Cycling in Waterloo Region

[danbrotherston]

Apparently, the owners of the shopping centres at Highland & Westmount do not realize that cyclists also go shopping. I do much of my shopping on Highland by bicycle. I will be avoiding shopping at any shops in those particular strip malls in the future.

I used to have a few small 'business-card' style notes that simply said that I'm a cyclist and would love to bike to your establishment but there's no place to park my bike. I included my email to follow up. I did have one or two businesses follow up with me. I haven't done that for awhile, but I do think it is important (if able) to let folks know there's a demand for more bike parking. Unfortunately, with many of the plazas, bike parking decisions are made at higher levels than any one business owner.

This is a good idea, and communication can help solve this lack of understanding from business owners. I don't think they actually care whether their customers arrive by car (and in fact, probably prefer if they don't...parking costs money...and cars cost money...meaning people arriving not by car have more money to spend and cost less to service)...but often just don't have any idea...they have the same assumptions that most people in the city do.

And yes, they are made at a higher level, but large clients can sway a landlord obviously...that being said, there is also a problem of power...handing a card to the part time minimum wage cashier at a corporate owned fast food chain won't do anything...even though that tenant might have a lot of power over the landlord...on the other hand, at a tiny mom and pop shop, you'll probably get someone who cars and is responsive, but has less power over their landlord.

There is of course middle ground...if you handed it to the location manager at sobeys, they would probably care and have some power...but you have to explicitly ask to see the manager.