Fellow cyclists Boycott Giant Foods!

I've held my peace for a week now and I have not heard back from Giant Food's consumer affairs department. I am not going to let my fellow cyclists know about my treatment at Giant Foods in Arlington on Arlington Road last Monday.

I commuted to work last Monday, knowing it was going to be dry and hot out. I rode to the Giant Food on Arlington Road in Arlington to pick up my lunch and other supplies I would need for the week. This is typically my routine at least a couple of times a week. Sometimes I drop in at my local Giant on Western Avenue in Chevy Chase, MD on my way to work. I have always been greeted with friendly faces. Well not this past Monday. I arrived and carried my bike inside with me as usual, however as I went to grab a basket at the front door at the self service computer automated system, an African American lady barred my entrance and told me that I could not enter with my bicycle. This was the first time I was ever told of this and of course there are no signs saying the that case. I immediately turned around and mentioned that that was the last time I would go to Giant Foods. I then hopped on my bike looking for a Safeway where I could not remember where it was. Some runner on the sidewalk asked me if I needed help as I turned around going the other way at a traffic light. Nice guy... I asked him and he said there wasn't any around. He did mention the Harris Teeter on North Glebe Road a mile or so away. I knew where that was and decided that was my best bet.

I arrived, thinking that I may get the same treatment here. I strolled in with my bike in hand and headed towards the fruit section picked up several apples, bananas and started strolling towards the deli counter. A lady worker approached me and asked if I needed a bag to help me shop. I kindly responded yes, as I had my hands full. Not only was I surprised of her helpfulness and attitude, she rushed to get me a bag quickly and held it open for me to drop my food inside. I thanked her profusely and headed over the deli counter where I picked up some deli meats and cheese. I went through several more aisles and finished up at the cashier. As I was lining up they directed me to an new opened checkout. Total purchase: $28.+
On to work I went. What a different experience!

Three days later I checked out the Safeway on Lee Highway. No problem there either. In fact a couple of worker asked if I needed help looking for something as I was not familiar with the layout of the store.

I am just really surprised and taken a back from the greeting I got at the Giant on Arlington Road. I have been shopping there for over a year and have always found their employees very nice. The Asian guy at the Deli counter is always polite and asks me questions, the couple of ladies and one guy at the checkout line are always pleasant. The deli counter is really one of the best I've seen with a large Boars Head selection as well as other brands. I've always recommended my colleagues at work to go there as I have found it clean and a good value. So, I've done most of my shopping there, even stopping in the mornings or sometimes after work with my car to pick up the other things like laundry detergent, kitty litter, cat food, and other stuff my wife doesn't have a chance to pick up on her daily schedule. Those are days when I walk out spending over $70-$80 bucks and have a car. I guess they have done studies to show that bicyclists are not who they want shopping at their store cause they can't carry enough in their backpacks.
After the incident, I wrote an email to their consumer affairs department, which I have yet to hear any response to.

I ask you fellow cyclists to boycott Giant Foods, if you can till, I get a response from them. Or if you do go, with your bike, and have a different experience, please let me know.

I will not go to a store which does not allow me to either put the bike inside of the store as I have heard about people walking away with your bike when shopping. Arlington is not a high crime area, however, if you have a nice expensive bike, I don't think you'll want to leave it outside without someone watching it. Oh yeah.. I've also seen how bikes can get mangled by cars backing up without looking or trucks loading and unload stuff not being careful on where they roll their pallets of merchandise.

So until a store provides sufficient secure storage, I will bring my bike in with me. I don't mind leaving it at the front entrance as long as there is space and someone is aware that it is my bike. Thieves tend not to take things inside of a store as easily as they do when it is outside.

Probably what got me going on this is the fact that my office management company, CB Richard Ellis, sent out an email banning bicycles in the offices. We have many cyclists who commute to work and it is not acceptable for many of us. Well, they backed down and said that we could use the freight elevator, which kind of is a solution, however when we go back down, the elevator for the freight elevator only has the up button, so it may take some time and there of course may be other passengers in there with you. At least our building provides a gym and locker rooms with showers. That is a positive check mark for them.

Bottom line, don't let people stop you from commuting, saving gas, helping the environment, and making one less car on the road.
Cyclists unite! Ban Giant Foods or send them an email letting you know your dissatisfaction with their rule.