taking your bike in shops

[Darren69]

As title says, I tend to use two bike locks on my bike but always worry it's not going to be there on my return, last week I went in to decathlon and locked my bike outside, when I was inside browsing this guy was walking round looking at the bike hear with his bike and no one said anything.
I wonder if you can take your bike in most shops without being questioned.

 

[vickster]

Already discussed, very variable. Personally I don't if I am spending more than 2 minutes in there!

https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/taking-your-bike-in-shops.206161/post-4440087

I wouldn't personally use 2 locks while shopping, one solid d lock for me

Decathlon is a large shop with bikes, can't imagine they'd complain but still inconvenient when actually shopping IMO

 

[Darren69]

Cheers for merging my post

 

[PaulSecteur]

I just phone Al-Fayed and let him know my butler is on his way. The kind chap closes his little shop to allow my butler to shop unimpeded by the usual riff-raff. His bike is always washed when he returns.

Could you not sort a similar arrangement with the Co-Op?

 

[Drago]

You give your butler a bicycle? You'll ruin things for the rest of us with your rampant generosity.

 

[dellzeqq]

Similarly in Decathlon. Try riding your own bike round their store.

I've done that. In the same Decathlon. Not a problem. Then again, I've got a nicer bike than you....

which is how I've got away with taking it in here...

 

[dellzeqq]

Ah yes, I guess to a casual observer it could be mistaken for one of theirs.

Rotherhithe by any chance? They're a very chilled bunch in there...

Rotherhithe is good for croissants and coffee, but I'm now a devotee of Adrian's local on the Purley Way.

 

[tallliman]

^ I think that's the first time I've seen Purley Way written without the word Croydon attached!

 

[Tin Pot]

I was outside home bargains today but there was nowhere very obvious to lock my bike up and i only wanted one item. I remember on here someone saying that it was fine to take your bike into shops....not dissimilar from pushchairs or shopping trolleys in terms of impact. Anyway, the staff member told me i had to leave it outside when i got inside. Whats the reason i wonder? Blocking the aisles? Getting the floors dirty? It was dry and quiet but i understand that the policies are not adaptable to those things.

Against stupidity, the gods themselves labour in vain.

 

[Tom B]

Decathlon Bolton have no problem with you pushing your bike around - never tried riding it.

Toolstation have no issue and at first invited me to bring it in.

Screwfix not keen and asked me to take it out, so i did, along with myself and my money. But my local screwfix is horribly stuffy and the staff are just odd so they may be the exception.

Halfords Bury are a little uneasy -especially when browsing the non bike stuff and near the glass cases, but offer to mind it at the checkout.

Millgate Shopping Centre send a team of 6 geriatric security guards to try and make you take it back the way you came, despite a nearer exit and the actual shop i visited not having an issue.

Lush didnt have an issue.

The Rock outdoor shopping mall took exception to me locking my bike to a lampost informing me it wouldn't be there when I came back, I wished them luck and sure enough it was still there when I returned. As i left one of the guards grabbed me.

When I ran a shop i was happy for bikes to come in, we'd always offer to keep an eye on them.


I have recently managed to get a local Co-Op, Sainsbury's Local, and Tesco to install hoops/stands by simply pointing it out on Twitter. I find these companies very responsive to twitter, especially if you can include a pic of you bike locked to the trolly rack etc and blocking a path or posing a risk of oiling old ladies.

 

[John the Monkey]

The Brompton mafia will be after you with comments like that

As much as we would love to act immediately, we're waiting for someone to fettle a violin case so that it fits on the front carrier block.

Once that's sorted, mind...

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

I took my bike into the Lidl in Featherstone (between Wakefield, & Pontefract) this morning, for this reason; https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/lidl-gels.206384/

If I go into my local I usually try to time it, & go in the 'Exit' door, as someone leaves (such a rebel!!) & leave it at the back of the tills, by the bag-packing shelf
This time, no-one was leaveing, so I took it in, & leaned by an unattended till, got my goodies, & pushed it to an open till

No-one blinked an eye (maybe it was the 'Featherstone Road Club' bib-tights, I was wearing that made the dfference??)

 

[John the Monkey]

Please let me know when to start worrying.

If you've not woken up next to a pair of handlebars still attached to a roughly hacked away stem yet, you're probably ok.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Screwfix not keen and asked me to take it out,

My local branch was ok, they are in an industrial cul de sac, there was really no place to lock the bike outside.

The Rock outdoor shopping mall took exception to me locking my bike to a lampost informing me it wouldn't be there when I came back,

For what reason you think? A lampost belongs to the council, not the shop!

If I go into my local I usually try to time it, & go in the 'Exit' door, as someone leaves (such a rebel!!) & leave it at the back of the tills, by the bag-packing shelf
This time, no-one was leaveing, so I took it in, & leaned by an unattended till, got my goodies, & pushed it to an open till

I did the same, just the once when I'd forgotten my lock.
They did not object, I saw another rider doing it on another occasion.