Introduction

Getting food is one of the most frequent trips we make. Many trips to the grocery are for just a few items. That’s why there are always people in the express lanes. Some cyclists are equipped with special panniers or trailers that can hold a lot of groceries.

SABA’s Shop by Bike program is an effort to get excellent bicycle parking—bike racks—at grocery stores. Too often grocery stores don’t have bike parking at all or if they do have bike racks, the racks are poorly designed or located. Sometimes the racks are hidden away, blocked by carts or out back by the Dumpster.

Our program is simple. We’re taking photos of the existing bike racks and sending them to store managers and corporate owners. As we show them what they actually have, we identify what they should have in the way of bike parking. We ask them to get excellent bicycle parking for their customers.

Good Bike Parking

Good bike racks have the following basic characteristics:

Good rack locations are:

We’re developing a more complete list of characteristics.

What to do if your store doesn't have good bike parking

Talk to the manager and ask him to improve the parking. Let the manger know more people would shop by bike if better parking were available. Refer the manager to this Web site so he or she can see what’s good and bad.

If you’d like, send us a photo with name and location of the store. We’ll write the manager.

Photos of bike racks at local grocery stores

Hall of Fame

Acceptable

Hall of Shame

Missing In Action

Hall of Fame

Safeway 3320 Arden Way

Good rack in good spot.

Bel Air 4320 Arden Way

Very good rack conveniently located.

Raley’s 3518 Marconi Avenue

Very good racks properly spaced and not too far from entrance.

Acceptable

Safeway 4040 Manzanita Avenue

Good racks, but not close to entrance.

Safeway 1025 Alhambra Boulevard

Not so good wave rack, but close to entrance.

Rosemont Food Market 9180A Kiefer Boulevard

Wave rack only supports frame at one point and is installed too close to planting area.

Hall of Shame

Bel Air 4005 Manzanita Avenue

Wave rack, not ideal to begin with, installed too close to wall.

Bel Air 4005 Manzanita Avenue (one by each entrance)

Wave rack, not ideal to begin with, installed too close to wall.

Vic’s IGA 1340 Fulton Avenue

Wheel bender rack.  No support for frame, can't be used with U-lock.  This is a relic of the '50's.

Trader Joe's 5000 Folsom Boulevard

A couple of wheelbenders.  At least they are close to the front door.

Whole Foods 4315 Arden Way

Knee-knockers.  These cheap racks scratch the frame, are hard to use and are a hazard to pedestrians. 

Albertson’s 4708 Manzanita Avenue

Wheel bender hemmed in by other stuff.  Maybe it's better that it's hard to use.

Ralph’s 5025 Marconi Avenue

It's amazing how often racks lose half their functionality by being mounted too close to the wall.

Compton ’s Market 4065 McKinley Boulevard

A classic wheel bender

Safeway 424 Howe Avenue

A toaster rack variation.  No support for bike frame.  Can't use a U-lock.  You can see the store from here, but it's a hike.

Raley’s 8391 Folsom Boulevard

Another toaster style rack.

Albertson’s 9137 Kiefer Boulevard

Toaster rack.  No frame support.  Difficult to use with U-lock.

7-Eleven 9210 Kiefer Boulevard

Toaster rack.  No frame support.  Difficult to use with U-lock.

Ralph’s 3615 Bradshaw Road

Toaster rack.  No frame support.  Difficult to use with U-lock.

Albertson's 5600 Folsom Blvd

Bad rack hidden around the corner.

It's on the street and prominent, but not a good rack..

Pretty location, but not near the entrance.

Missing In Action

These stores didn't even bother to have bad racks in bad locations.  They had nothing to serve their customers who bike or to encourage shopping by bike.