One of the users on the Consider Biking forums was telling everyone about how he went to the Kroger on Bridge Street in Dublin to pick up a couple of things, and there were no bike racks. When he asked the store manager whether they could put some in, the manager apparently told him that Dublin would not allow them to put any in!
Does anyone know of this law and why it might exist?
UPDATE - 4:20 pm: Jason, the user in question on Consider Biking, gave everyone an update here. PLEASE read the comments for the full story! Jason's doing a great job of updating us on this situation.:
Does anyone know of this law and why it might exist?
UPDATE - 4:20 pm: Jason, the user in question on Consider Biking, gave everyone an update here. PLEASE read the comments for the full story! Jason's doing a great job of updating us on this situation.:
James, an update that I posted over at considerbiking.org as well:A much better response, but disturbing from the angle that the company may be trying to push this off on the city!
Update No. 2
Greg Jones, Code Enforcement Supervisor from the City of Dublin called me back. He stated that there was nothing in the city ordinances prohibiting businesses from installing bike racks. Greg went on to say that the Planning Committee is very proud of the bike path network in Dublin and actually encourages businesses to install bike racks. Greg also mentioned that he and a few other city employees were going back through all of the text in the articles to see if something may have been misconstrued in them. He said that someone else had called in about the same issue at the Hard Rd Kroger. Greg offered for me to give his number to Kroger to discuss this further with him.
The light bulb started to come on at this point. I called Kroger back and asked to speak with Betty the manager as that was how she was presented to me the last time we spoke. I reminded her of our last conversation and she said the no bike racks came straight from her manager. I apologized to Betty and told her that I was led to believe she was the manager. Betty said, "Oh Heavens no. When you asked the lady that answered the phone to speak to a manager, she just put me on."
At this point I asked who the manager was, and it is Michael King. I spoke with Michael and outlined the situation to him. Michael stated that Kroger Corporate told them the City prohibited bike racks. (The light bulb is at full power now) I asked him if the City prohibited it or Kroger Corporate. Michael reiterated that this was a pass through from Kroger Corporate as to Dublin Regs. I asked Michael in the interim prior to racks being installed what his suggestion would be for cyclists to properly secure their bikes at his location. Michael stated for us to bring our bikes into either the inside cart corral, or secure them in the entry breezeway.
Ok, so Kudos to the City of Dublin and Greg Jones and also to Michael King at Kroger Bridge Street. The jury is still out on Kroger Corporate and "manager" Betty.
That's because they're not aesthetically pleasing and against all that Dublin stands for, as an upscale community full of snobs and expensive cars driving around. To have people actually riding a bicycle to the store would put them in the same class as Columbus and we sure don't want that.
ReplyDeleteJames, an update that I posted over at considerbiking.org as well:
ReplyDeleteUpdate No. 2
Greg Jones, Code Enforcement Supervisor from the City of Dublin called me back. He stated that there was nothing in the city ordinances prohibiting businesses from installing bike racks. Greg went on to say that the Planning Committee is very proud of the bike path network in Dublin and actually encourages businesses to install bike racks. Greg also mentioned that he and a few other city employees were going back through all of the text in the articles to see if something may have been misconstrued in them. He said that someone else had called in about the same issue at the Hard Rd Kroger. Greg offered for me to give his number to Kroger to discuss this further with him.
The light bulb started to come on at this point. I called Kroger back and asked to speak with Betty the manager as that was how she was presented to me the last time we spoke. I reminded her of our last conversation and she said the no bike racks came straight from her manager. I apologized to Betty and told her that I was led to believe she was the manager. Betty said, "Oh Heavens no. When you asked the lady that answered the phone to speak to a manager, she just put me on."
At this point I asked who the manager was, and it is Michael King. I spoke with Michael and outlined the situation to him. Michael stated that Kroger Corporate told them the City prohibited bike racks. (The light bulb is at full power now) I asked him if the City prohibited it or Kroger Corporate. Michael reiterated that this was a pass through from Kroger Corporate as to Dublin Regs. I asked Michael in the interim prior to racks being installed what his suggestion would be for cyclists to properly secure their bikes at his location. Michael stated for us to bring our bikes into either the inside cart corral, or secure them in the entry breezeway.
Ok, so Kudos to the City of Dublin and Greg Jones and also to Michael King at Kroger Bridge Street. The jury is still out on Kroger Corporate and "manager" Betty.
Thanks for the update, Jason. I've amended the post to reflect the change you indicated.
ReplyDeleteUpdate 3
ReplyDeleteI have just been emailed by both Jane Brautigam, Dublin City Manager, and Abby Scott, Land Use and Long Range Planning. Both very positive emails. Sounds like there may have been some miscommunication on Kroger's part. Below are their posts.
Thank you for bringing this to our attention. The City of Dublin allows and
encourages the installation of bike racks throughout the city. Typically, bike
racks are included in development applications and reviewed for their location
within the site. Generally, property owners are also permitted to add bike
racks to their site at any time with approval from the city. The city has
extensive multi-sport paths and an adopted bikeway plan to expand existing
bikeways and create connections between them. Bike racks provide the necessary
infrastructure to support this growing network of bike routes and allows for
alternative modes of transportation for city residents.
I hope this addresses your concerns and am available to answer any further
questions you may have on this topic.
Thank you,
Abby
AND
Dear Mr. Stover,
Thanks for your email to the Dublin City Council and to me yesterday inquiring
about bike racks at the Kroger store on Bridge Street. I have asked the Land
Use and Long Range Planning Department to look into your question and reply to
you as soon as they have researched the Planned Unit Development document that
governs that shopping area. I apologize that I could not provide you the answer
immediately but we do want to be accurate in our response by reviewing the
governing documents. If you would like to discuss this matter with one of our
planners, let me suggest that you contact Steve Langworthy, the Director of the
department at 410-4653 or slangworthy@dublin.oh.us
Thanks again for taking the time to write to the City Council with your
question.
Very truly yours,
Jane S. Brautigam
City Manager
Big props to you for looking into this. Hopefully that store will install bike racks.
ReplyDeleteWhen I visit stores without bike racks I just wheel the bike inside. If somebody objects, I point out the lack of bicycle parking.
I get a kick every time someone whips out a lie or a guess thinking that someone is too lazy or stupid to bother researching things. That kind of activity may have worked a lot prior to the internet and email, but not so much anymore.
ReplyDelete