Subreddit info

/r/bikecommuting is a simple subreddit for users to post biking photos, news discussions, or hot takes about biking.

OP's Complaint

OP, after being confronted taking their bike inside their local Home Depot (a home improvement store), makes the following post, complete with an image for reference:

Home Depot told me I can't bring my bike into the store

I typically bring my bike into the hardware store with me unless there are proper bike racks. I don't see a problem with it as it's no bigger than a cart. The Lowe's by me removed their bike racks for an air compressor so I take it in. This Home Depot is new and I had looked for their bike racks but couldn't see them in the front of the warehouse, so I took it in.

When checking out I was told I can't bring my bike in as it is a safety concern. I gave a rebuttal that it's no bigger than a cart and they said it could fall and block an entire aisle when the carts can't fall over. I didn't continue the questions because they just work there but it seemed ridiculous to me.

Apparently their bike racks are in the back of the warehouse completely isolated, not somewhere i would feel comfortable locking my bike.

I'm going to continue bringing my bike into the store.

[Image of bird's eye view of the Home Depot and parking lot shows the entrance on the northwest side (marked with an arrow by OP), and the outdoor bike racks on the southeast area (circled for our convenience)]

Users debate the bike hike

It's a safety concern:

Bike traffic can be a safety concern around the entrance area with people, trolleys and cars. In some way this is not so bad. At least they have bike racks which is nice! Many stores don't provide that where I live.

When you say bike traffic, are you imagining OP riding their bike into the store?

Of course I'm not. I just mean that the store front is usually a place you don't want bikes parked and the traffic of them. Would be better to have bike parking on the parking lot, but we all know that is unlikely.

"Get over it"

Get over it, you are being a whiny ninny. I park mine at the car corral at Lowe's and never had an issue.

OP: Straight to name calling huh, sticks and stones... I would have found a suitable spot to lock it up outside if it had been a problem before, this was the first time I had been told not to bring it in

I intentionally ram carts into bikes at the cart corral.

How would you feel if someone intentionally rammed a cart into your car?

Guess they'd have to decide how much their Cannondale and legs are worth to them

It was more a question about intentionally damaging someone's property than a question of whether you like cyclists or not. I think it's just rude to ruin someone's shit, even if you don't inherently like them. Treat people the way you want to be treated, that's at least how I feel.

Then strap your bike to the bike rack.

"there is no bike rack"

Edit: well, this guy has a bike rack at his place lmao, mine doesn't have it tho rip

Private property, private rules:

You sound like an entitled jerk.

It's private property, they can have a rule that doesn't allow bikes. Just because it isn't convenient for you, doesn't mean you can just do whatever you want. [downkongd]

You'd have a point if they didn't install bike racks on the back side of the building forcing users to walk all the way around. They KNEW what they were doing. Treating us like shit because they can and we have no power.

Okay? So shop somewhere else.

It's a private business, you have to follow their rules.

Oh my god you have to spend a whole extra minute walking around the corner. Life gets much harder, hunny

Be fair, to walk all the way around a super store is more like 3 minutes.

and it's more about the indignation. Like forcing women to breastfeed near the trash bins out of sight.

OP should get trespassing charges:

This is a reasonable rule. I hope OP gets trespassed. [downkongd]

Why? To both.

Bringing a bike into a store is weird, like the people who bring their dogs everywhere. At least dogs are cute.

OP feels like flouting rules on private property.

I get that to some degree, but the part about getting trespassed is extreme to me. It's not as if they shoplifted or hurt anybody.

The audacity of OP:

wtf why would you bring a bike into the store

OP: Because I would be nervous about locking it in a place that, to me, would be ideal for a thief. And I was loading directly into my panniers using it as a cart

That's why people hate bicyclists [downkongd]

OP: Right...

What about dogs?

I can bring my dog but you can't bring a bicycle!?

Bicycles shit in the aisles, dogs don't.

I was bitten by a bicycle in lighting.

Did you go to the hospital? I heard bicycles carry rabies

I actually died right there in the lighting aisle. So that why I'm against bikes and pro car now.

Singular takes

Too far to walk for your American butt?

They maybe take a cut of the profit from each bike stolen

bikers are the most oppressed class

"I'm going to continue bringing my bike into the store."

So, you were literally told it's against store policy but you're so entitled it doesn't apply to you. You're a garbage excuse for a human.

Sounds like a battle of stubbornness is to be had. They're not going to ban you from the store over this so just keep doing what you're doing.

If the store said don't bring your bike inside, don't bring your bike inside. I can't bring my car inside.

Full thread with more bike takes here

https://old.reddit.com/r/SubredditDrama/comments/1i6aypn/ops_complaining_screeches_to_a_halt_when_users_in/