We know most of the bicycle commuters live in large
cities like Vancouver and Victoria. We are well aquainted with stories of stopping for a
few groceries at a market and sipping lattes at corner bistros. It all sounds rather
pleasant but we are an urban cyclists. To get to a market or a bistro, we have to go out
of our way. We go to shopping malls.
We’re talking commuting here, not recreational cycling. Somewhere
between work and home we sometimes want to stop for food, banking or other stuff. Between
Vancouver and Port Coquitlam, along the Lougheed highway, we end up at shopping malls. Big
buildings run by people who don’t know or expect cyclists to appear. While we admit
the quality of bike rack is improving, the placement at shopping malls is still poor.
Hardly ever are bike racks under cover and we never leave our bikes in the rain. Stripping
and securing the valuables takes longer than a little quick shopping . We ride good
reliable bikes ($), and don’t want to risk them by leaving them out doors. Our bikes
are encumbered with lights, tools and spare tubes etc. , clothing and lunch containers
usually fills our panniers. To secure all the quick release components and strip the tool
pouch, pump, water bottle, seat, lights, battery would fill another pannier. So, having
rationalized it is easier and better, for us, Not to lock our bikes outside of a mall, we
walk them indoors. We walked our bikes twice through the following malls and decided to
report our findings.
Brentwood Mall. West Mall entrance, new bike rack, not covered.
Security enforces the ‘no bicycles in the mall.’ Maureen and I have been
escorted out twice. Once due to a report someone was riding bikes in the mall. Both times
we couldn’t sluff off the guard. They remained adamant in their goal and unconvinced
by any of our arguments. ‘What if we were walking a skateboard? or
rollerblades.
Could our bikes be dirtier than a stroller or wheelchair? We’re customers! look I
have bakery items and a shirt from Bootlegger!’ No good. Clean bikes and presentable
means nothing. A rule is a rule.
Still, we often take our bikes into the mall and lean them against the
wall or counter at Starbucks where the staff never trouble us.
I went by myself to Lougheed Mall. West mall entrance. Bike rack,
uncovered. Once warned no bikes allowed. I said I was just getting something from Dutch
Bakery and the guard left me alone. Second time I wasn’t spotted, and I wasn’t
hiding. Good place for quick shopping. Sure they have a rule but their guards can use
their own judgment. Throw out the trouble makers, keep the potential customers.
Coquitlam Center. North Mall entrance. Bike rack uncovered. No hassle,
no problem. We leaned our bikes against the window of a variety of shops. Kerrisdale
Cameras, Bagel Street cafe. Security and Maintenance workers going past without comment.
Excellent! Very progressive and responsible.
Unrelated to this test, but certainly in Coquitlam Centers favor, was
the coat check room they used to have every Christmas. Maureen and I would bypass the
Christmas mall traffic by riding our bikes. In 94 and 95 we checked our bikes at the coat
check and filled our panniers with gifts from all over the mall. It was great because we
could leave our coats and helmets in there nice warm customer parcel wrap center and they
dried out by the time we left. What could be better? They discontinued the practice in 96,
which was a bit awkward when we arrived but we made due by taking turns shopping. Lets
hope 97 is better.
Restaurants are a different story. Restaurant staff have been really
good. I phoned The Stinking Rose, at Bainbridge and Lougheed in Burnaby, to ask if they
could accommodate 4 bicycles while we ate there. No problems, and it wasn’t. It was a
Tuesday evening and they put our bike in the solarium which wasn’t in use that night.
We each brought a fresh T-shirt so we could look a little more presentable. The food is
excellent! Garlic garlic everywhere! Except in the yummy deserts. Lots of daily specials.
Maureen and I have gone to Joey’s Tomato House three times now, on
the way home from work. They have a patio on the west side of their building. Joey’s,
in Coquitlam, is just east of North Road and Lougheed. Twice, one of us went in and told
the hostess we’d be taking our bike around to the patio. We leaned the bike against
the patio rails and sat outside. During the hot days of August we wanted to sit inside. We
asked if we could lean our bikes against the unused part of the bar where we could see it.
They counter-offered to lock them in a storage room. I like good bargainers. Great food,
cycling clothes aren’t as out of place there. Try the pasta chips and artichoke dip.
The tortellini is my fav. but the Michalangelo is a close second. Tiramisu, need I say
more?
To finish up, in the center of Port Coquitlam, a Subway awaits those in
more of a rush.. Maureen went in and I was left to stand guard. ‘Bring the bikes
in’ said the sub-technician. ‘It’s not busy and there is plenty of
room.’ We were going to take the subs home, but we bought drinks and stayed. Cyclists
are customers!