Penrose Square Giant in Arlington Blocks Bike Parking in its parking garage

I’ve seen the problem too a number of times. Also quite concerning about the racks is that a number are very lose.
It seems they weren’t bolted in very well.

Link to the picture doesn’t work?

Had the same problem with Giant in Vienna; their carts and empty bakery racks blocked the U racks that FABB donated. I repeatedly brought the manager out to show him until he finally got tired of me and solved the problem for good. Although now there is a bench right next to the bike racks where the employees on break sit to smoke. Oh well.

Liz

@eminva 140250 wrote:

… Although now there is a bench right next to the bike racks where the employees on break sit to smoke. Oh well.

This is the problem with the Safeway in Cherrydale. Makes it really hard to want to shop there when I have my kids in tow. (but it’s SO CLOSE)

Whole Foods (!) can also be thrown into the grocery store bucket as providing poor bike parking (specifically, Clarendon, Alexandria, and Pimmit Hills). There are racks around the Foggy Bottom, Vienna and Takoma Park locations however. Fingers crossed they do better at the Pentagon City location which is expected to open this weekend. Please install covered parking!!!

FYI: I just discovered covered parking right across the street from Foggy Bottom Whole Foods at Beefsteak restaurant. Lots of inverted U racks under an overhang in front of one of their windows. Very nice.

@KLizotte 140281 wrote:

Whole Foods (!) can also be thrown into the grocery store bucket as providing poor bike parking (specifically, Clarendon, Alexandria, and Pimmit Hills). There are racks around the Foggy Bottom, Vienna and Takoma Park locations however. Fingers crossed they do better at the Pentagon City location which is expected to open this weekend. Please install covered parking!!!

FYI: I just discovered covered parking right across the street from Foggy Bottom Whole Foods at Beefsteak restaurant. Lots of inverted U racks under an overhang in front of one of their windows. Very nice.

I’ve always been able to park my bike at a rack at the Alexandria Whole Foods – well, the one on Duke St. but then again I guess I’ve been lucky, as there are only 3 racks. Most riders seem to be well-behaved though about doubling up on racks, when needed – haven’t had anybody U-lock his/her bike to mine or anything like that.. yet….

The U racks along 9th Street S in front of Giant should be very reliable and just as convenient as the garage location. I walk through 9th and Barton frequently and often see one or two parked bikes but I don’t ever recall seeing those racks full. They’re not sheltered like the ones in the garage though.

I’ve also seen people lock up to the railings a few feet below while the U racks at street level sit empty. Not sure why anyone would choose the railing over a U-rack.

@KLizotte 140285 wrote:

If you go at rush hour (right after work or during a Saturday morning) those racks fill up; it would be nice if there were more but I suspect that is Alexandria City’s property. There is a wave rack in the parking garage but they bolted it so close to the wall that you can only use it by parking your bike horizontally to the rack meaning only one cyclist can use it as a time (assuming it hasn’t been blocked by carts). I just discovered that last week and didn’t have time to track down the manager. On my to do list.

I guess that’s one advantage of working in DC and living in Alexandria. By the time I reach that Whole Foods on my evening commute ride, it’s already past 6:30 pm.

I do admit being lucky on Saturday mornings – a couple of times there were only 1-2 spots left, but I’ve never gone there by bike before 10AM. Worst case scenario, I guess I can lock my bike to a parking meter a block or two away.