Lock it up or bring it in?

Where there was an honest attempt of having quality bike parking near the entrance, I will use it. Wal Mart is good for having bike parking, as is Blockbuster and No Frills.

Best Buy and Sobeys are examples of stores that don't have bike parking, at least not from my own experiences. I'll bring it in at these places, and I give plenty of push back if confronted.

My favorite experience was going to Sobeys late one night with the bike trailer to get dog food. I loaded a 26kg bag on the trailer and took it ot the checkout. The only checkout open was the self checkout. The clerk refused to help me and simply watched as the bag tore open when it hit the scanner shelf. The employee was then left to clean up the mess while I got another bag. Now the self-check-outs are closed during the over-nights, but Sobey's still insists that the wheel benders that are tucked out of the way and are often inaccessable because of the stock they keep outside represents a "quality bike rack" Ha!

The mall (Sherway) is a different story. They have only one bike rack (at only one entrance) that is flush against the wall which prevents the rack from being used properly, they have many signs saying that bikes are not allowed inside, and they have security staff to enforce this. I avoid malls as much as practical, and I find it easier to drive to them.

Better yet, I simply avoid these malls and stores as much as I can, and try to use local merchats instead.

I normally lock my bike outside, but I have brought my bike into various stores too.

A few times when I just needed to get something quickly at Loblaws (Dundas and Bloor) I rolled my bike through without any hassle.

I also brought my bike+ trailer through all three big box hardware stores at the Stockyards (Rona, CDN Tire, Home Depot) when I realized I forgot my lock. Bike parking at Canadian Tire sucks anyway... But it's actually really good (and well-used) at Home Depot.

It all depends on the situation though. If it's a crowded store with narrow aisles, and a possibility for wrecking stock, then I would say it's not a good idea to bring your bike in.

I would never go to the extreme and demand that I be able to bring my bike in. Doesn't seem necessary... There's usually somewhere I can lock up if I really want to, even if it's not a bike rack or if I have to walk a bit further.

Bringing a bike into a store is problematic - doors, exits, tight spaces, retail product, plus the dirt or wet that I will contribute depending on the weather.

I lock with a New York Kryptonite, if I don't find stucture, I'll lock the front wheel through frame - and I'm good for a short time.

Cycling is an inherently independent act - I feel that relying on another for security is counteractive to the experience.

If the store owner is smart they will have covered bike parking for customers - especially in the city. Hopefully there will be thousands of new rings on existing bike posts come fall.

I guess that's the one advantage 100lbs has. If I lock the frame to the [what is it called behind where the pedals are?] unless they have a van and a hoist or dolly, I don't think someone is going to pick it up and walk off with it!

Are those racks bolted to the ground?

I once pushed at a rack in frustration at it's poor placement and was astonished at how easy it was to move (I was expecting it to be significantly heavier). Ever since that discovery, I've been rearranging bike racks with impunity. shrug no one else is going to do it, and if I want a rack that is conveniently placed, I may as well move it myself.

I once rearranged a 5 rack set up outside an office building until it met my satisfaction. Hasn't moved since, and a lot more bicycles park at it now too.

This one: http://www.ibiketo.ca/node/1857

If there is no suitable locking space outside I'll bring the bike in. Locking the bike to itself is not secure enough unless its outside a store where I have it leaned up to the window. It doesn't have to be a bike rack - but seas of parking lots tend to have little in the way of suitable stationary objects. (that are not wheelchair ramps which of course would be inconsiderate)

I also brought my bike into loblaws before which had decent bike parking, but I forgot my lock. I felt really sheepish about doing so, and did so only because a friend suggested it. But the employees not only didn't say anything about it, cheerfully moved out of the way when I was coming past.

The only time I've been told not to bring a bike in has been in workplace office buildings which generally have rules about such things.

Of course I would never bring it inside somewhere where it would be in the way of other customers or merchandise.

I've yet to find an establishment in downtown Toronto that did not have adequate parking when compared with the clumsiness of taking the bike inside with me. Where there is no rack there are street signs, meters, fencing that doesn't interfere with pedestrian traffic when the bike is locked and myriad other options. Ideally there would be adequate parking everywhere but that utopia will never arrive. As the need is met we hope the need will expand, don't we?

Store shelving & goods placement, other store customers, thin aisle placement in older stores, getting your own goods from shelves while controlling your bike, water dripping from many bikes will have grease and oil too, glass doors, double doors in many establishments to keep winter out, checkout lines that barely accommodate a shopping cart, and that's just a grocery, Clothing and other goods each come with a concern where navigating a bicycle around unsold goods is concerned.

I also believe that as cycling grows we will not see more cyclists bringing into retail establishments, while it may not seem that big a deal when only 1 or 2 of your 50+ customers in a grocery are navigating bikes through aisles and checkouts imagine a grocery with half of the customers navigating bikes around. It'd be a great thing to have that many cyclists but a nightmare to have that many bikes being walked about your store, for the people with bikes, without them, and the people trying to serve them. ****

Not to be a turd but locking up your bike is fine and dandy if the bike you drive is relatively inexpensive.

I drive a $1,700 bike. I use it to commute and it is my primary mode of transport. I spend over 20 hours in the saddle every week so a cheap bike wouldn't cut it for me. I wanted a decent bike that was fast and durable, and I didn't mind shelling out for it. But you best believe that I ain't leaving it outside anywhere.

When I cycle to work, I bring it upstairs with me. There are unused cubicles that I can use to store it during my work day. When I'm in public, I ask if I can bring the bike into commercial establishments. Those that refuse are simply denied my business. Those who can accommodate me are rewarded.

Don't get me wrong - I know that trying to bring a bike into certain kinds of places is an exercise in futility (bookstores, restaurants your local porcelain shop). But there are solutions. Restaurants in particular are easy - find one with a glass front where you can sit and look outwards. Lock your bike within eyeshot and enjoy your meal paranoia-free. The little sushi shops on Bloor are good for that.

Anyone else cringe at the idea of leaving their chariot as unattended fodder for thieves and vandals?

I have three levels of locking depending upon my perceived threat level.

Level #1: The rear wheel lock. This was manufactured integrally with the bike, and is a rather good idea. Dutch bike manufacturers like Batavus tend to provide integral rear wheel locks with their bikes, and I approve. I use this when I'm close to the bike keeping an eye on it while doing something for a few minutes.

Level #2: The Kryptonite u-lock. This is for medium security use. When I'm leaving the bike for an hour or two to go to a store, a meeting or visit friends I'll use the Kryptonite u-lock and the rear wheel lock.

Level #3: Maximum paranoia. This involves using the Kryptonite, the rear wheel lock and a massively heavy chain and padlock. The chain is 4M long and allows me to chain both wheels, the frame, the seat and anything else I've got worth stealing to a bike rack or other suitable security anchor. The downside: All that weighs over 15 kg. When I used to work somewhere that I had to park my bike outside, the chain and padlock stayed on the rack overnight when I went home.

I remember buying my $125 Kryptonite lock - and the Salesman said," you know, the only way to really keep your bike from getting stolen is to never leave it alone".

Since then I've found that placing my butt on my seat is the best security measure against bike theft.

I've also had to do some maintenance on my expensive lock, and was shocked at how frail it was once I took it apart. I'm no thief, but if I wanted to, I now know how to steal my own bike.

I totally agree with this Tom guy, except that I do the two-lock method. Supposedly the bendy locks take a different tool to break than u-locks do, so I put a bendy lock on the front wheel.

Also, when locking to a post and ring, always lock to the post part. The rings can be busted off with a 2x4. If you lock to the middle it means that a thief has to break off both sides instead of just one. Signposts are a better choice.

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Once had my chain part on Bayfield Street in Barrie (busy 4 lane plus centre left turn lane arterial) and naturally had no chain tool with me. Walked it over to Wal-mart as the closest place that might have a new chain or tool only to find there was NO secure place to lock with my U-lock. They really only expect people to arrive by car or bus.

Thought 'nuts to that' and just walked in with the bike. Big wide doors opened for me. No one hassled. Found the bike section, bought a chain, went through the checkout, nobody batted an eye. Put the chain on outside and went on my way. Their bike stuff is crap of course but I really appreciated the fact that everyone working there treated it totally matter-of-factly. Gave me a warm feeling and would go back again deliberately but not for bike stuff other than an emergency.

I've taken my WIKE shopping trailer into the beer store. Lots of beer and liquor empties then picked up a fresh case. Really handy.

I'd made this the first stop before heading to No Frills. Got round that store OK but when I came to the checkout found it wouldn't fit through the checkout 'gate' - though in the open position it took too much space so I had to hoist the trailer, beer and all, over the top. This puzzles me because it means a wheelchair won't fit through either. Maybe there's a special checkout lane for wheelchairs.