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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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Tank-Ridin' Ryan on March 29, 2011 at 4:27am
Oh no, it's spreading to other threads!

Davo said:
The meatbags make their return after almost a year!
Permalink Reply by yaj 7.4 on March 29, 2011 at 7:40am
Gaudi Cafe on Ashland & Erie let me park my bike inside when I forgot my lock.
Permalink Reply by April on March 29, 2011 at 8:18am

Uncommon Ground, two great organic restaurants with their own roof-top garden give a discount to people who bike:

 

"Biking and walking to the restaurant

We encourage all of our employees to travel via eco-minded ways whenever possible, and offer customers who do the same a 10% Low Carbon discount."

 

http://www.uncommonground.com/

 

Permalink Reply by Aaron Wilson on March 29, 2011 at 8:22am
I live a block from that Dunkin and I've never eaten there. I think I'm going to try this at the end of my next ride. Nice tip.

Ryan L said:
The Dunkin' Donuts on Broadway just south of Foster has always let me ride my bike through the drive through and they often give me extra stuff for free.
Permalink Reply by Eduardo on March 29, 2011 at 8:59am
Chick-fil-a has a button for bikes when you order and go through their drive thru.
Permalink Reply by in it to win it 8.0 mi on March 29, 2011 at 9:14am
Agreed, but the discount is for very off hours.

April said:

Uncommon Ground, two great organic restaurants with their own roof-top garden give a discount to people who bike:

 

"Biking and walking to the restaurant

We encourage all of our employees to travel via eco-minded ways whenever possible, and offer customers who do the same a 10% Low Carbon discount."

 

http://www.uncommonground.com/

 

Permalink Reply by Ash L. on March 29, 2011 at 10:05am
Wishbone (at least the location on Lincoln) also offers a bicycle discount Mondays-Thursdays.
Permalink Reply by Holly on March 30, 2011 at 3:04am
I parked inside Pot Belly on Elston near Logan last summer. I had forgotten my lock and the place was slammed for lunch, but the folks at the counter were really cool.
Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on March 30, 2011 at 3:50am

REI Lincoln Park? Really????  I beg to differ.

 

The store is too crowded/tight IMHO to comfortably bring your bike in even if you can manage to get in through the wonky giNORmous monolithic doors/foyer. There is only 1 (maybe two) bike racks dirctly out front which are WAY too close to the road/auto parking. I've actually had people stepping out of their cars literally tripping over my bike when they got out the passenger side door. While there are many more racks around the corner on Blackhawk they are out of sight and every time I go there it seems there is a stripped bike sitting in them so that doesn't really inspire a lot of confidence in their safety.  

 

The bike mechanics are rude and haughty to a degree that the worst of the LBS's in the area seem like happy hippie communes in comparison.  And they will not let you so much as borrow a wrench or screwdriver for one second even if you have bought some bike gear from them unless you pay a $25 installation fee to have them put your $20 item on for you.  This so unlike the experiences I've had at real LBS's in the chicago area.  While some LBS's may  sometimes snobbily look down on some people  at least they are nowhere near as bad as my experiences with the REI Lincoln Park crew.

 

REI isn't the company they used to be back in the 90's.  Nowadays  they have more in common with Walmart than a community-oriented store IMHO.  About the only time I'll go into the Lincoln Park store these days is if/when they have a "garage sale" or I can't find what I need at Moosejaw or Erehwon first and I need it NOW and can't wait to order something online from Backcountry.com or Geartrade.  

 

While REI does have bikes, gear, parts, and a bike  mechanic on duty I wouldn't exactly automatically call that "bike friendly."

Shawn C. said:

REI in Lincoln Park

Permalink Reply by Bill Watson on March 30, 2011 at 4:51am
In the Oak Park area - Forest Park Nat'l Bank doesn't allow peds or cyclists to use the drive-thru, MB Bank fka Corus in River Forest does, Walgreens in River Forest would not allow me to pick up a prescription at the drive-thru, Blue Max Coffee in Forest Park has a great bike rack,  Molly Malones in Forest Park is ok with bringing bikes inside and has a good rack outside...
Permalink Reply by JeffB on March 30, 2011 at 6:12am
I've always felt that unless you're in a race, spandex is underwear.  Put some shorts on dammit!

notoriousDUG said:
Restaurants are never the right place for tight fitting spandex...

Jamie Elenbaas said:
Oh, I don't think tight fitting spandex makes me look like a child molester, but I've felt that vibe from people in restaurants on occasion.
Permalink Reply by Shawn C. on March 30, 2011 at 6:47am
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...  

James Baum said:

REI Lincoln Park? Really????  I beg to differ.

 

The store is too crowded/tight IMHO to comfortably bring your bike in even if you can manage to get in through the wonky giNORmous monolithic doors/foyer. There is only 1 (maybe two) bike racks dirctly out front which are WAY too close to the road/auto parking. I've actually had people stepping out of their cars literally tripping over my bike when they got out the passenger side door. While there are many more racks around the corner on Blackhawk they are out of sight and every time I go there it seems there is a stripped bike sitting in them so that doesn't really inspire a lot of confidence in their safety.  

 

The bike mechanics are rude and haughty to a degree that the worst of the LBS's in the area seem like happy hippie communes in comparison.  And they will not let you so much as borrow a wrench or screwdriver for one second even if you have bought some bike gear from them unless you pay a $25 installation fee to have them put your $20 item on for you.  This so unlike the experiences I've had at real LBS's in the chicago area.  While some LBS's may  sometimes snobbily look down on some people  at least they are nowhere near as bad as my experiences with the REI Lincoln Park crew.

 

REI isn't the company they used to be back in the 90's.  Nowadays  they have more in common with Walmart than a community-oriented store IMHO.  About the only time I'll go into the Lincoln Park store these days is if/when they have a "garage sale" or I can't find what I need at Moosejaw or Erehwon first and I need it NOW and can't wait to order something online from Backcountry.com or Geartrade.  

 

While REI does have bikes, gear, parts, and a bike  mechanic on duty I wouldn't exactly automatically call that "bike friendly."

Shawn C. said:

REI in Lincoln Park

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