The Chainlink

I stopped by the Walgreen's Pharmacy at Western, Milwaukee and Armitage on my way home from work today to pick up a prescription. I decided to go through the drive-thru, because the process of taking off and putting on my gloves, goggles, balaclavas, and helmet, then taking my lock out of my paniers, locking up my bike, followed by removing and carrying both of my panniers into Walgreens, for a quick pickup seemed asinine. I waited for about five minutes and the car in front of me stuck his head of the window to tell me that the cashier wanted asked him to let me know that they can not help bicyclists. So I went home. I called and spoke with the pharmacists who said that it is a safety issue, because another car can pull up, not see the cyclist and hit them. She apologized and stated that in this weather they should certainly make exceptions.

Regardless to the weather outside, I think its unfair that cyclists can not use the drive-thru. Anyone have similar experience or know of a place that has good drive-thru bicycle service?

Views: 9266

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Could it be that they felt your cargo bike was a bit more like a car?

Cassie said:

I've gone through the drive-through sucessfully on my bike at that same Walgreens. The first person who came to the window said they couldn't serve me. I asked why not and was told it is a safety hazard because a car might not see me. I replied that any car going too fast to see my giant cargo bike with three passengers was going too fast for a drive through in any case. I asked for them to get the manager so I could complain.  

When the manager came, he asked what I needed. I said, I need to pick up my prescription. He went and got it. I paid for it. Done. 

Worth another try when you get an uncooperative clerk! They'll get used to it at some point.  They used to have a sign saying they wouldn't serve bikes, but it came down some time in the last year.

I think it was probably just because I asked to speak to the manager, and his policy is to serve cyclists. (This was back in August.)

Maybe he will be more widely sharing the policy with the other people working the drive-thru window now that he's gotten a message about it.


Lol!  Thanks, Mom.  I dunno, I'd much rather have a burger and bottle of water when out riding, than a jiggly bowl of gluten-free tofu, but I'm kind of cranky that way.


Diego Rael- 16.0mi said:

You shouldn't be eating that crap anyway.

Thunder Snow said:

This has been a problem for years.  Here's an email I received from McDonald's

I have never had a problem with Albany Bank (ALBANK) in this regard.

I too bike PNC drive thrus with no problems. I live in the burbs, though. I bike PNC drive thrus in Naperville, Downers Grove, and Clarendon Hills. There is one teller in Downers Grove, who, when she sees me in my car, asks me where my bike is. When she sees me on my bike, greets me by name, even before I have sent the tube with my deposit forms.

Walgreens have been a mixed bag. I regularly bike the drive-thru in Lisle with no problems, but my wife was turned away on her bike at Ogden and Main in Downers Grove. That particular Walgreen's lot is a real zoo, and even dangerous in a car. Blind corners all around the building, and people often drive too fast for a parking lot.


Richard tencats said:

PNC drive thru has been not a problem for me when on my bike. I've probably been thru the same PNC drive thu lane for near 15 transactions this year 2013 and last year 2012 about the same. Always felt welcomed when on my bike making deposits.

Anika said:

PNC doesn't allow you to bike thru the drive thru for service either. It's a pretty big ordeal to unload two kids and lock up a cargo bike just to make a business transaction but they cite insurance as the reason. There is a walk up window that can be used at the one on Fullerton but it is only open when the actual building is not.

You can walk your bike into the Walgreens at Armitage and Milwaukee.

I waiting in a long line of cars last night at the Walgreens drive through at Milwaukee and Armitage. I had a lot of stuff loaded on my bike and didn't feel like locking up. I've successfully picked up prescriptions at this drive through on my bike many times. After a lengthy wait, I was surprised when the pharmacist refused to serve me. I took my bike inside, because I was a little upset, and asked to speak to the manager. The woman on duty said the store manager would be in tomorrow...but she said he has instructed them not to serve bicyclists at the drive through window. I'm going to call him today. Didn't catch his name. But apparently he's in after 8, if any others would like to give him a ring too. If they want people to "be well" seems they should encourage biking. I was tempted to move my prescription...but the giant parking lot at CVS nearby isn't exactly friendly to bikes either. 

I don't have time to look but I could swear earlier in this thread there was a statement from Walgreen's corporate (and a good contact to complain to.)

On the topic of CVS.... there were provisions put into the revised city ordinance in 2003 that required all new construction retail to have windows instead of blank walls ("eyes to the street.") CVS's answer to this was to install fake windows with some sort of non-see through backing, totally defeating the (noble) purpose of the ordinance. 
 
Brian said:

I waiting in a long line of cars last night at the Walgreens drive through at Milwaukee and Armitage. I had a lot of stuff loaded on my bike and didn't feel like locking up. I've successfully picked up prescriptions at this drive through on my bike many times. After a lengthy wait, I was surprised when the pharmacist refused to serve me. I took my bike inside, because I was a little upset, and asked to speak to the manager. The woman on duty said the store manager would be in tomorrow...but she said he has instructed them not to serve bicyclists at the drive through window. I'm going to call him today. Didn't catch his name. But apparently he's in after 8, if any others would like to give him a ring too. If they want people to "be well" seems they should encourage biking. I was tempted to move my prescription...but the giant parking lot at CVS nearby isn't exactly friendly to bikes either. 

Possibly James Graham in Walgreens corporate media relations mentioned in this 5/2013 Bike Portland article.

"We welcome bicyclists at our drive-through lanes… riding a bike is just the kind of healthy, environmentally-friendly activity we welcome at our stores." James Graham, Walgreens corporate media relations.

http://bikeportland.org/2013/05/14/walgreens-now-welcomes-people-on...

h' 1.0 said:

I don't have time to look but I could swear earlier in this thread there was a statement from Walgreen's corporate (and a good contact to complain to.)

Sounds silly to me, I use drive through for banking, coffee, and fast food all the time without incident. I've never had an incident and don't see their logic.

Marc

The logic is that some people really need to throw their weight around with other people.  Being able to tell people, "NO, you can't!" with some pseudo-authority behind them to back them up, is empowering to some little people who really have no other power in their petty lives to feed their tiny egos.   Some people see a bicyclist in their drive-through line and jump to claim the opportunity to make a difference in the world to make a stand for themselves.

You nailed it SsS!

RSS

© 2008-2016   The Chainlink Community, L.L.C.   Powered by

Disclaimer  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service