Bringing Bikes into Retail Stores

Sometimes I am making a quick stop at a small store and don't want to spend the time locking up my bike outside. I have a U-lock and two cables, and sometimes it takes longer to lock/unlock my bike than I am spending in the store itself! For bike shops, I don't have a problem bringing my bike in; I feel like this is expected there. My question is more regarding other stores (e.g. stopping in Half Acre to pick up a couple of beers). What are everyone's thoughts on this?

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Permalink Reply by Jeff B on April 27, 2012 at 4:56pm

Don't take it on the escalator at Macy's. Field's would let you do it, but not these New York guys.

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Permalink Reply by Greg Valent on April 27, 2012 at 5:21pm

Only tried it once, brought into Home Depot at Addison and Kimball as I was just hitting the returns cashier. Hardly even in the store. Once in awhile I see a bike inside Tony's on Elston. Just inside the door near the carts. Have never seen anyone walking around with one though. I prefer to lock outside. If no place to lock, I don't really need to go in. BTW, the HD at Addison and Kimball really does have a bike rack. It's by the flagpole behind all of the garden plants and stuff.

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Permalink Reply by Bob Kastigar on April 27, 2012 at 9:02pm

Too many of these stores have the wheel-bender type of bike racks outside.

Me, I use a cable lock on the garbage cans at Jewel, which is notorious for the wheel-benders

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Permalink Reply by Kyle on April 28, 2012 at 1:59pm

It doesn't hurt to call ahead first. I recently called the Uptown Ace to check hours. I asked if there was a rack out front to lock up and was told to just bring it in. When I arrived they held the door and had be park it by the register.

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Permalink Reply by dana on May 12, 2012 at 9:41am

blue sky bakery on lincoln let us bring in bikes. we had stopped there after a long road ride, we were riding fancy bicycles and we weren't carrying locks. it's really roomy in there and we just leaned them up against a wall while we had their delicious iced coffee.

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Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on May 12, 2012 at 10:22am

Some Walgreens stores have the wheel-benders, too. They do poorly on bike parking at many locations.

Bob Kastigar said:

Too many of these stores have the wheel-bender type of bike racks outside.

Me, I use a cable lock on the garbage cans at Jewel, which is notorious for the wheel-benders

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Permalink Reply by Sue Clark on May 12, 2012 at 10:36am

I tried at a Hair Cuttery on Clyborn where there were no bike racks. Friday night. The place was dead. No customers. A ton of space. Two employees who looked bored out of their skulls. I asked, and they said there was no place to put it in that huge empty space. (Not raining, either, so it wasn't like it was muddy.) I told them I'd be spending my money elsewhere, then, and was glad to learn that they're on commission.