Burgerville: Bikes now welcome in all drive-thrus

Burgerville: Fresh, Local, Sustainable
… and now bike-able!

Chalk it up as another big win for citizen activism.

Portland writer and self-described “family biking evangelist” Sarah Gilbert’s account of being denied service in the drive-thru of a local Burgerville restaurant while on her bicycle (which was then picked up by local media and Twittered all over the place) has led the company to announce a new policy.

The 39 location Burgerville chain announced today that people on bicycles are now allowed to order and pick up food through the drive-thru (which they now also refer to as a “cycle-thru”!). The company — whose major marketing hook is its earth-friendly practices — is billing this as their “latest sustainability innovation”.

According to a press release, the company will announce a formal drive-thru program within the next two weeks. Here’s an excerpt from the release where they specifically credit Ms. Gilbert in making the policy decision:

“Burgerville is creating a chain-wide formalized bike-friendly policy, which was galvanized yesterday in part due to an experience chronicled by Sarah Gilbert, an avid Portland cyclist. Ms. Gilbert attempted to order cheeseburgers at Burgerville’s Southeast 25th Avenue and Powell Boulevard drive-thru and was rebuffed… Ms. Gilbert’s experience helped accelerate our decision to develop a formal bike-friendly program.”

Burgerville says their previous policy was to allow individual managers to decide whether or not to serve people on bikes in drive thrus, but now the policy will be mandated at all their locations.

Here’s Burgerville honcho Jack Graves:

“Opening up our drive-thrus to the large cycling community in our area is a natural for us and is very much in line with our overall values. While we are sorry that Ms. Gilbert was inconvenienced, we appreciate the passion she brought to the issue and her commitment to the environment and our food. We are excited about the positive impact we will be able to make through our new bike policy.”

Burgerville expects that all 39 of its locations will be able to accommodate “cycle-thru” orders within the next two weeks as the company finalizes operational and safety aspects of the program.

Read Sarah Gilbert’s response to the news posted today on her CafeMama blog.

“Cycle-thru” — now that has a very nice ring to it.

We are lucky to have citizens like Sarah Gilbert and locally owned and operated companies like Burgerville that listen and respond to their customers.

Now, I wonder if this will lead to a revolution of opening up drive-thrus at other places like banks, pharmacies, and so on? And, who’s up for organizing a ride to Burgerville cycle-thrus next week?! Seriously.

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Founder of BikePortland (in 2005). Father of three. North Portlander. Basketball lover. Car owner and driver. If you have questions or feedback about this site or my work, feel free to contact me at @jonathan_maus on Twitter, via email at maus.jonathan@gmail.com, or phone/text at 503-706-8804. Also, if you read and appreciate this site, please become a supporter.

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Tomas Quinones
Tomas Quinones
14 years ago

Yaaaaaaaaaaaay! now, if all the other drive-thru joints will follow in BV’s wake?

Andrew Holtz
14 years ago

Yay.

Let’s definitely give them lots of Cycle-thru business. Enough so that other businesses see the profit to be made (or lost) by their bicycle policies.

John Lascurettes
14 years ago

For all other businesses with a drive through: Couldn’t one just make the argument that in the eyes of the vehicle code (ORS in Oregon) that a bike is a vehicle legally entitled to go on roads (interstate freeways excepted) as cars are?

I mean, if they service motorcycles, what’s the difference. Money is money (and empty calories are empty calories).

Miss Ena
Miss Ena
14 years ago

I ride past a Burgerville on my way home. A couple of times I’ve been out of water and very thirsty.

The people are so kind and refill my water bottle for me to get me up the hill onto home.

I’m appreciative of the BV staff.

TDavis
14 years ago

Is this really an “innovation”? Come on…I like the idea, but an innovation would not have required the media attention BEFORE B’ville changes its policy.

Does this mean if I am commuting home by running (just as earth friendly as a multi-sport athlete) that I can go through the “whatever-thru” and get service?

Disastronaut
Disastronaut
14 years ago
Snowflakes Seven
Snowflakes Seven
14 years ago

Its good that they corrected themselves, but odd that they had a problem with it in the first place.

I use the drive-up window at my national-chain pharmacy at least twice a month without incident. It baffles why anyone would discriminate against a paying customer by mode of transportation.

One note, if your going to by four beverages be sure you think through how your going to carry them.

Marcello
Marcello
14 years ago

Kudos to Burgerville! I will get a milkshake to go next time I ride past one.

Just curious, what kind of safety issues have to be fixed to accommodate all vehicles at “drive through” windows? I keep hearing (usually from car riders) that not letting people on some type of vehicles (bikes) get service at those windows is done to protect them, because of alleged safety issues.

K'Tesh
K'Tesh
14 years ago

Boy! Is that legal? 😉

Someone at Jack in the Box told me that it violates federal law to serve bicyclists in the drive thru.

Hope some clown get’s them message.

K'Tesh
K'Tesh
14 years ago

drat…

fingers too fast…

make that last sentence

“Hope some clown gets the message.”

PDXbiker
PDXbiker
14 years ago

A cyclists money is just as green as a motorists at a drive thru.

exbv-cyclist
exbv-cyclist
14 years ago

I worked the drive-thru at a BV for about 6 months. I was the closing shift and so the only employee in the building after 10pm save the mgr and cook.

It was ridiculous that I would have to deny cyclists and walk-ups just because they didn’t own a car. (Dining room closes an hour earlier.)

I would tell cyclists that if they rode up to the window, I couldn’t help them, but I don’t have a camera of who’s at the order box, so….

I would always give cyclists the “senior discount” as well.

Jessica Roberts
Jessica Roberts
14 years ago

When I was little my mom would occasionally take me through the Jack-in-the-Box drive through in my stroller to get onion rings. I don’t remember any lawsuits or safety issues at the time…Anyway, I don’t get fast food much but when I do I like BV for their groovy local purchasing, and this is yet another reason to patronize them. Well done! (<pun sort of intended)

bicycletothesun
bicycletothesun
14 years ago

This will be awesome. As soon as the cycle-thru opens up I’m going through to get a milkshake.

Hart
Hart
14 years ago

“I said NEAR the In and Out Burger!”

steved
steved
14 years ago

This is one small step forward for bicycle advocacy, one step backwards for healthy eating.

Peter Noone
Peter Noone
14 years ago

Cool, but beef will likely never be “sustainable”, even if it’s organic. I’m going a little off topic here, but I find it interesting that a lot of cyclists are almost self-righteously environmentalist but don’t seem to know or care that diet has more effect on the environment than personal travel mode.

matchu
matchu
14 years ago

Oregon state law considers cycles vehicles akin to trucks, cars, etc. with certain reservations. Wouldn’t it be unconstitutional for an Oregon business to not service a cyclist in their drive-thru while simultaneously servicing other modes of transportation?

sarah gilbert
14 years ago

Peter Noone: I disagree. beef raised entirely on range unfit for agriculture, like the sagebrush of Eastern Oregon (the way all beef was raised *before* McDonald’s and its ilk) is quite sustainable; when raised in a farm with a variety of other animals beef cows are part of a continuum that makes environmental and agriculture sense. now, beef consumed in quantities that most Americans consume it (even organic) IS unsustainable; but most of us foodie/”almost self-righteously environmentalist” know AND care exactly what the footprint of the beef we eat, is.

a burger, for me, makes a very rare appearance in my diet, along with french fries, milkshakes made with conventional milk, and the rest of the offerings at Burgerville.

jim
jim
14 years ago

I wouldn’t expect changes to happen real fast. It will take quite some time for them to consult with the attys., the ins co., and back to the aty’s again. It will no doubt raise their ins. premiums and that will have to be approved by upper mgmt… If a drunk driver were to slam into a bike in a drive through the restraunt is liable.There are cars bumping into the car ahead of them every day in lines in parking garages. Most of the time they are getting money out of their wallet and not realizing they are rolling ahead. In the drive through the driver often has to deal with a lot of people in the car who are driving the driver crazy with hold the mayo, substitutions, finnacy kids…,
Jonathon should interview a night time drive through attendant to get his/her views on the situation

jim
jim
14 years ago

If bikes are allowed then would skate boards also be allowed?, razor scooters? what about pedestrians? Would they have to make a lower window for wheelchairs to roll up to?

Jim Labbe
Jim Labbe
12 years ago
Reply to  jim

Pedestrians should definitely be allowed too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrlxU9kx_m0

Jackie
Jackie
14 years ago

My boyfriend & I were refused service at the powell & 25th location when we were on foot (The inside was already closed – only the drive-thru was open). The employee told us it was because of their insurance. We didn’t think it was very sustainable of them. I hope they’ll allow pedestrians now or have a walk-up window.

Anonymous
Anonymous
14 years ago

meat is not sustainable, you should really educate yourself

BigMarty
BigMarty
14 years ago

Totally cruising to the Burgerville on Scholls tomorrow for a bite. Hell yes.

naomi
naomi
14 years ago

Peter: oh get off it already. Me having a burger a few times a year doesn’t make me a hypocrite.

Katusha
Katusha
14 years ago

At Hart #15:
Well said.

jj
14 years ago

#23

but its TASTY! And good for you in moderation, as a part of a balanced diet.

Actually, I eat at fast food places very rarely (the wife and kids are Celiac–we tend to just avoid fast food places.)

I have to agree that this is one step forward for bike rights but kinda sad that we are fighting to fatten ourselves up.

OK…off to get a whiffies and potato champion. Maybe even a crepe!

b. right on
b. right on
14 years ago

ailing business in cynical move to boost profit

Anonymous
Anonymous
14 years ago

@ Jackie (and other me-too non-cyclists)
The law states that cyclists must be equipped with lights, unlike on-foot pedestrians (with exceptions). You don’t see how a person in the dark with no lights is more at risk of getting hit by a car?

Also why are you complaining about it on a bike blog anyway

Refunk
Refunk
14 years ago

Kudos to Burgerville – another large business with the intelligence to acknowledge transportational bicycling and treat their cycling patrons like adults. Now, if only banks would follow suit (I could care less about any of the national-chain fast food joints).

As for the fast food aspect, I’ve never noticed their delivery across the counter being fast!. I seldom buy burgers, but the wonderful local fruit or vegetable of the month prepared in whatever whacky way at Burgerville pretty much assures a minimum of my money. This new bit is like getting whipped cream added.

Steven J
Steven J
14 years ago

there’s no such thing as bad press.

Peregrine78
Peregrine78
14 years ago

I hope this doesn’t come across as smug, but does anyone else think that commuting by bike and eating meat are a little contradictory?

I mean, if you’re trying to reduce your carbon footprint and use less fossil fuels, going veg is huge.

I know Burgerville is all grass-fed Happy Cows, but it still takes a ton of resources to make beef.

That said, I think it’s totally your right to eat meat, and my guess is that Sarah probably doesn’t eat it all the time. But I know I’ve worked with full-time bike commuters who never thought twice about eating meat every meal.

Opus the Poet
14 years ago

My local Wendy’s has no problem with selling me stuff if I go through the line and roll up to the first window instead of waiting at the speaker, because their system can’t detect a bicycle. But McDonald’s threatened to charge me with trespassing, so I don’t buy anything from Mickey D’s anymore.

KruckyBoy
KruckyBoy
14 years ago

Let’s start filling up non-compliant drives throughs with bikes. Every time you’re turned away tell them “Fine- I’ll go to Burgerville where they welcome bike traffic”. After enough people are turned away maybe they will start to rethink their policies. Or just say “It’s good to see you’re making too much money during this recession”.

Vance Longwell
14 years ago

This came about because of a rash of walk-up robberies in southern California during the mid nineties. The same people damning this practice now, were the same one’s foisting this rule on businesses in the first place. “Oh, the poor vulnerable kids, let’s outlaw going through the drive-up without a car”.

You know, the ones who seem to think every little detail of life gets legislated down to the last molecule? This isn’t discrimination. This isn’t dumb business practice. This is compliance with Nanny State demands now effecting its progenitors, so of course we’re gonna hear all about it whether it’s rational or not.

Michael M.
14 years ago

Peregrine78 (#32) — You’re assuming that one’s purpose in commuting by bike is to reduce one’s carbon footprint. Some of us ride, commute, etc., simply because we enjoy it. Some of us also enjoy eating beef sometimes.

So, no, no contradiction at all.

KWW
KWW
14 years ago

boo-hoo-hoo! meat is not sustainable! I will ponder that when I am at BURGERVILLE!

Russell
Russell
14 years ago

Cool, but breeding will likely never be “sustainable”, even if it’s by left wing hippies. I’m going a little off topic here, but I find it interesting that a lot of cyclists are almost self-righteously environmentalist but don’t seem to know or care that having children has more effect on the environment than personal travel mode.

Mr DeJerk
14 years ago

Yay!
As for other cycle-thrus – you bet they’ll appear. I just wouldn’t call it a “revolution”, but, rather, an adaptation. They want our bu$ine$$, and they’ll do what it takes to get it.

naomi
naomi
14 years ago

I ride my bike because I like riding. I don’t do it because I’m “self righteous” or a vegan. Riding a bike doesn’t mean you can’t eat meat. End of story.

Elly Blue (Columnist)
14 years ago

Hey all,

This is not the place to get into a sustainability arms race. Lets keep on talking about bike issues related to this post. Feel free to open up a forum topic if you’d like to continue discussing carbon footprints in comparative perspective.

Thanks,
Elly

jim
jim
14 years ago

what if someone made an oscar meyer weenie bike- could they ride it in the drive trough?

jim
jim
14 years ago

through

Todd Boulanger
Todd Boulanger
14 years ago

Yes this is good news…when I was at the City of Vancouver…I started discussions with BV on this issue [it seemed in conflict with their corporate sustainability policies], as I was getting conflicting service as a bicyclist customer (often great though a few ‘sorry it not allowed’).

When I was also providing transportation staff comment on ‘parking lot safety and circulation’ for new drive thrus and renovations it seemed odd that these new facilities could not be designed to be ‘safe’ for bikes and peds…if they were meeting our design approval?! So then once approved these facilities should be able to safely serve bikes and peds…my thinking…but not reflected in their operation once built.

[I often wondered if a local ADA advocate or a person in a wheelchair were to be denied late night service (when the ADA compliant doorway was locked) at a drive up window (without a vehicle) if this would lead to a change nationally for this policy and corporate design issues.]

The issue of “walk up” robberies was another reason often thrown in my face as to why fast food corporations did not want my business. It seemed a bit of a pat easy answer.

This brings up fond memories of our Pedal Palooza ride a few years back…the “Serve Me or Arrest Me” ride thru drive thrus in North Portland. We had good luck getting served at all drive thrus that night…perhaps there were too many bicyclists to ignore (and the lost sales too).

Versus the Wendys on Lombard that once called the police on me when I asked for similar service by myself when the pedestrian door was closed one night…they did not have a window sticker nor printed policy they could show me about the no bike or walk up service policy…so I waited in line for my food holding up traffic.

(I have not been back to Wendys since. I go to Burgerville about once a week now.)

Todd Boulanger
Todd Boulanger
14 years ago

Actually some banks have a similarly bizarre policy of non service…back in 1988 … I went to a bank in NJ to withdraw my money from my bank but the walk up door was closed so I rode to the open drive thru teller for service.

They would not serve me. So I had to beg a driver behind me to let me sit in their car for the return of my money. (I closed my account with the bank soon after.)

The funny thing about this is that I was making this withdrawal in order to buy a car!

Mike
Mike
14 years ago

Here is a carbon calculator. If you pay attention, you’ll see what makes up the vast vast majority of your impact is how much you travel by air.

http://www.nature.org/initiatives/climatechange/calculator/

Mike
Mike
14 years ago

Whoops, sorry – missed your post Elly

ragold
ragold
14 years ago

I was told while pulling up to the pick-up window of the Wendy’s on Sandy and 31st that they do not take orders from bicyclists because they had been robbed by them at the window in the past (something about being able to reach further into the restaurant than while seated in a car).

This was a few months ago. In any case, they made an exception foe me, they said.

Adron
14 years ago

It’s kind of twisted that at the root of this whole problem is insurance & the legislative structure that allows people to run the insurance rates up or cause absurd rules around the insurance. We don’t need to fix “business” they’ll serve whoever has money. The problem here is the legal structure and the insurance structure that are built around the screwed up legal structure. Fix that and we all gain more empowerment to ride and such.

…anyway, just saying.

I might actually swing into a Burgerville via bike since this went through.

The other irony I find here is this. In Mississippi you can pretty much go through whatever drive through you want to. It doesn’t matter – a place will serve ya long as ya pay…

…I find it funny when one of the most notoriously backwards states in the country is more progressive in “common sense” than Oregon is…

…the irony of that.

OnTheRoad
OnTheRoad
14 years ago

Re: the safety and liability issue.

In some states in the Midwest, you can swing by a drive-thru and buy beer and bottles of hard liquor.

One friend from Missouri told me he had even gone through a drive-thru and gotten a mixed drink served to him!

What possible twisted logic could the businesses and their insurance companies have put forth to justify that?