Bike Rack Location

[Dalton, George W.]

I visited TJ's at around 1:00 several times per week since it opened
last Novemeber, the Parking Attendants only harassed me for the first
time last Thursday.  Never had a problem till then.  Since a parking
space is an income producing asset, the administrative assistant here
tells me Stanley pays $125.00 to $150.00 per month for indoor spaces in
Old Town, I'd bet the building management would fight tooth and nail over
giving up that potential income to bicyclists.  

George

-----Original Message-----
From: Schaffer, Daryl LT [mailto:DSchaffer at comdt.uscg.mil]
Sent: Wednesday, February 21, 2001 8:03 AM
To: 'Dalton, George W.'; paul.demaio at ci.alexandria.va.us
Cc: bsc at Bicycle.Alexandria.VA.US
Subject: RE: Bike Rack Location


George/Paul:

     I visit Trader Joe's on a regular basis (at least once a week) and I
ride straight in to the garage (past the attendant) over to the parking spot
just past the shopping cart corral.  Since I ride my recumbent with a
fairing, it is about the size of a motorcycle.  I then lock my bike to
itself up against the wall in front of the parking spot's cement tire block,
not to the bike corral.  I would prefer to lock it to a solid object but due
to my size that is impractical.  I have never had a problem with the
attendant, other vehicles or TJ's management.  They actually seem to embrace
having cyclist come shop there (it goes with the "healthy" aspect of the
store)!

     I have chatted with the management a couple times on when and where a
covered bike rack might be placed without losing a vehicle parking spot, but
have received the "we do not have much say in that" type of response
(nothing against TJ's; they do not have say over the parking).  It would be
nice if this last spot in the front row behind the cement support pillar
could be dedicated as non-vehicular parking and a fence rack or 5-6 U racks
be placed there and the floor striped.

Just some thoughts.  Thanks. 

LT Daryl P. Schaffer, USCGR
Office of CG Reserve
dschaffer at comdt.uscg.mil