Bike Pittsburgh

Bicycle Discrimination - Boycott Ross Park Mall

Okay, so today after work I rode over to Ross Park Mall. I did a ride around the mall complex to find the best place to park. I passed the security truck twice in doing so. Then I go up the Cheesecake Factory and I see some security guards, ON BICYCLES.

I go up there to start a conversation with them and one of them is like "Bicycles are not permitted on the premise." I try to escalate the issue, but some stupid mall employee in charge of security is like "No, bicycles are not allowed. The mall manager will be back on Tuesday." Okay, whatever, apparently only the yes-men were working today.

As if being discriminated against for being a cyclist wasn't worse enough, they actually have a little sign before you get up to the complex than lists rules and regulations. They mention pedestrians and skateboards, but it doesn't say anything about bicycles.

RE: Bicycle Discrimination - Boycott Ross Park Mall

This is the complaint I summited to the Simon property group that owns the complex:

"I am college educated, I dress nice, am low key, and polite. I am an environmentalist, a vegan, and for the most part, a pacifist. Those qualities aren’t typically the kind of qualities you would find in somebody who was kicked off a mall's premise, but today I was.

Was I loud and rowdy? Stealing, making shoppers and sales associates feel uncomfortable? No, I wasn't even let in the building! On the way up the hill to the complex I saw a sign posting rules and regulations." No pedestrians, no skateboards, etc." I wasn't any of those, so what did I have to worry?

I rode around the complex once to find a good place to park. I passed the security truck twice. I pulled up to the Cheesecake Factory and saw a bicycle mounted security guard. I went up to talk to him and he said...

"No bicycles are allowed on the premise." At least he was nice enough to see if I could stay since I had already ridden up to the complex. Unfortunately, whoever was in charge was not sympathetic at all. Her reply over the radio was "No, no bicycles are allowed on the premise. The mall manager will be back on Tuesday if he wants to make a complaint."

I cycled sixteen miles from Swickley to the mall, only to be turned away because of the type of vehicle I arrived in. Under PA State Driving Law, I have same rights as any other vehicle on the road, but according to Ross Park Mall's policy, I have no rights.

I don't know why I'm being discriminated against. Do cyclists cause more trouble than drivers? I highly doubt it if you look at the ratio to cyclists thrown out of the mall to people who arrived at the mall via motorized transport. We take up a lot less parking space, we cause literally no damage to roads due to our lightweight, and we do not contribute to pollution, which is especially important considering Pittsburgh's recent designation as the second most polluted city in the US.

I guess none of that matters though, policy is policy. I actually looked on your website to see if this anti-cycling policy was listed. I could only find this:

"Conduct that is disorderly, disruptive, or which endangers others is prohibited. Such conduct might include running, use of skateboards, rollerblades, bicycles, radios, etc."

I was not disorderly, disruptive, or endangering others. What is more likely to endanger others? A cyclist… or a Hummer, Envoy, or Escalade backing out of a parking space? Furthermore, if it is so dangerous to shoppers, then why are there bicycle-mounted security guards? Who is better at operating a bicycle? Some teenager just working a minimum wage job, or somebody who cycles in excess of 200 miles a week, in all weather conditions, and frequently in traffic.

For a company that is supposed to be so innovative, your policy against cyclists is quite retroactive. Gas is rising in price, pollution and C02 are rising in output, and heart attacks are rising in occurrence. Cycling can help reduce these societal problems, but denying us even access to your shopping centers is not making that smart and desperately needed transition any easier. Hopefully, that policy can change in the future.

Sincerely,
Pierce Johnson"

RE: Bicycle Discrimination - Boycott Ross Park Mall

*Damn double posts...*

RE: Bicycle Discrimination - Boycott Ross Park Mall

Maybe they will send you a coupon in the mail to make up for it.

RE: Bicycle Discrimination - Boycott Ross Park Mall

that sucks. i wouldn't have even thought to ask anyone anything. my bike would've been impounded by the "security guards".

we should all show up on bikes and bust some heads.

RE: Bicycle Discrimination - Boycott Ross Park Mall

*UPDATE*

Reply From Mall Manager:

"Pierce, I am terribly sorry for this experience! I will take immediate action to ensure that our Security officers are aware of proper procedure for handling bicycles at the mall. If there is anything we can do to make this right with you, please let me know. Again, our sincere apologies."

My reply:

"Well, are bicycles allowed to be used to get to the mall? If so, is there a proper place to lock it up? "

Her reply:

"They have not been permitted to date and we don't currently have a bike rack (frankly, we've not had this issue in the past as no one was challenged enough to make it up the hill). We will need to purchase a bike rack, but in the interim if you plan on coming to the mall, please call me directly and I will make arrangements with Security. I will also let them know to take care of you should you call when I am not in the office. Is that okay? Thanks!"



Ha, to think mere hills would stop us!

RE: Bicycle Discrimination - Boycott Ross Park Mall

sounds good, call off the head busting.

RE: Bicycle Discrimination - Boycott Ross Park Mall

The Allegheny County Transit Council's Long Range Planning Committee is already upset at the Simon malls (RPM, Century III, S Hills Village) because they are no longer letting Port Authority buses board and let off passengers next to the malls themselves. At RPM, buses have been banned to the other side of the ring road; they used to go right up to the main entrance next to Sears.

How you get to RPM easily by bike: Mount it on a Port Authority bus (12A, 1D). Zone 2 ride, btw.

RE: Bicycle Discrimination - Boycott Ross Park Mall

the concept of making an appointment to visit the mall.

can you imagine if it were the other way round?

"yes, i'm going to be visiting your property with a potentially lethal vehicle. Please tell security and warn all pedestrians that i will be on premises. thank you."

RE: Bicycle Discrimination - Boycott Ross Park Mall

It's easy to mock elements of the response from management, but, hey, at least they responded, and in a (relatively) positive way. If only everyone responded this way...

RE: Bicycle Discrimination - Boycott Ross Park Mall

UPDATE: I used the rack the week before last. Ironically it is one of the smallest bike racks made. So small that my bike cannot actually fit into it properly because of my rear rack so I have to lock it up parallel to the rack.

RE: Bicycle Discrimination - Boycott Ross Park Mall

maybe you should start riding this

RE: Bicycle Discrimination - Boycott Ross Park Mall

We should have sent this link to Mall Mgmt:

http://bike-pgh.org/resources/bike-parking/

It has a downloadable PDF of preferred types of bike parking

RE: Bicycle Discrimination - Boycott Ross Park Mall

People make me laugh.

RE: Bicycle Discrimination - Boycott Ross Park Mall

I try to be grateful for small things... You could have got no response or a bureaucratic brushoff, so I call it a win.

Frankly, shopping malls are looking for consumers who will come in and buy lots of _stuff_. It's not like you're going to cart away a 54" TV on your bike. You could buy some high-value small items, like jewelry, I suppose, but realistically, I'll bet the guy in the Escalade is more likely to buy expensive jewelry too.

RE: Bicycle Discrimination - Boycott Ross Park Mall

Here's the argument: "We cyclists, just like we bus riders, choose to spend our transportation dollars elsewhere besides $300/month car payments and $4/gallon gasoline, so we might be MORE likely to buy those 54" televisions, and have them delivered. So treat us like the paying customers we are, OK?"