If they can have handicap parking, wheelchair ramps, and other accessibility features (rightfully so!), what’s the problem with helping businesses to make their stores accessible by bike?
Everyone wants to support “buy local”, and there’s no better way to do it than by bike!
Seems like installing a simple bike rack would be a win-win-win all around. What exactly is the difficulty?
I don’t believe for a second that it’s a “they don’t know unless you tell them” problem, because I’ve contacted many, MANY stores and plaza management to let them know that they are losing business. Nothing changes.
And it’s not like they can’t see people locking their bikes to signs, trees, fences, or cluttering up the walkways because they have no other options when visiting their business.
Backstory: Over the last two years, I’ve been adding cycling infrastructure to OpenStreetMap. Stuff like bike lanes, bike parking, repair stands, etc. I’ve spent dozens of hours checking plazas in a 30 km radius, local storefronts, malls, etc., to see what options they offer. It’s SHOCKING to see how many have absolutely no bike parking. Large stores, post offices, coffee shops, or even gyms. I try to contact as many as I can, but almost never receive replies or acknowledgement. Contacting local representatives is even more futile, as they have no control over what these businesses do. This means I’m either going far out of my way to visit stores that have bike parking, or I take a car, which seems like madness either way.
They only have handicap parking because they were forced to by law. They only have wheelchair ramps because they were forced to by law. They only have accessibility features because they were forced to by law. See where I’m going with this?
Shit, they have a fuckload more parking than they need because it is mandated by law. Remove car parking minimums and set up bike parking minimums instead.
See where I’m going with this?
For sure.
Unfortunately, I spoke with local council members about this, and they said they can’t force a company to add bike parking. There are no laws that require them to do so, even though I would STRONGLY argue that it falls into the same accessibility category as wheelchair/pregnant/handicap parking accommodations.
I think you’d be laughed out of the room, if you tried to use disability law to force bicycle accommodations, and the people with disabilities would probably be angry with you. But there’s no reason whatsoever that they can’t make a new law or bylaw, mandating bicycle stuff.
Well, I also represent the disabled community, so they’d probably be told they were bigots for laughing. LOL
But in seriousness, accessibility had a broad scope.
It’s not always about accommodating someone in a wheelchair.
Accessibility could mean offering more than one language, offering different forms of access (i.e. digital, print, audio, etc.), and in the case of shopping, giving people the ability so safely access your store by bike.
Not having a place for bike parking makes a business inaccessible to a great number of people. So while it would be nice if there are laws forcing this to happen, it still makes no sense why a company wouldn’t voluntarily want to do it. They are losing business for no good reason.
I mean, your council member can always pass a bylaw requiring bike parking, same way there are often parking minimums.
Yeah I’ve discovered the non bike-friendly stores and venues in my area recently since getting an ebike in an attempt to be more eco-friendly. I absolutely hate it and I’ll just go to another store - I’m not locking my bike a block away. Tangential rage: bike paths or sidewalks that abruptly end, pushing me out onto a 45mph road in order to continue on my way. Shitty businesses and garbage city planning to blame.
Honestly did not know that. I guess this makes sense with cars pulling up to turn onto roadways whereas on the roads you’re already visible.
Would love to use bike lanes more, but also hope they’re at least consistent and have enough of a space buffer from vehicle traffic to feel safe.
Honestly did not know that.
Yup, it’s true.
HOWEVER, that only applies to sidewalks that lead across intersections or have cars entering/exiting driveways/parking lots.
If you have to choose between a road with no shoulder and traffic going 80km/h or a sidewalk with no pedestrians and zero chance of cars crossing it, take the damn sidewalk!
bike paths or sidewalks that abruptly end, pushing me out onto a 45mph road in order to continue on my way.
Yeah, this kills me every time I see it. It’s like leading lambs to slaughter.
Part of the problem is when two municipalities (or the region they are part of) are on different wavelengths or at different stages of planning.
One could have a multiuse path or bike lane spanning across the entire municipality, and then it ends into a death trap once you hit the neighbouring municipality.
We have a section around here where multiuse paths connecting two municipalities ends with no sidewalk, no bike lane, and a highway overpass cross over to get to the other side. Or, you could detour 6KM to avoid 1KM of high-speed traffic… Like WTF?
Thanks for mapping OSM! I map a lot of landuse doing things like forests, ponds, farms etc. I know it can be a struggle but I love seeing all the beautiful detailed maps when I’m traveling
Ironically there is a very large trek franchise store near me, No bike rack. lol.
It’s generally accepted practice that you can bring your bike into any bike shop. There is therefore no need to lock up your bike to a rack. In fact, people who have the fanciest bikes probably don’t even own a bike lock.
Right, I get it. But the place I bought my bike was a narrow store front with 3 rows of bikes back to front of store and a single path in. There was no way anyone is parking A single bike, only could bring in a bike and walk it through to repair bay. And during winter rides nobody wants my snow and salt dripping bike on their showroom floor
If there is no bike parking, then just take the bike into the shop with you. If it’s a small shop where you can keep your eye on it, leave it near the entrance. If it’s a large shop, roll it around with you — it’s not much different from a wheelchair. If the management complains, tell them they’re being illogical and take your business elsewhere.
I’ve been forced to do this a few time, and did it all the time when I was riding my e-scooter more.
In one case, I apologized to the cashier as I approach the checkout, and she said something along the lines of, “it’s better to bring your bike in the store! I had my catalytic converter stolen from my truck parked in front of the store while I was working.”
Jeeesus!
