03-02-2023, 11:41 AM
(03-02-2023, 10:45 AM)SF22 Wrote:(03-01-2023, 06:06 PM)danbrotherston Wrote: Fair point...
It was business owners who killed the Ontario section of the Downtown Grid, something that NIMBYs on the other side of King couldn't achieve.
This one particularly irritated me, because Legacy Greens is lovely but also getting to Legacy Greens is kind of a pain for me, so I don't go very often. Having that bike lane right outside their door would have been A-plus.
I've started asking small business owners about their bike parking when I go into their stores. Like, "Hey, I noticed there's not really any bike parking close to your store, have you considered adding some? I visit on Sundays when parking is free, but I'd come WAY more often if I could ride my bike down and not have to hunt for a parking spot." Just straight-up telling them that there's more business to be gained from supporting bike infrastructure. I don't know how much it helps, but I figure if they start hearing it repeatedly from different people, they might eventually clue in. (I mentioned bike racks to my therapist back in the fall, and she said I was the second person that week to ask her, and that she will get something installed for the spring. It can work!!)
That one hurt a lot. Yes, because they were successful in killing part of the downtown grid (which directly inconveniences me and my ability to get to their business), but mostly because it felt like quite the betrayal. They know cyclists frequent their business. Same with the others on the block.
In any case, I was a frequent customer, but I haven't been back since. I feel like I should tell them WHY I am unwilling to patronize their business, but I doubt I would be effective (or polite) in doing so. But honestly...I expected this from almost every business downtown except theirs (and probably Full Circle). It was hurtful.