Tuesday, 1 May 2012

Go Outdoors... Go Cycling... but No Go for cycle parking


With 30+ stores across the UK you may well have visited one of the Go Outdoor shops - particularly given the range of sports and leisure equipment and clothing available in the stores and online.

 The website for the Go Outdoors store on Great Ancoats Street, Manchester, M4 6DE provides an impressive list of store facilities:
  • Baby changing facilities 
  • Wheelchair Access
  • Climbing Wall
  • Cycle servicing
  • Public Toilets
  • In Store Hamilton’s Eat Drink Relax CafĂ©
  • Tent Display Area (indoor)
  • Calor Gas Stockist
  • Changing Rooms
  • Tent Repair (for tents sold by ourselves within warranty)
  • Boot Fitting Area
  • Gait Analysis Machine 
But one facility you will not find at the Gt Ancoats Street store is any cycle parking stands, should you choose to cycle to the store. Although the company seems very keen to let you know that they will not take any responsibility for loss or damage to cars, bikes or any other vehicles parked in the car park - should you find anything to lock your bike too!



So whilst the marketing banners invite people to:


GO Camping
GO Climbing
GO Running
GO Riding
GO Walking
GO Cycling
GO Travelling
GO Caravanning
GO Fishing
GO Skiing



Just don't try to GO cycle parking!



If you are a customer of GO Outdoors and would like to securely park your bicycle when giving them your money why not drop them an email via enquiries@gooutdoors.co.uk or call them on 0114 2796368.



Mind you, no cycle parking facilities at all may be better those on offer at the Go Outdoors store in Swindon.  See photo on right!

Copyright via Cyclestreets
  






6 comments:

  1. Maybe I can't tell from the picture, but those don't look that bad. We've got the same problem at a lot of grocery stores too - especially the "green-minded" ones. I ride a foldable bike though, so if I can't find anything to lock to, I put my bike in the bottom of the shopping cart and take it into the store.

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  2. Chris... the Sheffield stands are good but have been installed too close together - it would be a real struggle to get two bikes locked next to each other! Most (all) local authorities will have cycle parking guidance which sets out the best measurements etc...

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  3. Those stands are a cunning marketing ploy to ensure that everyone buys the newest, lightest, thinnest bikes possible...
    Or we could do our shopping elsewhere!

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  4. I found I could park my bike outside the Aldi next door - on the trolly park metalwork - not that they had what I wanted...

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  5. Hi Bicycle Pete

    My name is Brandon and I work for the GO Outdoors web team. We've recently found your blog on this matter regarding the Manchester store and want to thank you for your feedback. Obviously our cycling customers are just as important to us as any other, and from your feedback we have put the wheels in motion to have a new cycle rack installed at the GO Outdoors Manchester store in the near future.

    Thanks,

    Brandon Egley
    GO Outdoors Web Team

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  6. Hi Brandon

    Thank you for your comment and for setting the "wheels in motion" to have a new cycle parking rack installed at the GO Outdoors store on Gt Ancoat Street.

    I do hope that your installers follow the Greater Manchester Police cycle parking design guidance.

    Pete

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