Let's highlight bike friendly businesses here.

There was a recent discussion on business that block bike lanes.  How about one that covers businesses that go out of their way to accommodate cyclists?

 

First up - I'd like to nominate  Delaware Dental at Delaware and State.  They are a very nice husband and wife practice that takes all kinds of insurance.  They're on the third floor, but it is not a problem to take your bike on the elevator.  There's a room within the practice to keep your bike, and no one bats an eye when I show up on two wheels in my bike gear.


Defying all stereotypes, my doc doesn't ride a $13,000 Pinarello.  In fact, he's not a cyclist at all.

So who else wants to recommend a business where you are not treated like a criminal for wanting to bring your ride inside, or like a child molester for wearing bike clothes?

 

 

 

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Permalink Reply by Julie Aberman (Hochstadter) on March 30, 2011 at 7:26am
I also have had nothing but great experiences at REI.  I think they have ample parking on two sides of their store and can walk my bike around not only in their bike section but all over the store. Their salespeople are friendly and knowledgeable.  If something I buy there brakes, I can bring it back and they will replace it.  Their clothing and bike gear, especially for spring/winter/fall , is nothing short of superb, IMHO.

Shawn C. said:
James - your experience with REI sounds less than ideal, but my personal experience has been the opposite. Besides allowing you to bring your bike in the store, they actively promote cycling as an alternative to driving, they encourage their employees to commute by bicycle, their  community room is free to use by cycling organizations, they hold classes on bike safety and maintenance (free), they sponsor local cycling events, etc...  


Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on March 30, 2011 at 7:31am

That may be so but REI has been annoying me for quite a while.  Last spring when that particular incident happened it pretty much put me over the top.  I just got my yearly dividend email from REI a few minutes ago (OMG timely) and I have to laugh because it was only for $10.24!  HAHA.  Used to be it would always be in the hundreds of dollars but I've pretty much sworn of REI now except for the Garage Sales.   This year was pretty heavy gear-buying year what with the monthlong backpacking trip to Peru culminating with the Inca Trail my wife and I took for our honeymoon all last October.   I probably dropped about $6k in gear between that and the rest of the goodies I can't help but buy for hiking/backpacking/bicycling/camping.  I'm a gear nut.  REI lost out a one-time regular customer. 

 

When I complained to corporate I sent a long letter explaining why I was angry but because i was using chrome and not familiar with it I thought maybe the form submit was messed up so I sent another email to customer support.  I got a nice personalized-looking reply from each one as the first one did go through.  Both were signed by different customer reps.  Funny thing though, as well-written and "personalized" as it felt apologizing for my bad experience, each one was identical except for the different name signed at the bottom.

 

Form letter...

 

Feh -REI.

Shawn C. said:

James - your experience with REI sounds less than ideal, but my personal experience has been the opposite. Besides allowing you to bring your bike in the store, they actively promote cycling as an alternative to driving, they encourage their employees to commute by bicycle, their  community room is free to use by cycling organizations, they hold classes on bike safety and maintenance (free), they sponsor local cycling events, etc...  


Permalink Reply by Kevin Mulcky on March 30, 2011 at 7:37am

The Green Grocer on Grand has invited me to bring in my bike.

 

North Community Bank has been friendly with me leaving my bike in their foyer and riding up to the drive-through at a few different locations

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on March 30, 2011 at 8:22am

What do you do when you want to go upstairs?  Bring it up the elevator? Leave it at the bike counter?

 

I wonder because it is even more cramped up there than it is on the ground floor.  I can see wheeling the bike around downstairs but upstairs seems like it would be really tight unless you were riding a 20" bike.  Your bike is fairly small, but not as small as a Twenty.  And my bike is probably longer than most with its MTB heritage and longer wheelbase.  I sometimes don't feel comfortable wheeling a full-sized bike around inside a cramped store.  I feel like a bull in a china shop.

 

While I respect the different opinions about this particular REI's bike-friendliness it also shocks me a little bit that people seem to have such good experiences with businesses that allow people to bring bikes in.  I've had bad experiences just about every time I've tried it anywhere other than an LBS and have pretty much avoided doing it unless there are no good alternatives.  Nobody likes getting yelled at or the stink-eye.  I do bring my bike into Erehwon off of North and Sheffield and lock it downstairs to the railing of the steps being careful not to block access to the elevator and they've never said a word about it.  That mini-mall has poor bike parking options outside so I decided to risk it once and have been doing it ever since.

 

I'd like to maybe try bringing by bike into REI Lincoln Square again someday when I'm in the area and seeing if they treat me as positively with my bike that everyone else reports getting treated.  Perhaps the difference is the Mary Poppins effect?    Maybe scary-looking dorky guys probably don't get the smiles that an attractive woman gets and can't get away with bringing a bike inside as easily?


Julie Hochstadter said:

I also have had nothing but great experiences at REI.  I think they have ample parking on two sides of their store and can walk my bike around not only in their bike section but all over the store. Their salespeople are friendly and knowledgeable.  If something I buy there brakes, I can bring it back and they will replace it.  Their clothing and bike gear, especially for spring/winter/fall , is nothing short of superb, IMHO.


Permalink Reply by kevin womac on March 31, 2011 at 5:50pm
The Handlebar is an obvious one. They've got a couple pipes mounted to the front of the building to lock up several bikes, while the back beer garden has parking for another 10 to 15 bikes. And just inside the back door is a bike pump, and often a bottle of chain lube.
Permalink Reply by Shawn C. on June 13, 2011 at 7:02am


http://www.thechainlink.org/events/chainlinkrei-bike-pit-stop


H3N3 said:

I'd be interested to hear what makes them bike-friendly.

Shawn C. said:

REI in Lincoln Park

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on June 13, 2011 at 7:42am
The fall of REI from what was a great member-owned coop to what it is now pains me.   Many REI's have issues but the Lincoln Park location is probably the worst one I've ever been in.  Don't even get me started about their bike counter.  The rudest,snobbiest, look-down-their-nosiest LBS in town seems like heaven compared to those creeps.
Permalink Reply by Shawn C. on June 13, 2011 at 8:18am

Howard & James,

 

Since you both have had bad experiences at the Lincoln Park REI, does that negate the support they provide to the local bike community?

 

Just curious...

Permalink Reply by Melanie K on June 13, 2011 at 8:38am

Bello Hair Studio, 5250 N. Lincoln (across from the new Dominick's). They invited me to bring my bike in when I had a hair appointment- even though it was winter, and the bike was covered in slush, dirt and road grime and dripping all over the floor. They were super nice and said to bring it in anyway and not to worry about it.  I really appreciated that.

 

Come to think of it, the Dominick's (approximately 5200 block of North Lincoln Avenue) across from the hair studio is pretty bike friendly as well - they have 3 giant rows of bike racks in front of the store to promote cycling.  Sadly, their prices are not all that great, but it is really convenient to be able to hop off my bike and lock it right in front of the store. 

 

As for REI, I also have had nothing but good experiences bringing in my bike- and the one bike mechanic we spoke to on duty was an old guy who was into touring and was super friendly and knowledgeable about gear and camping-he did not try to sell us anything, and even adjusted a few things on our bikes for free. Of course, on another occasion, the younger mechanics acted as if I was invisible as they were too busy trying to upsell people on gear instead of manning the counter of the bike shop area, so I can see where rudeness may come into play regarding some of the employees.  I have also been to Northbrook REI bike shop, and they were really nice over there as well.

 

 

Permalink Reply by in it to win it 8.0 mi on June 13, 2011 at 8:53am
I take my bike into North Halsted Home Depot.  Several people ask me if I need help; nobody's told me to leave bike outside yet.
Permalink Reply by Shawn C. on June 13, 2011 at 10:29am

Earlier in this thread I posted: "...they actively promote cycling as an alternative to driving, they encourage their employees to commute by bicycle, their  community room is free to use by cycling organizations, they hold classes on bike safety and maintenance (free), they sponsor local cycling events, etc..."  &  http://www.thechainlink.org/events/chainlinkrei-bike-pit-stop


H3N3 said:

I don't know what you mean by "the support they've given the local bike community."

You'd need to be a little more specific about that.  Ideally in another thread. 

 

Shawn C. said:

Howard & James,

 

Since you both have had bad experiences at the Lincoln Park REI, does that negate the support they provide to the local bike community?

 

Just curious...

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on June 13, 2011 at 10:50am
I've had plenty of good experiences with them.  As far as promoting cycling and helping the bike community, they have hosted many Chicago Cycling Club meetings in their community room, often put bike events on their events calendar, and I've found them very helpful when I've gone there as a customer.

H3N3 said:

I personally haven't found anything friendly about the Lincoln Park REI, bike-related or otherwise.

I have not been back since a particularly bad visit last October.

Shawn C. said:


http://www.thechainlink.org/events/chainlinkrei-bike-pit-stop


H3N3 said:

I'd be interested to hear what makes them bike-friendly.

Shawn C. said:

REI in Lincoln Park

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