Comments on: “We can’t serve you. You need to be in a car.” http://hugeasscity.com/2009/11/15/we-cant-serve-you-you-need-to-be-in-a-car/ > so much wonderful packaged in such a mess Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:45:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: We’re Thru | Has the American romance with the drive-through gone sour? « drive-thru lies – the truth about the industry’s greenwash http://hugeasscity.com/2009/11/15/we-cant-serve-you-you-need-to-be-in-a-car/comment-page-1/#comment-83529 We’re Thru | Has the American romance with the drive-through gone sour? « drive-thru lies – the truth about the industry’s greenwash Sat, 26 Dec 2009 22:39:00 +0000 http://hugeasscity.com/?p=3313#comment-83529 [...] whole trend is the drive-through only facility, which restricts nonvehicular access at any hour, as this Seattleite found at a Starbucks. That the coffee chain, which once resisted drive-throughs as too "fast food," should now [...] [...] whole trend is the drive-through only facility, which restricts nonvehicular access at any hour, as this Seattleite found at a Starbucks. That the coffee chain, which once resisted drive-throughs as too "fast food," should now [...]

]]> By: rdubmu http://hugeasscity.com/2009/11/15/we-cant-serve-you-you-need-to-be-in-a-car/comment-page-1/#comment-57465 rdubmu Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:56:22 +0000 http://hugeasscity.com/?p=3313#comment-57465 So which McDonald's McCafe or premium coffee did you buy? So which McDonald’s McCafe or premium coffee did you buy?

]]> By: jmland http://hugeasscity.com/2009/11/15/we-cant-serve-you-you-need-to-be-in-a-car/comment-page-1/#comment-55985 jmland Sat, 21 Nov 2009 05:34:40 +0000 http://hugeasscity.com/?p=3313#comment-55985 BeyondDC: Your original contention was that "handicapped parking at a drive-through-only restaurant is a clear indication that the city has ridiculous parking requirements." Let's suppose that there were no parking requirements and Starbucks felt that they needed no parking for this facility (as you later propose). What then happens if a person in a wheelchair works there? Would it be ridiculous to tell them that they'll just have to take their chances finding a parking space on the street and then wheel themselves who knows how far to get to work? And if you feel that parking requirements are ridiculous (obviously the City's only reason for creating the requirement is to be a nuisance), you should take the issue up with the City Council and the Mayor. Good luck with that. As for the lack of pedestrian service, I don't see why they couldn't have converted one of the three windows on the front of the building to be a walk-up window. Starbucks must not have felt like their pedestrian customers needed service, so they didn't provide a walk-up window. It's not required by City code, after all. BeyondDC: Your original contention was that “handicapped parking at a drive-through-only restaurant is a clear indication that the city has ridiculous parking requirements.” Let’s suppose that there were no parking requirements and Starbucks felt that they needed no parking for this facility (as you later propose). What then happens if a person in a wheelchair works there? Would it be ridiculous to tell them that they’ll just have to take their chances finding a parking space on the street and then wheel themselves who knows how far to get to work?

And if you feel that parking requirements are ridiculous (obviously the City’s only reason for creating the requirement is to be a nuisance), you should take the issue up with the City Council and the Mayor. Good luck with that.

As for the lack of pedestrian service, I don’t see why they couldn’t have converted one of the three windows on the front of the building to be a walk-up window.

Starbucks must not have felt like their pedestrian customers needed service, so they didn’t provide a walk-up window. It’s not required by City code, after all.

]]> By: Daniel http://hugeasscity.com/2009/11/15/we-cant-serve-you-you-need-to-be-in-a-car/comment-page-1/#comment-55142 Daniel Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:04:28 +0000 http://hugeasscity.com/?p=3313#comment-55142 I once tried to walk up to a drive-through ATM at a bank, and I was told through one of those annoying intercoms to step away from the machine (because I needed to be in a car). I had spent the last 30 minutes asking around for an ATM and this was the only one in the heart of downtown Bismarck, capital of North Dakota, open. I wanted to buy stuff but I couldn't. I once tried to walk up to a drive-through ATM at a bank, and I was told through one of those annoying intercoms to step away from the machine (because I needed to be in a car). I had spent the last 30 minutes asking around for an ATM and this was the only one in the heart of downtown Bismarck, capital of North Dakota, open. I wanted to buy stuff but I couldn’t.

]]> By: BeyondDC http://hugeasscity.com/2009/11/15/we-cant-serve-you-you-need-to-be-in-a-car/comment-page-1/#comment-55095 BeyondDC Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:03:05 +0000 http://hugeasscity.com/?p=3313#comment-55095 jmland: If Starbucks feels their employees need parking, they will provide the parking regardless of city ordinance. On the other hand, thanks to the city law they *have* to provide the parking even if they know they don't need it. So yes, that is ridiculous. jmland: If Starbucks feels their employees need parking, they will provide the parking regardless of city ordinance.

On the other hand, thanks to the city law they *have* to provide the parking even if they know they don’t need it.

So yes, that is ridiculous.

]]> By: the other Brian http://hugeasscity.com/2009/11/15/we-cant-serve-you-you-need-to-be-in-a-car/comment-page-1/#comment-54224 the other Brian Wed, 18 Nov 2009 02:50:44 +0000 http://hugeasscity.com/?p=3313#comment-54224 I believe that Starbucks has a drive through on each side of it, and usually only one side is open. It seems that with a little creative engineering, they might be able to use the other side for walkups. It's like walking in the rain and the snow And there's nowhere to go And you feel it's like your coffee they're denyin' (with apologies to 10cc) I believe that Starbucks has a drive through on each side of it, and usually only one side is open. It seems that with a little creative engineering, they might be able to use the other side for walkups.

It’s like walking in the rain and the snow
And there’s nowhere to go
And you feel it’s like your coffee they’re denyin’
(with apologies to 10cc)

]]> By: sean http://hugeasscity.com/2009/11/15/we-cant-serve-you-you-need-to-be-in-a-car/comment-page-1/#comment-53782 sean Tue, 17 Nov 2009 08:28:17 +0000 http://hugeasscity.com/?p=3313#comment-53782 Saturday, November 21st. Flashmob bike drive thru at Starbucks. Whose down? Saturday, November 21st. Flashmob bike drive thru at Starbucks. Whose down?

]]> By: Lee Seattle http://hugeasscity.com/2009/11/15/we-cant-serve-you-you-need-to-be-in-a-car/comment-page-1/#comment-53659 Lee Seattle Tue, 17 Nov 2009 02:55:45 +0000 http://hugeasscity.com/?p=3313#comment-53659 It's the lawyers again. They feel there is liability with encouraging pedestrians to walk/stand in the driveway. It's not based on reality, but on the overpowering fear of lawsuits. It’s the lawyers again. They feel there is liability with encouraging pedestrians to walk/stand in the driveway. It’s not based on reality, but on the overpowering fear of lawsuits.

]]> By: From Ethiopia To A Stripmall Starbucks Drive-Thru | hugeasscity http://hugeasscity.com/2009/11/15/we-cant-serve-you-you-need-to-be-in-a-car/comment-page-1/#comment-53605 From Ethiopia To A Stripmall Starbucks Drive-Thru | hugeasscity Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:39:23 +0000 http://hugeasscity.com/?p=3313#comment-53605 [...] and relegates coffee drinking to the realm of mainlining a drug.    Not to mention that they won’t serve you unless you show up inside a multi-ton shell of steel and glass.  Although just to make the [...] [...] and relegates coffee drinking to the realm of mainlining a drug.    Not to mention that they won’t serve you unless you show up inside a multi-ton shell of steel and glass.  Although just to make the [...]

]]> By: Steve http://hugeasscity.com/2009/11/15/we-cant-serve-you-you-need-to-be-in-a-car/comment-page-1/#comment-53500 Steve Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:33:54 +0000 http://hugeasscity.com/?p=3313#comment-53500 This is an easy one, guys. You get 20-50 pedestrians/bike riders to commit to coming to the Starbucks each morning for a week at peak morning coffee rush hour. You bring a list of their names to the Starbucks manager on a Friday and ask for a WRITTEN commitment to serve pedestrians/cyclists, otherwise your crew comes en masse next M-F seeking to order, with great deliberation and without undue haste, their morning coffee. How badly do you think Starbucks wants 1) lost peak-hour customers who get fed up waiting behind a line of 20 cyclists a few days in a row, 2) the chance to threaten police action against dozens of potential customers (for what? disturbing the peace while attempting to buy coffee?), and 3) the gleeful publicity from bloggers and local reporters as of day 2-3? Make it happen. This is an easy one, guys. You get 20-50 pedestrians/bike riders to commit to coming to the Starbucks each morning for a week at peak morning coffee rush hour. You bring a list of their names to the Starbucks manager on a Friday and ask for a WRITTEN commitment to serve pedestrians/cyclists, otherwise your crew comes en masse next M-F seeking to order, with great deliberation and without undue haste, their morning coffee.

How badly do you think Starbucks wants 1) lost peak-hour customers who get fed up waiting behind a line of 20 cyclists a few days in a row, 2) the chance to threaten police action against dozens of potential customers (for what? disturbing the peace while attempting to buy coffee?), and 3) the gleeful publicity from bloggers and local reporters as of day 2-3?

Make it happen.

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