Inadequate/no bike parking@big public bldgs.

[Tuckervill]

It's really not any more dangerous to deal with your groceries and your bike in the parking lot than it is for me to deal with my groceries and my infant and toddler getting into the car in the parking lot (I don't have little kids anymore, just an example). Everyone's in danger in the parking lot, or everyone is not, so let's put that aside.

I already said that the cart corral is not an appropriate place to lock a bike. I don't even like to park my car near it.

Covered bike parking? Again, in my car, I don't have the luxury of covered parking (although I did see a grocery in Scottsdale that had that). What about cyclists makes them more important as a customer that they would rate covered parking? Or to park near the door?

Putting a bike rack on the massive sidewalk in front of the Wal-Mart Supercenter wouldn't be much of an inconvenience for Wal-Mart. But it might as well be in the parking lot, next to the reserved spots, for all the convenience it would be for the cyclists.

Karen

[shootingstar]

Covered bike parking? Again, in my car, I don't have the luxury of covered parking (although I did see a grocery in Scottsdale that had that). What about cyclists makes them more important as a customer that they would rate covered parking? Or to park near the door?

Putting a bike rack on the massive sidewalk in front of the Wal-Mart Supercenter wouldn't be much of an inconvenience for Wal-Mart. But it might as well be in the parking lot, next to the reserved spots, for all the convenience it would be for the cyclists.

Karen

Earlier in the thread, I merely said near the door/entrance of the store in a safe location.

As for covered bike parking, would be nice but of course it's not realistic for every type of building design space area. Cyclists rating as more important as customer? .....already alot of real estate is devoted for car parking at shopping malls, big grocery stores. Some rethinking for shopping mall/big store owners: 1 car parking space can hold several bikes. Hence, it's a small investment to draw in more customers to place racks not far from an entrance.

Space and location for some bike parking spaces in a logical, safe place is not asking much in the bigger scheme of a shopping mall development. At this point in North American cycling culture history, it's not alot of bike racks that are installed. We are very behind compared to some European countries with bike parking "buildings" and other configurations.

Last night I went to a public panel discussion on bike parking. That's where my head wheels got inspired for this thread.
http://justagwailo.com/2009/06/26/park-this

[MartianDestiny]

Covered bike parking? Again, in my car, I don't have the luxury of covered parking (although I did see a grocery in Scottsdale that had that). What about cyclists makes them more important as a customer that they would rate covered parking? Or to park near the door?

I don't give a crap where the bike parking is, so long as it is there, secure rather than decorative, and reasonably safe to access. (As you've noted having to lock a bike to a cart corral is not safe for bike or cyclist. Having a bike rack in a parking space or near the other parking could be depending on how it is laid out).

Realistically if a place is going to put in bike racks at all it's going to be up front. Either in the dead space between parking and the lane in front of the store, or on the sidewalk somewhere. I doubt this is solely (or even primarily) out of consideration for the good little tree hugging bicyclists and more out of concern for their pocketbooks and the convenience of the majority of their customers. Put the bike rack in a parking spot and that's one more spot a car can't get in, a potential inconvenience for the majority of customers. Also, most projects with any foresight set the racks in the concrete; this, I imagine, is both simpler and cheaper than trying to set them in asphalt. Even if they don't have foresight, it's probably cheaper and easier to set bolts in existing concrete than in existing asphalt. Concrete exists up towards the front of the store and not really elsewhere for most major grocery stores and "megamarts" thus bike racks end up towards the front.

I've been to a few places where bike parking was off to one side or around the corner of the store/mall. I have no issues with that so long as it's marked or visible (or I won't find it and be annoyed that I can't lock my bike to anything!) and reasonably safe and secure (not in some dark back alley where I'm asking to get mugged, etc).

If a store/mall/shopping area doesn't want to provide me with a decent bike rack that is entirely their prerogative. It's also entirely my prerogative to be annoyed and not give them my business. Luckily it's rare that this is an issue in my area.

[shootingstar]

I don't give a crap where the bike parking is, so long as it is there, secure rather than decorative, and reasonably safe to access.

You mean cutie bike posts like these?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vancouv...7608992816756/

[TxDoc]

You mean cutie bike posts like these?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vancouv...7608992816756/

Now, if they do this around here - I may even decide to leave the car and start commuting!

[MartianDestiny]

You mean cutie bike posts like these?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vancouv...7608992816756/

The lightbulb doesn't bother me too much. I can certainly secure a bike with that.

Some are just dumb and make it nearly impossible to get frame, rear wheel, and bike rack all in a U-lock.

[shootingstar]

Newly installed bike racks near one of our local light rapid train stations (Sperliing station, on Millenium Line) and major bike route that was recently extended.

Others felt it was a practical design. The diameter of the round wheel design plus supporting bike post allows proper locking.

[skhill]

A lack of bike parking is one of my pet peeves-- especially when it's a business that's on a road that has a bike lane. But you know, sometimes if you ask, the business will respond. My primary grocery store has several employees that bike to work, and quite a few customers too, and a couple months ago 3 of us biking customers went in there together to ask the manager to please put in a bike rack. And guess what? They did! It's in a bad location (right by the door, under cover, but next to a previously existing sign prohibiting bikes/skateboards/skates etc. on the sidewalk) and not bolted down. So we're usually still using the trees off to the side, while we're hoping for something a little more usable. Still, they responded. They meant well. Now we just need to iron out the details...

My nearest Wal-Mart, on the other hand.... not responsive

Anyway, sometimes, if you ask, businesses will respond.

[Reesha]

I should write a letter to Schnucks about bike parking at Culinaria... maybe see if anyone else wants to do it with me through the StL biking forum?

[spokewench]

I know this is really hard to understand; and I hate it too. But, the only way to get anything changed, is to start getting involved in your local politics. Is there a traffic commission in your city that you can start to attend and begin telling them the importance of bike/pedestrian traffic, bike parking, etc.?

Is there a bike advocacy group that actually gets together and is vocal in local politics? If there is not, start one. It only takes one person to do this. We can all complain about this stuff, but nothing will happen until we band together to make the needs known.

Even when you do make these concerns clear, the powers that be, and people who do not ride a bike will decide not to address them. It takes long term perseverence. I am on the bicycle advisory committee in town that is a an advisory committee to the traffic commission. We have a say in what goes on in out town; sometimes they listen, sometimes they don't. Sometimes, it takes 10-15 years for something to happen and when it does it is a great big deal. At least to cyclists. We have had guidelines in our town for bike parking to be placed at new building construction. These were only guidelines however and did not have to be built. However, the City is now undergoing a complete revision of building codes and it looks very good that the guideline will now be a requirement! It has taken a lot of long years to get here and we are not quite there yet. SO I am crossing my fingers and hoping.

So, get involved. Perhaps things will change in your City.

spoke

[shootingstar]

Regardless of whatever exists in your community, it is still useful to make request (in writing preferably) to the building owner/developer as a local citizen. They often are also clueless if they are car-focused themselves.