I’ve noticed some concerning regression in my community these past few months: the removal of bike racks.

One school removed their racks just before kids returned to school this September. The result? Bikes are now chained to fences near the local park.

Yesterday, while picking up a few grocery items, I noticed that the bike rack that’s usually in front of the store was gone. No other rack was provided elsewhere.

Last year, my city removed numerous bike racks along a street that ironically has the only protected bike lanes.

All of these locations are busy with cycling traffic, so the need has always been there for these racks.

I’ve reached out to all these places with no reply, so I have no idea what’s going on, but I’m curious if this has been happening elsewhere.

    • Showroom7561OPEnglish
      26·
      1 year ago

      For the grocery store at least, I’m going to walk in my large mountain bike, fitted with panniers, into the store just to pick up an item here and there. If I get any side-eye or complaints, I’ll clearly state that there’s no place to lock it up outside because the store removed the bike rack.

      This store in particular also made sure that the rack they once had was located as far from the store entrance as possible, despite the entire front wall being available. I think they just hate bikes.

      • grue@lemmy.worldEnglish
        2·
        11 months ago

        Awesome, this is the first time I’ve seen somebody other than me suggesting that strategy.

        I have to admit, I haven’t actually walked around a store with my bike before… but I have taken it up to the customer service desk and made the clerk responsible for guarding it. (And mine’s a cargo e-bike with a child seat on the back, so it’s even bigger and more obnoxious than your mountain bike, LOL.)

        • Showroom7561OPEnglish
          2·
          11 months ago

          Your comment was great timing! I had to pick some groceries up at the store in question and absolutely brought my mountain bike with grocery panniers inside the other day.

          I was in there no more than a few minutes before security said that I can’t have the bike inside the store.

          When i mentioned that I have nowhere to lock it up since they got rid of the rack, he spoke to the manager (?) who directed me to lock it up outside by the shopping carts. This was not an ideal place to lock it, as it puts my bike in the way if pedestrians walking on the sidewalk in front of the store, but whatever, I proved my point and asked that they add another rack. 😂

          I’ll continue to do this at other stores, and have been successful at doing it several times already.