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Over at ConsiderBiking.org, there’s a story that’s been evolving over the last few days about how one person’s recent trip to a new Kroger in Dublin revealed a lot of confusion about bike rack policies:
jasonsstover wrote: My fiance and I rode to Kroger on Bridge Street this Sunday to pick up shredded cheese and cream cheese (why would I get the car out just for that?). Lo and behold, no rack. I figured maybe they hadn’t put them up since remodeling. I called the store and spoke with the manager asking if and when they would be re-installing the racks. They said they were not permitted by the City of Dublin to replace them. Are you kidding me?
The rest of the story has grown to include a couple of emails and phone calls both to the Kroger in question and the city of Dublin. Has anyone ever had similar problems?
The original poster has started a blog:
http://jasonosblog.blogspot.com
A lot of it is focused on cycling. ;)
I shop at the Kroger at 7th Ave and High and everyone locks up to the cart corral. It is a problem everywhere, not just Kroger.
Have you ever brought it up with the store manager?
This has more to do with the City of Dublin than Kroger. I’m sure everyone knows that they have very strict laws about the appearance of both residential and business exteriors. Only certain colors, no satelite dishes, no wacky or tacky lawn ornaments. When I worked up there the business I was gainfully employed at had to get a new sign and according to my manager it took months to cut through the red tape. It doesn’t surprise me at all that they wouldn’t allow a bike rack.
That town cares more about appearance than practicality.
No. I really do not care. I can always find a way to lock up I solve problems thought creativity rather than demanding that someone else do it. That is the difference between liberals and me.
I’m liberal, but I think people need to be responsible for themselves. I guess I’m pseudo-liberal then?
Yes you are.
That town cares more about appearance than practicality.
This was the response the guy got from someone with the City of Dublin:
“liberal” and “conservative” are relative terms and I really don’t understand what their significance would be in this conversation.
Businesses putting out bike racks is just good customer service. Make it easy for your shoppers to shop in ANY regards and you’ll see an increase in business.
I’m not condoning whiners to whine just to get their way, but I see absolutely nothing wrong with submitting negative/critical comment cards to businesses (either privately or publicly) if there’s something that inconveniences a customer.
Oh… Well I guess Dublin just hates people who bike to Krogers then ;)
“liberal” and “conservative” are relative terms and I really don’t understand what their significance would be in this conversation.
Businesses putting out bike racks is just good customer service. Make it easy for your shoppers to shop in ANY regards and you’ll see an increase in business.
I’m not condoning whiners to whine just to get their way, but I see absolutely nothing wrong with submitting negative/critical comment cards to businesses (either privately or publicly) if there’s something that inconveniences a customer.
What does it matter if you’re liberal or conservative in this matter… man it’s like, EVERYTHING! It’s deep! It’s like, grassy knoll conspiracy deep! It’s like the existential string theory deep! If I were to explain the interlinking dynamics of personal philosophy, politics, and bike racks at Krogers I fear this website will shut down and the server in which this text is stored will spontaneously implode, also if you were to read it your face would melt off like those dudes in that Indiana Jones flick when they saw the Ark.
So, in order to avoid those events, I’ll just say it’s just really important…
yeah.
What does it matter if you’re liberal or conservative in this matter… man it’s like, EVERYTHING! It’s deep! It’s like, grassy knoll conspiracy deep! It’s like the existential string theory deep! If I were to explain the interlinking dynamics of personal philosophy, politics, and bike racks at Krogers I fear this website will shut down and the server in which this text is stored will spontaneously implode, also if you were to read it your face would melt off like those dudes in that Indiana Jones flick when they saw the Ark.
Ah man I love that kind of stuff, do it and lets see what happens!
But yeah, everything operates on a continuum, so even the staunch conservative is somewhere liberal and vice versa. Where do the Progressives fit into the continuum?
You can read it here, but
I have received some very encouraging and positive feedback from my recent inquiry to Kroger and the City of Dublin. It pays to ask the questions. I think the important thing to remember is to approach people with respect and the proper “delivery”. You attract more bees with honey than you do vinegar. Please see the below email that I received from the City of Dublin’s Mayor, Marilee Chinnici-Zuercher. Marilee, thank you very much for responding.
Jason,
I am in full agreement with you regarding the need for bike racks at shopping centers. I will work with the staff to be sure we include them in our code and as a requirement for shopping areas. It is strange that we encourage walking, biking etc. through our terrific bikepath system yet don’t have available the racks once people get to their destination.
Thanks for bringing this to our attention.
Marilee
Kudos to the City for their responses on this. I have four emails from various people in Dublin’s government that are working on this. I appreciate the responses I have received. So much so that I put this out to you, City of Dublin, that if you need extra manpower or help spreading the word you can call on me. If you are going to put the effort in to fulfill this request than I will meet you half way. I will do my fair share.
Which brings me to a question I would like to raise in a different thread… is anyone in this sea of Columbus blogs actually accomplishing anything? What more could we accomplish if there was a more focused effort (do we need so many “what’s happening in columbus” blogs?) Or is there a way to keep the numbers, but work together? And, what kind of metric could be devised to actually measure the impact of this phenomenon in real terms?
I think you are more likely to see a place to park your segway…
I sometimes like to credit myself with bringing Video Games Live to Columbus this year. :lol:
Seriously though, I think this is something we should talk about on Wednesday at the meetup (for those planning on coming). I think the problem is that there are so many topics to be passionate about that it’s hard to rally a lot of people behind any given cause. How can with prioritize our focuses? Who should be in charge? Should we start some sort of formal organization?
Honestly, the type of organization this causes me to think of is the Young Professionals Commission, which is already focusing on a handful of real initiatives to accomplish in the next few months.
I would like to see something more grassroots level. A group that could act quickly and creatively to solve problems like this and help get locals involved in the community.
Oh wait, did I just describe the Couchfire Collective? :!:
I won’t be at Wednesday’s meetup, but I am interested in this question (and some others).
I think the reason people don’t work together more because they start off with the questions like “who will be in charge?” Who says someone has to be in charge? See my post on Ground Zero and Flux in Pittsburgh. I find that even in the cases where people pretend they are doing something for the greater good they are often simply making strategic sugar coated power grabs. No- no organization. No one is in charge. You come together, open to all, and talk. Then do.
Do we form an organization? Can’t say. I think that something that will get massively big and work exceptionally well can’t be an organization like the YP group. It has to be a network of people, organizations, and etc. The fact that there is an “organization” of which some people are clearly members and some are not is contrary to what I would like to contribute to and contrary to something that can transcend the silos we all seem to be working in (albeit with a bit of spillover here and there).
Does the YP Commission groups have measurable, tangible goals that you work toward? I real powerhouse organization will choose what it is to accomplish, then the correct group will form to make that realized. Hence my interest in real metrics and getting really intentional with all of the online and offline infrastructure being built.
“How do we prioritize?” you don’t. You work on a project basis. The network generates ideas… the ideas become projects… people interested in those projects hop on board and make them happen setting up whatever structure will make them work. You don’t want to work on a project, you won’t. If the people who do are good advocates they will attract the funds, people, resources to realize their project.
Just some preliminary ideas. We certainly have no shortage of organizations. I think we need something different.
Also, thanks to Paul Bonneville for the conversations we’ve had about this. They’ve been pretty insightful and hopefully will continue.
i dont know if anybody else is as outraged as me… but kroger also has something against count chocula. atleast the brewers yard kroger!
You seem to have read a book I’m reading right now, Emergence. I always marvel at how ants could ‘organize’ themselves the way they do, with ‘no one is in-charge’ but still can get the job done.
lock your bike to a pole and quit complaining. there aren’t bike racks anywhere really.
OR move out of dublin!
That may be the difference between democrats and yourself but liberals only attempt to make the most just society. Liberals only have two principles: that all have the greatest degree of liberty compatible with like liberty for all, and that social and economic inequalities be attached to positions open to all under fair equality of opportunity and to the greatest benefit of the least well-off members of society.
The problem with this reasoning is that while forcing businesses to offer bike racks might make for a just society for those who choose to ride bikes, it forces regulations upon business owners that denies their right to choose if they want to offer bike racks or not.
I know Kroger is hardly “the least well-off member of society” but for a small business owner, multiple regulations like this could add up to either putting them out of business, or causing them to have not gone into business in the first place.