Cycleology: Convenience Please
I do not frequent fast foods, but they’re among the businesses with drive-thru service. A drive-through or drive-thru is a type of design provided by a business for customers to use without leaving their vehicle. A convenience. Vehicle is defined by a way of travel, usually with wheels and an engine. Is our bodies or a battery an engine?
I have been instructed not to use the drive-thru at a few businesses. I am told the drive-thru is meant for vehicles only and it is an insurance issue. If a business’s indoor hours are less than their drive-thru hours then I cannot be a customer during their drive-thru only hours, unless I have a motorized vehicle. One time, after being told I cannot use the drive-thru window, I asked where I could find their bike rack. I was told they do not have bike racks. I am denied the drive-thru convenience with a side of nowhere to secure and lock my bike.
Luckily, the drive-thru design is one-way and pretty limited for collisions. If you look ahead, pay attention and have working brakes everyone should survive the drive-thru. The person operating their mode of transportation should take responsibility on checking their surroundings and being noticeable. A drive-thru is normally a slow moving environment. The insurance reason is not hard set; it is a business choice. Slowly (like the vehicles in a drive-thru) some bike friendly communities welcome the non-motorized modes of transportation in their drive-thru.
Even if I do not frequent too many ’drive-thru’ businesses, it’s an inconvenience to look for a stable “something” to secure my bike then walk past the empty drive-thru. Some will argue that “DRIVE” in the name should be the obvious reason. Yet, a motorcyclist will argue that they do not DRIVE they RIDE. I vote to change the name to “Ride-Thru”.
I love the community I live in and I notice more bikers on my travels. I ask for “Convenience Please” when the drive-thru presents itself in our travels! The seeing impaired asked for the use of ATM’s, even drive-thru ATM’s.
(I wrote this during the on-set of the Corona Virus and I am witnessing convenience changes in Elgin. Please consider Ride-thru for now and in the future.)