Rant -- "Bank Drive-thru is for motorized vehicles only!"

[OakLeaf]

Use the drive-up ATM. It won't refuse to serve you.

If their insurance really had an exclusion, they'd post a sign (as they do in parking garages with the drop-down gates).

If they want to make an issue of it (charging one of their customers with trespassing, maybe? ) let them.

I use the drive-through at a national chain pharmacy all the time. If anyone has insurance issues, you know they do.

[SadieKate]

From the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation --

http://www.biketraffic.org/biketraffic/BT0203/

Bank Holds Up Biker
But finds it doesn't pay
By Angela Hahn

It was a typical summer day, filled with typical daily errands when Michael Abraham of Waukegan made his way to the Zion branch of First Midwest Bank. He was the first one in line at the drive-up teller, with no cars in front of him, so it was much to his surprise when the teller told Abraham that his business was not welcome. Abraham was on a bike.

"I was really pissed — they were making me go all the way back to my home, just to get in my car and make my way all the way back to where I already was," said Abraham.

Abraham called the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation. According to the Federation's Mark Counselman, they encouraged Abraham to contact the bank's branch manager, who told Abraham that their insurance plan precluded them from allowing bicycles at the drive-through teller. But Abraham was a former risk manager, and to him that explanation smelled fishy.

So Abraham and Counselman did some research. "What we found across the board are banks enforcing unwritten policies barring cyclists and making references to insurance as the reasoning," said Counselman.

Neither Counselman nor Abraham found any insurers who actually had a position on bikes at drive-throughs. Furthermore, Counselman could find no history of injuries, hazards or claims resulting from cyclists banking at the drive-through teller. In other words, these "unwritten policies" seem rooted in misconceptions rather then facts.

"If there were a real danger, insurers would be the first to know about it," said Counselman. "If a bank can improve customer service by doing something with no real indication of being dangerous, that's good business. Cyclists and motorists share roads every day, why not at a teller window?"

So Abraham had reason on his side. And if that wasn't enough to sway the bank, he could make his argument even more compelling.

"I wasn't going to take 'No' for an answer," said Abraham, a First Midwest Bank stock holder. Not only would he move his money, but Abraham "was prepared to enter a stockholder resolution if I had to."

The bank agreed to a compromise. Bank officials told Abraham that customers on bikes would be able to use the drive-through teller when the lobby was closed. Still a bit skeptical, Abraham decided to test out this new policy two weeks later and happily found that the drive-up tellers graciously accepted his business.

Thanks to Abraham Abraham's persistence, Chicagoland has one more bike friendly business. So, the question is: Does YOUR bank allow cyclists to use the drive-up teller? Give it a whirl and find out. If you get blasted with an "our insurance doesn't cover it" excuse, pick up the phone and let the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation help you fight for cyclist's rights! Mark Counselman can be reached at 312-427-3325 and says he's happy to help.

[SadieKate]

More: http://mobikefed.org/2003/04/us-bank...-use-drive.php

If cars screaming through a private parking lot are a problem, should they ban cyclists from the entire lot?

[SadieKate]

Hmm, ADA and wheelchairs. Are they allowed to use the drive-through?

http://www.bratbike.com/brattleboro/news.html

[SadieKate]

http://www.portlandtribune.com/susta...86591735012000


Next time a bank employees invites you inside, you could always ride inside.

[CarbonCandy]

I'll have to give this drive up window a try tomorrow when I deposit my check! I'm very curious what my bank will do/say, and possibly compare it to the 7+ other branches will say too!

[MomOnBike]

I have never had a problem with the tellers at any of the banks/credit unions I use the drive-up at. I have learned through sad experience, though, to beware of that big slippery grease spot at the credit union that has caused trouble on more than one occasion. (Darn cars, dripping oil like that, GRRR)

I tried once going through the drive up at a fast food joint once, but evidently the bike & I weren't heavy enough to trip the sensor. (Odd, you'd think we would be . . .)

My thought is that banks & other places will loosen up as more and more people start riding bikes on errands. They'll go with the trend of the customers.

[Trekhawk]

http://www.portlandtribune.com/susta...86591735012000


Next time a bank employees invites you inside, you could always ride inside.

What a cool story!!
Don't have to worry about the bike and bank thing here in Australia because as far as I know we have no drive through banks. Shocking I know!!

[BadgerGirl]

I don't think a robbery is a good excuse. They what would prevent vehicles from robbing the place. This is speculation, but I am thinking the windows may be bulletproof. And if the person at the window closes the tray, what are you going to do?

No, the drive thru windows at fast food places are plexiglass...not bulletproof. So, I can understand that. (It still hasn't stopped robbers working from cars though...)

It is private property, so they can make their own rules. But that seems counterintuitive. Who wants a bike going through the line on the inside of the bank. It takes up room, the way the lines are designed, it is hard to maneuver. I could see customers getting upset with that. And I would be taking my bike inside instead of locking it outside because my bike goes everywhere with me...(dam thieves).

If we are going to change our gas guzzling ways...this would be a good start since on Fridays and Saturdays, we spend all sorts of time idling while we wait in line.

[Melalvai]

More: http://mobikefed.org/2003/04/us-bank...-use-drive.php

That's awesome! I'm tickled because I'm the new editor of the Mo Bike Fed newsletter, The Hub. My first issue as editor is almost ready for press!!

[anakiwa]

Was it a Banknorth branch? I had the exact same problem with them (only I was a pedestrian and not on a bicycle at the time)?

[Mr. Bloom]

OK, Silver says I've been quiet on this long enough...since I'm a risk manager (among other things) for a community bank.

First, insurance requirements are a legitimate concern for any business. The rant needs to be directed at the insurer, not the business. If there's a business that does allow bikes, it is because of the employee's ignorance of the insurance requirements...and this too will change after an accident.

Second, at my bank - which has the largest market share in our core market - we provide bike racks at our branches and walk up facilities at our drive throughs. We would also have no objection to someone bringing a bike in...shoot, we have a bag lady customer that brings her shopping cart in...

Third, for those who have good experience with riding/walking up to drive throughs, that's great. But, I for one believe that it is more risky because you have vehicles in tight density. Not that I wouldn't do it if there wasn't a lot of traffic...but the business has to manage to the lowest common denominator...serious back-ups, impatient customers, and a driver's foot slips off the brake pedal... Drive through accidents are not uncommon, but you don't hear about them because vehicle to vehicle contact is at slow speed with no damage...but vehicle to bike contact is serious even at slow speed...

My 2 cents...

[OakLeaf]

so Mr., are motorcycles prohibited in your drive-throughs too? All of the concerns you identified are common to all two-wheelers. Actually the 2 mph rear-ender is probably usually more serious for a m/c than it is for a b/c....

And if m/cs are prohibited, get ready to have the AMA on your *$$, just as LAB should be now.

My $.02.