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Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!

Just how much do Sainsbury's care about their cyclist customers?

A few days back, we had another post about the theft of bicycle parts from bicycles parked at Sainsbury's. Over a year ago, after writing to Sainsbury's following the theft of his bicycle wheel at Sainsbury's, Osbawn was told:

We are still looking into providing signs warning of theft. They’re currently discussing the best way in which these signs can be worded and how they can be displayed effectively in the car park.

I guess this is either something that takes one helluva lot of 'looking in to' or cyclists are not a priority for Sainsbury's.

I'm not a cyclist and don't rank the needs of cyclists above my right to be a gas guzzling motorist. On this occasion however, I think Sainsbury's are being negligent of their customers' interests and it's a tale that warrants telling. So when I popped over to Sainsbury's for some shopping just now I took a look at the set up for cyclists.

This is what I saw.

This notice in front of the shopping trolley park outside the main door suggests that the store care about their trolleys - and thank goodness about children too. It looks like they even have CCTV protecting something, (but apparently not the cycle park).

 

 

This notice shows how much they really do care about their trolleys.

 

 

 

 

And they care about their disabled customers too, which is appreciated.

 

 

 

Yes they really care about children and disabled customers. They'll even fine you if you don't respect that.

 

 

And they also clearly really care about their motorist customers - and they'll fine you if you inconvenience other motorist customers by overstaying.

 

 

But it's not clear quite how much they love cyclists. If you stand just in front of the cycle park (next to the petrol station) eleven other warning notices are in visible in just this small part of the car park, but not one related to the protection of bicycles and there's certainly no sign of any security cameras.

 

 

At least one cyclist has their own preventative measures in hand.

 

 

So, come on Sainsbury's, one wee notice in the veritable forest of notices would be a start.

 

 

Tags for Forum Posts: sainsbury's, sainsbury's bike theft

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Why wait for Sainsbury's! Print out several copies of the attached and bluetack to the wall above the cycle rack area 

Attachments:

I had my lovely bike stolen outside sainsuburys 2y ago and yes they said the cctv didnt show it - now only take my cheap one, and always lock to trolley rails( as Im lazy and it should be more convient the parking

Would def be up for any protest, leafleting, as its a disaster there for bikes- supermarkets are a real target for theft with so many bikes=cant see how notices up will make ant diference- has to be cctv cameras up in the cycle parking area- its so obvious, I cant believe they dont do it 

Would CCTV really help? It would be monitored together with a dozen other screens. Unless you have two solid locks, it's a matter of seconds for chummy with a bolt cutter to have your treasure away. If he sees a camera he will put himself between it and your bike. Check those loads of scary Youtube videos of bike thefts, and some very annoying ones that show you how to break open most locks (as warnings, they say). If the security people know what to look for it would help, but as you say, the cars are priority. Bike racks near the entrance with a lot of footfall would be better. 

My advice is *don't shop there* until they have better security - maybe bike lockers, where you wheel your bike in and use your own lock on the door - and definitely CCTV, signage is fine, but no help when you've no choice -  and that the cycle lock-ups are nearer to the store. *And* tell them why you're not shopping with them.

And I mean anyone who gets to the store by bike, car, motorbike, walking, taxi, scooter, rickshaw, moped or skateboard. We're all in this together. If you do your main shop there by car, or shop online and drop in a few times to get smaller items by bike or someone else in your household travels there by bike, then tell them what they're losing.

Incidentally, be careful how you use your locks on bike lockers. My son came back to find someone had managed to just open the door far enough to wheel his bike out. I make no comment here!

For me, the signage is just a company covering themselves and not having to do anything when the worst happens and they warned you.

I agree with Doug that a collective protest is a way forward. I'd also write individually stating your reason for shopping elsewhere though.

Added new Storify on this - so if you tweet, pitch in. Make sure to mention us when you tweet and I'll add yoru tweets to the Storify.

Walking through the car park yesterday I noticed what could be a good location. In the tiny car park, nearest to the petrol station, is a trolley shed. I've never noticed it holding that many trollies, it's covered so would keep bikes dry, would imagine it would be fairly cheap to kit out and most importantly is very visible and seems to be covered by CCTV.

Storify updated.

My very rough illustration:

Cyclists entering the car park need to be able to turn off the road safely before giving way to pedestrians (this is not possible at present).

On leaving, cyclists need a position, to stop at, where there is a clear view of motorised traffic in both directions (currently the only dropped curb takes cyclist right into the path of vehicles exiting the petrol station).

A little more Twitter action from Sainsbury's captured on Twitter.

Please link?

thanks

In a nutshell, Sainsbury's changed their approach to the issue today and we now have the Editor of Guardian Money (@hilaryosborne) taking an interest on Twitter.

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