Pharmacy Window
Question
Carl asked: On June 11,2019, I cycled up to the drive in window at the pharmacy. The pharmacist assistant came to the window and ask if there was a motor on the bicycle. I responded “no”. He then told me that I shouldn’t be served on a non-motorized vehicle at the drive up window.
I informed that in the state of Florida, and at least 37 other states, a bicycle is a vehicle. He stated that company would not be liable for an accident of an non-motorized vehicle in the vehicle lane. I responded if my bicycle was not allowed, then NO vehicle was allowed at the window. He stated that he didn’t want to argue. I responded that there was no argument, he was just uninformed relative to Florida vehicle laws. I drove away with my drugs.
QUESTION: Can a Florida entity prevent a bicycle from using a vehicle drive up window?
Answer
Please see this post.
Followup:
Carl: Just called customer service. Contact could not find a bicycle drive up window directive. She will pass complaint to management. I am to be contacted within 2 business days with a management response will share if I do get a response.
For many years my bicycle was my primary mode of transportation, and I sometimes used the drive-through lanes at banks, pharmacies, and the tax collector’s office. On a couple of occasions I was told that I was not permitted to use these lanes while riding my bicycle, including at the tax collector’s office. A few facilities have signs noting these restrictions (which I had not noticed).
When I questioned the reason for these restrictions, I was told that the facility’s insurance policy did not cover claims made by people riding bicycles, on foot, or riding in wheelchairs—they are *drive-through* lanes designed for motor vehicles. I was given the example of a person riding a bicycle who was injured because he slipped in a puddle of oil that had accumulated at the window, and then fell.
Nothing is to be gained by shooting the messengers because they are required to comply with company policy, and might loose their jobs if they served someone on a bicycle.
One would think that “bicycle advocacy” organizations would have worked with insurance companies to address this issue, but to the best of my knowledge, one would be wrong.