I previously started this topic with a slightly different focus. I'd like to keep the info we've already gathered and encourage you all to add more. The goal is to collect data for a project I'm pursuing with a few folks to improve bike parking in the city.
Please post comments about Chicago businesses whose bike parking is
either good (to say thanks)
or needs improvement. Include
identifying information - name of business, address, and
what is good or not so good about their bike parking.
Photos are useful if you can get 'em. If you have multiple businesses you'd like to mention, feel free. They can be big chains (Jewel, Dominick's, Walgreens, Home Depot, etc.), franchises (hardware or fast food stores, for examples), or independent businesses.
If you talk to a store manager about the issue, tell us if you got any positive results.
Thanks for all your info! It would be great if we can get better bike parking at the majority of stores and restaurants in bike-accessible locations in the next few years.
Your info can help make that possible.--------------------------------------------------------------------------
I've had an ongoing discussion with a few people about the lack of good bike parking at most grocery stores, drug stores, etc.
County Fair (a family-owned independent) at 108th & Western has city racks out front. Riding there to shop is a piece of cake.
Jewel and Dominick's stores typically have no racks at all or one rack installed so close to a wall that it can only be used by a few bikes, or one rack in a location where it's always surrounded by shopping carts - not bike friendly. Walgreens stores near me have wheel bender racks similar to
this.
The nearest CVS has a city rack out front near the door, which is well used, but the one on their own property is so far from the flow of traffic and installed so close to the wall that it's never used.
There's a new public library on 95th St. that opened less than a year ago. It has a 10-bike rack near the front door. Guess what? It's installed so close to the wall nothing with wheels larger than 20" can be secured to it with a U-lock. It usually has no more than 2 bikes locked to it, then people start locking to the nearby benches and fence.
Meanwhile, another perfectly good 10-bike rack goes unused, because it's tucked away in the corner of the parking lot, out of sight from where most cyclists approach the library.
Which grocery store, pharmacy and library are your usual stops? Do they have good bike parking? Tell us about what's good or bad about the bike parking at these places or other frequent destinations. Curious minds want to know.