though it is kind of a funny mash-up of environmental awareness and stereotypical American laziness ("I couldn't possibly be bothered to GET OFF MY BIKE?!!"). ;)

Seriously though, it IS kind of a pain if I just want to grab a quick bite to eat to bring home or (insert whatever else could be drive-thru-able--dry cleaning pickup?), and I have stuff in my baskets that I'd need take in with me (there doesn't exist an errand fast enough that I'd feel comfortable leaving my laptop unattended)--on top of locking the bike--if I could just stay with my bike to do the errand, problem solved!

[lph]

I find it a little amusing that a dedicated cyclist, in my mind promoting a healthy and sustainable lifestyle, is fighting for her right to eat junk food like everybody else :p

Nice story though. But did you read the comments underneath :eek: I know the States are car-centric but this really brought it home.

[Crankin]

I have used the drive through at a local Citizen's Bank while on my bike, quite a few times, with no problem.

How safe are those kids on the back of an Extracycle?
Just asking.

[badgercat]

How safe are those kids on the back of an Extracycle?
Just asking.

I was wondering that myself. I thought at first maybe there were some kind of handles or something retrofitted to it, but then I looked at her blog a bit and could find evidence of nothing of the sort. :confused:

[arielmoon]

I find it a little amusing that a dedicated cyclist, in my mind promoting a healthy and sustainable lifestyle, is fighting for her right to eat junk food like everybody else :p

Nice story though. But did you read the comments underneath :eek: I know the States are car-centric but this really brought it home.

That was my first thought too. :rolleyes:

[7rider]

My partner just reminded me that the drive-thru banks in the U.S. don't want to serve cyclists either. Is this true? If so, please name those banks.

I've gone up to my bank's drive up window on my bike, too, and they haven't batted an eye.

[owlice]

I think the main issue is liability insurance. Hard for a company to forgo that, and unless and until insurance companies cover bicycling patrons at drive-throughs, I suspect this will not spread very far.

That might be one less minivan on the road, but wow... I canNOT imagine riding around in traffic with three kids on such a bike!

[shootingstar]

I find it a little amusing that a dedicated cyclist, in my mind promoting a healthy and sustainable lifestyle, is fighting for her right to eat junk food like everybody else :p

Nice story though. But did you read the comments underneath :eek: I know the States are car-centric but this really brought it home.

Good point lph. As for a cyclist dropping by for fast food places...I only do it if I am cycling somewhere in an area that has very little immediate food choices. Usually that has been in rural areas or in sprawling suburbs where there are strip malls, etc. and it would take ages and many more kms., to find a decent cafe/restaurant with decent/healthier food. This happens to me a couple times per year.

What type of food places exist for travellers in more remote areas of Norway?

There are some fast food chains in Canada that do have car drive through window service ...with a few food choices that may be abit healthier...I'm thinking of Tim Horton's which started with coffee, donuts, muffins and also has soup, chili, sandwiches.

McDonald's offers cheap, small size muffins. ($1.20 CAN or so) No, they have sugar...but at least they aren't huge megamuffins. I know this because I used to work out in the suburbs with tons of chain stores and fast car traffic. That's where I occasionally bought a muffin on my walk from bus stop to construction site ...a place where we were abit trapped during lunchtime because we were in an industrial area.

But hey, during a long distance touring ride, one will take any filling food as long as it's not too fattening/sugary and upsetting to stomach.

[MartianDestiny]

I hope the bike-thru idea spreads further, even though it is kind of a funny mash-up of environmental awareness and stereotypical American laziness ("I couldn't possibly be bothered to GET OFF MY BIKE?!!"). ;)


I have gone through drivethrus on my bike (without incident BTW) frequently in the past (not anymore now that I've moved).

It had NOTHING to do with "stereotypical American laziness" or not wanting to "be bothered to get off my bike" and everything to do with not carrying 10 pounds worth of locks with me on a 7hr mountain bike ride (which is dangerous to me) and refusing to leave a bike worth $3k+ outside alone while I ordered but wishing to show some respect for the establishment by not dragging my filthy, muddy bike through their dining area. After I got food I'd sit in the outside patio and eat.

In what was an urban area with a high bike theft rate I was protecting my property with the best compromise I could come up with. I'd have much rather gotten off and gone into the restaurant...

[sfa]

I was wondering that myself. I thought at first maybe there were some kind of handles or something retrofitted to it, but then I looked at her blog a bit and could find evidence of nothing of the sort. :confused:

You can get footrests and stoker bars for the Xtracycle, but it looks like she hasn't because the bicycle-built-for-four wasn't her intention when setting up the bike. She talks about the setup on her blog--she had planned that the oldest child would ride a tagalong behind her husband's bike and she had wanted to get a BoBike Maxi for her middle child but they were out of them when she was setting up the bike. I don't know how long it has been since the initial setup, but you'd think that she'd work to retrofit it now that she sees she is using it more and more for all three kids.

There's a father at my daughter's school who brings his child to school on an Xtracycle, with his younger child riding along. It's pretty cool to see them out on the road. They have the child seat and stoker bar and footrest setup, though, so it's a bit more secure.

[Biciclista]

great story!

[lph]

What type of food places exist for travellers in more remote areas of Norway?


Oh, we certainly don't have an abundance of healthy cafes around, and a lot of people on the road will just eat junk food as it's easily available. Gas stations in Norway sell "food for the road", mostly hamburgers and hotdogs, but there has been a shift towards packaged sandwiches, salads, wraps, stuff like that. But even the smallest hamlet will have a grocery store where you can buy bananas, nuts, cookies, etc.

[badgercat]

It had NOTHING to do with "stereotypical American laziness" or not wanting to "be bothered to get off my bike" and everything to do with not carrying 10 pounds worth of locks with me on a 7hr mountain bike ride (which is dangerous to me) and refusing to leave a bike worth $3k+ outside alone while I ordered but wishing to show some respect for the establishment by not dragging my filthy, muddy bike through their dining area. After I got food I'd sit in the outside patio and eat.

In what was an urban area with a high bike theft rate I was protecting my property with the best compromise I could come up with. I'd have much rather gotten off and gone into the restaurant...

The part about being lazy was meant to be a bit tongue-in-cheek :o Sorry if that wasn't clear.

I'm also not in the habit of carrying locks on recreational rides, and even though my bikes aren't that fancy, I wouldn't dream of leaving either of them unlocked outside.

[msincredible]

I got in trouble for trying to take a bicycle through pedestrian immigration from Singapore to Malaysia...apparently bicycles are supposed to go with the motorcycles.

It was no problem on the way back once I knew, there were multiple drive-up windows to stop at. I was the only one pedaling my way through though. :p

[GLC1968]

I find it a little amusing that a dedicated cyclist, in my mind promoting a healthy and sustainable lifestyle, is fighting for her right to eat junk food like everybody else :p


Actually, (not that you'd know this from their name) but Burgerville has quite a few healthier options - more so than you'd find at McDonalds or BK or the like. They have a great salmon salad and more than a couple veggieburger/bean burger options as well. :) They also pride themselves on working towards a sustainable operation and they source most of their food locally.

I *heart* me some Burgerville!

[abejita]

LOL! Good for her. Hubs and I go through the drive through at walgreens and no one gives us a second look...they did, however, look at me funny when I walked through the drive through with my giant schnauzer...

[PinkBike]

the one time i tried to ride my bike thru jack-in-the-box the guy said he couldn't take my order - it's against their policy.

what really chapped my hide was that the restaurant was not open, only the drive-thru.

it was close to midnite. so i slunk away hungry and vowed not to spend my $$ there.

[KnottedYet]

I had that happen at a Starbucks drive-up. The guy at the window told me I wasn't allowed to leave via the driveway, either, and I had to pick my bike up and carry it through the flowerbeds out to the parking lot.

Rode my bike to a small local drive-up coffee cart on the other side of the lot, asked if they served cyclists. "Of course!" the barrista said. I ranted about how Starbucks had just treated me, and she gave me a discount... Awww, I love local businesses!

(if drive-ups don't allow bikes they really should post that where it can be clearly seen before the rider gets into the driveway)

[witeowl]

Resolved (http://www.stumptownlunch.com/2009/08/14/stumptown-lunch-newsburgerville-opens-drive-thrus-to-bikes/)?

But it's weird that this article with a clear announcement is dated 8/14... while the USA today article, leaving it up in the air, is dated 8/19. :confused:

[deeaimond]

Hey've u've been in this area before as well? How did that transpire? (just really curious) u did it alone??

We ride through the customs checkpoint quite often and we time our ride throughs to miss peak hour traffic. the motorbikes rushing home can be pretty intimidating.

Now the new Malaysian Customs building has loads of ramps/slopes/hills and many drain gratings, just the right size for a road tire to get stuck in. So the first few times were pretty stressful! bikes roaring up behind ya and u trying to make sure u didnt get stuck in a grate on a slope

Seems cyclists are getting more common, being a female though, they always ask me where i'm headed :D


I got in trouble for trying to take a bicycle through pedestrian immigration from Singapore to Malaysia...apparently bicycles are supposed to go with the motorcycles.

It was no problem on the way back once I knew, there were multiple drive-up windows to stop at. I was the only one pedaling my way through though. :p

[ilima]

I remember trying to order a frosty from Wendy's drive through window on my bike some 25 years ago. They said nothing doing even though there were no cars in line.

[msincredible]

Hey've u've been in this area before as well? How did that transpire? (just really curious) u did it alone??

We ride through the customs checkpoint quite often and we time our ride throughs to miss peak hour traffic. the motorbikes rushing home can be pretty intimidating.

Now the new Malaysian Customs building has loads of ramps/slopes/hills and many drain gratings, just the right size for a road tire to get stuck in. So the first few times were pretty stressful! bikes roaring up behind ya and u trying to make sure u didnt get stuck in a grate on a slope

Seems cyclists are getting more common, being a female though, they always ask me where i'm headed :D

Hey there, I was there on business travel, was about a year and a half ago and I did it solo on a rental road bike (from the Bike Boutique). I just really wanted to do a border crossing on a bicycle, had no idea how to do it. I even carried the bike through the turnstile. Those guards had me a bit worried when they were shaking their heads at me! :eek: :p

My last trip to Singapore was in November and I brought my folder with me instead, but just stayed in the country this time.

Not sure when I'll next be there. Good to know about the grates if I try again!

[KnottedYet]

I find it a little amusing that a dedicated cyclist, in my mind promoting a healthy and sustainable lifestyle, is fighting for her right to eat junk food like everybody else :p

Nice story though. But did you read the comments underneath :eek: I know the States are car-centric but this really brought it home.

I was just reading her blog (came across it by accident). I didn't realize her husband was on deployment in Iraq. I can totally sympathize with trying to handle 3 kids alone and just wanting to zip into a drive through and buy burgers for everyone.

[lph]

Oh sure, no problem with that.

As an aside, I was at a seminar today where a speaker commented that the vast majority of trips by car were quite short ones, ie. "trips of convenience". (so that making electric-powered cars capable of driving just a bit further than they do today on one charge would make them much more appealing to buyers.)

I had to really bite my tongue to not yell out "well try riding a BIKE instead!" :D

[KnottedYet]

As an aside, I was at a seminar today where a speaker commented that the vast majority of trips by car were quite short ones, ie. "trips of convenience". (so that making electric-powered cars capable of driving just a bit further than they do today on one charge would make them much more appealing to buyers.)

I had to really bite my tongue to not yell out "well try riding a BIKE instead!" :D

Oh, I know! Talk about totally over-engineering a solution! :eek:

"Here's Ms.Knot, driving her AWD station-wagon 1.25 miles to Costco to buy groceries. My, what a waste of gas and what wear-and-tear on her combustion engine, since it can't get up to operating temperature on such a short trip. I know, let's put her into a $30,000 electric car for those trips!"

Ms. Knot raises her hand: "But I have 3 bikes and a cargo trailer... maybe I should just get off my lazy butt and ride to Costco with my trailer?" :confused:

I was really pleased when my Costco installed a BEAUTIFUL rubber-coated and roomy new bike rack on a concrete pad safely away from the shopping cart storage area. I told them "thanks." That rack is usually at least half full. I must admit though that I haven't done a Costco run by bike since early this summer.

[Mr. Bloom]

I think the main issue is liability insurance. Hard for a company to forgo that, and unless and until insurance companies cover bicycling patrons at drive-throughs, I suspect this will not spread very far.

That might be one less minivan on the road, but wow... I canNOT imagine riding around in traffic with three kids on such a bike!

After having this debate in a previous post last year, I researched and determined that the liability concern arises out of "oil management" issues and concern that any two wheeled vehicle and pedestrian is more at risk of falling on the oil slicks.

Oil management/power washing is the key to making a safe "drive thru" a safe "walk thru" or "ride thru"...

[crazycanuck]

Only on the east cape :rolleyes:

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sideswipe/news/article.cfm?c_id=702&objectid=10617222

So not on a bike but yes to someone on a horse...