Turned away at Walgreens Drive-thru Pharmacy

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?

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Permalink Reply by Cassie on January 10, 2014 at 8:11am

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.

Permalink Reply by Thunder Snow on January 10, 2014 at 6:33pm


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

Permalink Reply by Homebuilt on January 15, 2014 at 5:56pm

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

Permalink Reply by Jon Cunningham on January 22, 2014 at 1:17pm

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.
Permalink Reply by Brian on September 16, 2014 at 12:16am

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. 

Permalink Reply by Larry Mysz on September 16, 2014 at 9:56am

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.)

Permalink Reply by Marc A. Irwin on September 16, 2014 at 12:30pm

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

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on September 16, 2014 at 12:41pm

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.

Permalink Reply by Jon Cunningham on September 16, 2014 at 3:15pm

You nailed it SsS!

Permalink Reply by Martin Hazard on September 16, 2014 at 7:39pm

I love to go to the drive through at the Mcdonalds on Milwaukee just south of Diversey. They state that they dont serve walk up traffic, after the lobby is closed. Nothing more. I didn't walk my F-ing bike up to the window. I order a hamburger and wait for them to call the police. The police never show up for that type of call, and in the mean time they have countless drivers who already placed orders driving off without paying. When they finally capitulate, and they always do, I throw that burger out;-) F-them, it is up to the individual Mc-d's. 

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on September 17, 2014 at 12:18am
This is beautiful.

They call the cops. Even the cops don't go to McDonald's...



Martin Hazard said:

I love to go to the drive through at the Mcdonalds on Milwaukee just south of Diversey. They state that they dont serve walk up traffic, after the lobby is closed. Nothing more. I didn't walk my F-ing bike up to the window. I order a hamburger and wait for them to call the police. The police never show up for that type of call, and in the mean time they have countless drivers who already placed orders driving off without paying. When they finally capitulate, and they always do, I throw that burger out;-) F-them, it is up to the individual Mc-d's. 

Permalink Reply by David Barish on September 17, 2014 at 2:25am

I disagree with it but the thinking as far as I know is that anybody not in a car is more dangerous, especially after hours. My local Walgreens has served me at the window but has told me they are not supposed to do so. At times I have been turned away. Its a corporate decision and I don't want to make trouble for somebody working at the window.  I also think some drone in risk assessment figures a bike is likely to get hit by somebody in a car if there is a line.  So they make a black/white rule barring bikes so its easier for employees to  think. Once again, I disagree but I am not going to give the people at the window a hard time and cost them their job.

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