Took my bike into Aldi, Gorgie Road this afternoon as I have several times a week for at least a year,only to be told by the politely by the security man that the store manager no longer allows cycles into the store. I normally lean my bike against the packing shelf when I'm doing my shopping, but no more it seems.
I accepted this without argument or discussion and locked my bike outside.
After this I've given it some thought :-
Why are bikes not allowed in the store now? Has somebody taken a filthy MTB into the store and left a mess or is it just the usual British anti-cylists stance? Will they ban kids' scooters, mobility scooters, wheelchairs, prams, wheeled shopping bags, golf caddies- where do I stop?
I've wheeled my bike into hotel lobbies (indeed welcomed in many-especially in more cycle-friendly countries such as France and Spain),airport terminals etc etc ad there's rarely a second glance. Many hotels don't even mind bikes being taken into rooms.
So can someone please tell me what it is about British attitude to bikes?
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure
What is it about bikes
(19 posts)-
Posted 9 years ago #
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I tried to take my bike into the body shop in central station yesterday. Shop person said not allowed by polis as was fire hazard or more likely hazard in a fire? I put it outside but left wheel sticking across the doors this was also not allowed. All very civil and good natured.
Asda do not let you take your bike in. Most wine shops do. Sweary Jim my barber does let me take bike in if quiet. Florist on broughton st allowed bike.
Random?
Any bike stuff left in Aldi? Was flying out the shop on sunday
Posted 9 years ago # -
Who knows. New manager who thinks modes of transport should be outside? Maybe someone bumped against a propped up bike that fell over and hit someone. Maybe Claims R Us got £5,000 compensation for the person out of Aldi and to avoid any future claims they've decided not allow it. Write them a letter.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Or shop somewhere else.
Posted 9 years ago # -
I think gembo is spot on - fire hazard, thus prevents people getting out. Places of business need to ensure there are minimum widths of free space to get out in the event of a fire, so unless the space you're putting your bike is huge, that could well be it.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Kenny and gembo thanks for your responses, the old fire escape excuse is the usual one and you're probably right
However,the packing shelf area is right up against the wall after the checkouts and is completely out of the fire escape routes. Peole would have to be really stupid to be heading towards the packing-shelf wall to escape a fire!
Did you read what I commented on about other wheeled items which people like to take into shops - why are they different (apart from, obviously items for disabled people)? Are Aldi's own huge pallet trollies which are always in the aisles also a fire escape issue? Shouldn't they only be stocking shelves during closing hours to satisfy fire regulations?Posted 9 years ago # -
@bigjack, the fire hazard will be the reason given? Not technically in the way where you say but will probably still be the reason. Never seen a mobility scooter or golf caddy car in the shop but it is Gorgie Bigjack so anything can happen. The store manager may well just have been unaware of the company policy? I think this Aldi may have been the last supermarket allowing bikes in?
I like the shop, I think the folk on the tills are ususally very chatty and friendly. I recommend their Spanish wine. Ribera del Duero red which is called Minarete and on the white front their Albariño from Galicia. Both are £5.99 which is not cheap but cheaper than you will get these wines anywhere else.
Posted 9 years ago # -
I don't know the store, tbh, so I can't really comment about specifics such as golf trolleys, but what I do know from my work is that the rules surrounding being able to exit in the event of a fire are, quite rightly, very strict and you don't want to break them. Therefore, I suspect the store manager is probably playing it safe.
Posted 9 years ago # -
It's an interesting point about the stocking up pallets however, the Tesco by Firhill secondary is particularly bad for this along the back of the store - it's hard to get to half the shelves.
Presumably they're too smart to break the fire regs, but could have paid for an exemption in the legislation I suppose.
I recently worked in an office building which shall remain nameless where the main fire escape stairwell was quietly filled with building materials and nobody any the wiser until someone tried to use the fire escape as a shortcut and got trapped. So, perhaps individual store managers do just wing it, or the fines are much lower than the efficiency savings of just stacking the pallets in the aisles anyway?
Someone on CCE must either be a store manager or know one, surely?
Posted 9 years ago # -
The argument would go that pallet trollies are essential for the operation of the store so while they might be in the way in the event of a fire, the risk needs to accepted as part of the running of the store. Mobility scooters, prams, etc, arguably essential, necessary, desirable, etc. for all sorts of good reasons. A bike, on the other hand ... no need under any circumstances for it to be in a shop.
That would be the argument I'd expect.
Posted 9 years ago # -
I say again "what is it about bikes"-scooters essential,necessary etc?? Wheeled shopping bags, kiddies trikes?
Posted 9 years ago # -
I thought this was a cycling supporters forum!
Posted 9 years ago # -
Interesting Bigjack tht your ban comes into force during the week they are selling their bike kit and were inundated with bargain hunters. Perhaps some matter brought things to a head?
You need a pound for the trolleys too.
Aisles very tight. Compare with new longstone sainsburys, very access friendly lifts, conveyor belt, very wide aisles and no customers. Still need to leave bike outside but the other wheeled vehicles might get in. Well the mobility scooter, possibly not the caddy car.
I am guessing there will be legislation or guidance that all the supermarkets are now applying about bikes. They all have racks outside to varying degrees so now they are all stopping bikes getting in. This has just taken longer than everywhere else to reach the little Aldi in Gorgie.
Posted 9 years ago # -
"I thought this was a cycling supporters forum!"
I was making the argument that I thought you'd get if you wrote a letter to Aldi. In their shoes, that's what I'd say. Must say, I pretty much convinced myself.
I'm happy to support cycling on roads and designated paths. Not so much on pavements and not in supermarkets. Maybe I'd understand better if you could explain why you want to take the bike into the shop when you have a lock and there's a place to lock it outside. More to the point, why do you feel you should be entitled to?
People are allowed to take mobility scooters, prams, kiddies trikes, wheelchairs, wheeled suitcases, golf carts and other wheeled things on buses but it wouldn't occur to me to think that because those wheeled things are allowed that I should be allowed to take my tourer on the bus.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Gorgie Aldi has particularly narrow aisles, often able to be blocked by a single shopper, particularly around the fruit bit.
Posted 9 years ago # -
I took a bike into Tesco Corstorphine around a year ago as I didn't have a lock with me. The security guard was very clear that he wouldn't allow me to take it round the aisles but suggested I leave it against the windows towards the toilets where he could keep half an eye on it.
Posted 9 years ago # -
I think you should be allowed to take a bike trailer into the store to load it directly.
I also wish they would bl***y well adjust those self checkouts so you can put an empty pannier on them without setting off the alarm.
Posted 9 years ago # -
"I think you should be allowed to take a bike trailer into the store to load it directly."
I believe Uberuce does or did that, albeit probably in the big new Longstone Sainsbury rather than Gorgie Aldi.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Brompton.
Posted 9 years ago #
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