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

[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.

[tri_sandz]

With the gas prices affecting everyone - well MOST everyone, I think they will have to change the policy.

Maybe you can help to speed it up with a letter.

[singletrackmind]

Mo Bike Federation is the coolest!

My current bank does not allow bikes in the drive-through and it doesn't have a bike rack either. They tell me cyclists usually just bring the bikes into the atm lobby area. Mine, being a tandem, would be difficult to get in so I'm going to keep asking until I get my rack.

Bikes are banned from most drive-throughs and many parking lots around here, and as I mentioned earlier even schools discourage riding.

[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.

[short cut sally]

My DH used to do business with this particular bank in the area..I personally hated that bank and never did my business their. They are snobby, all the branches that they have. So I had to do a deposit for him, waited in line at the drive thru. Got up to the window, (not a vacu-tube) right next to the window so they could see me. And she said they would not serve me because I was on a bike, I said all I need to do is do a deposit..Nope. come inside. So I went inside and complained to the inside teller and no one explained why I couldn't just make a deposit on the bike. I was upset. When I rode one day to my bank I asked them if I was allowed to ride my bicycle thru the drive up window, and they laughed and said, you would't believe how many people we have that go thru the drive up window..another reason why I love my bank.

[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.

[Mr. Bloom]

Actually the 2 mph rear-ender is probably usually more serious for a m/c than it is for a b/c....

Do you really believe that?

[OakLeaf]

Absolutely. A 20-30 lb bicycle will turn, the rider can support it, hop up on the median and get out of the way. A 300-800 lb motorcycle will fall over, the rider has nowhere to go and may wind up underneath it.

[Mr. Bloom]

So back to my original point, direct your opinion to the insurer not the insured.

You might say "big deal, take the chance"...

You'd die if you knew how much businesses spend in defending frivolous and inappropriate claims. THAT'S the reality. Businesses buy insurance to protect against these risks...I don't need one more frivolous claim to defend and if the insurer says it's so, that's the way it is.

The insurer for the Mercedes in my avatar REQUIRES that the car be in a locked garage at night. That requirement influences my behavior, limits my choice in housing, constrains how I use the car, etc. That's the way it is IF I want insurance on a classic and valuable car...

[SadieKate]

I think the point is that I found several instances where insurance was used as an excuse when the insurer didn't actually prohibit bicycles.

Also, I'm rarely worried about being in a car dense situation like a drive-through lane (except for the fumes). I'm a heck of a lot more anxious around moving vehicles in the parking lot or out on city streets with cross traffic.

I've never felt threatened in a stop-and-go low speed situation where traffic was controlled with a one-way curbed lane where bikes would be directly behind the car (i.e., not trying to pass the car). Drive-thru lane is a piece o' cake compared to riding almost any place else. Pfft.