Dear All: Just wondering if there are other cyclists out there who would be interested to know about Waitrose, at St. Katherine's Docks near Tower Bridge, and its anti-bike policies? I was using a Brompton which can be folded. However, as it was late and I was tired, I took it in unfolded, being careful and sensitive not to cause problems for the other shoppers (it's a tiny bike anyway, not much bigger than a shopping cart). I was approached by a security guard who said unfolded bikes were not permitted but it was ok if it was folded. I then mentioned that the wheels would still be touching the floor, and that the store allowed wheelchairs and baby carriages inside the store which also had wheels that touched the ground outside and what was the problem with bikes specifically. I knew while I was saying this that i was wasting my time, that it was a pointless conversation but I have been disgusted for quite some time at how cyclists are often treated as second-class citizens and told how bikes are not allowed in various places, often with no reasonable justification.In any event, I needed to buy things so I complied and folded the Brompton. The security guard stood watching me like I was five years old and couldn't be trusted to do it without supervision. I was starting to lose my rag but managed to contain myself and finished shopping and left. Has anyone else felt similarly about the treatment of cyclists in London? Do any cyclists feel like doing some shopping with their bikes at Waitrose at St. Katherine's Docks, maybe as a group? Am I taking this all wrong? Would appreciate your input. Thanks for listening.
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