Bike-Thru Banking in Tucson
imminent death of car-based culture October 24th, 2008
After our readers Nick and Blank informed us about the Arizona State Credit Union bike-thru window, Erik sent me on a TBL mission to find out more. Indeed, this bank features a lane designated specifically for bikes that is too narrow for cars to fit through. I inquired about the window with the info desk, and apparently it has existed since the opening of the credit union four years ago. The woman told me that feedback on the bike window has been overwhelmingly positive. I mentioned the water cooler at the bike-thru window in Boulder and she seemed interested in potentially making that available for bikers.
-lauren
October 25th, 2008 at 8:25 am
[...] Read the full TBL post [...]
October 25th, 2008 at 9:40 pm
That is great. Sadly, I’ve been refused service at the Walgreens drive-thru by my house when I was on my bike.
Store policy and all.
October 26th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
Yuri, I mentioned the same situation in another post. I had a long “discussion” with the guy at the Walgreens window and he said it was a liability issue; a car might hit me in the drive through. I said so what, a car can hit me when I walk across your parking lot or I can trip and fall down and break my head open while I’m inside the store; it’s ridiculous to pick on ‘bikes in drive-through window’ as some kind of special liability.
It’s much easier to hit the lock button on your car and walk into a store than it is to lock your bike to something and carry all your belongings inside with you. The convenience of a drive-through window is much more important for cyclists than it is for motorists. I really don’t appreciate being denied this convenience. I guess I should move my prescriptions to another store, but thus far I’ve been too lazy to do it, and it’s not like Walgreens would even notice.
Mindy
October 27th, 2008 at 9:17 am
If Walgreens were encouraging people to bike to their stores, then they’d be encouraging people to take charge of their health. That wouldn’t be good for a drugstore, now would it? All the better to keep the clientele sick and in their cars.
October 27th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
Hi Martha,
I made that point, too, that if they really cared about people’s health like they say, they’d encourage cycling instead of discouraging it. But the reply was oh yes of course we care very much about our customers’ health and we applaud the healthy choice you are making, it’s just that we can’t allow bikes in our drive-through because it’s a liability issue blah blah blah. I think they have a script.
Mindy
October 27th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
They won’t change their policy unless you challenge them. Write to their headquarter. Write a letter to the newspaper. Start a petition.
October 27th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
Any person that rides a bicycle because it is a ‘healthy choice’, and then swallows prescription medication or keeps their money in a bank is either confused about the ideas of ‘health’ and ‘wealth’ or is just a hypocrite.
What business does any caring member of Tucson Community have picking up pharmaceuticals at a walgreens? Has anybody been paying attention to the consequences of depositing their money with financial institutions? These actions are almost as asinine as driving a bio-diesel-fueled hummer.
Anywho, I will not tell anybody what to do, as we all grow by taking responsibility for our OWN actions, but it seems fair of me to remind people that only a fool expects fairness (let-alone kindness) from a bank or a drug store. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the people running the Walgreens corporation and the executives of the private banks in this city (state and nation even) don’t give a rats-ass about our once-lovely town, they are following the lead of dollar signs, and we’ve all seen what happens when people follow money… sigh…
October 28th, 2008 at 11:18 am
Well Tony, I don’t know you well enough to share my medical history, but suffice to say there is a pharmaceutical that I need every month. You’ll just have to trust me. And back in the day, I gratefully picked up my monthly dose of birth control pills, also a prescription, and I hope today’s young women follow my example.
October 29th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
Mindy,
I do not have to trust your words; you do.
October 29th, 2008 at 10:54 pm
I feel that Erik has done a good job in helping create a haven of sorts where people come to read about, help and encourage our rights for our chosen decisions concerning cycling. As such it’s a place where a lot of cyclists come and should feel safe about posting their feelings concerning cycling.
I find it rude and inappropriate to try and make anyone feel anything but completely welcome here while they discuss our uphill fight for rights as cyclists. Erik, thanks for your work. And Mindy, thanks for sharing your thoughts. I personally will avoid Walgreens for my needs based on their policy. And I will move my banking needs to Arizona State Credit Union after a couple readers noticed they support bicyclist.
October 30th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
Tony,
I’m slightly confused at your stance. Are you against people taking pharmaceuticals at all (because you’re feeding drug companies)? Or just picking them up at walgreen’s (because it’s a major corporation)?
Because I’ll argue that there are a wide variety of illnesses and diseases that require the prescription drugs in order to maintain one’s good health.