Bristol Waitrose letting cyclists use trailers to get shopping home
Anyone arriving at a Bristol Waitrose by bike will easily be able to get their shopping home – the supermarket is lending cyclists trailers.
Waitrose, on Northumbria Drive, is one of the first supermarkets in the country to have the free scheme, which started yesterday.
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Cycle trailers at Waitrose in Henleaze
Anyone wanting to use the trailers can give their details at the customer service desk, fix a small bracket beneath their saddle to clip the trailer on to their bike and return the trailer within three days.
And shoppers using the supermarket's self-scanning service can wheel the trailer around the store, scanning their shopping as they go, and pay at the automatic checkout.
Each one comes with a canvas bag which can carry up to six large bags of shopping up to 40kg, which should be enough room for the family shop.
The initiative is not part of Bristol's Cycling City programme, which will see £23 million spent on cycling facilities and training, but supermarket bosses hope it will encourage more people to cycle to do their shopping.
"January is the time that many people are setting themselves targets for the new year, such as getting fit through doing more exercise," said department manager Simon Brumby.
"Our new cycle trailers are an excellent way of helping our customers stay healthy and has the additional bonus of being able to play a positive role in the environment in 2009."
The Henleaze Waitrose was chosen for the scheme because it has bike racks within metres of its entrance which are well-used by customers.
It has four cycle trailers available, and the scheme will be a permanent initiative and will operate all year.
There are 13 Waitrose branches operating the scheme across the country, and 21 others will take it up by the end of February.
Another near Bristol is the Waitrose in Harbour Road, Portishead, will launch the scheme on January 29. The branch also has designated cycle spaces for customers to park their bikes while doing their shopping.
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by Andrew, Clifton
Wednesday, January 21 2009, 2:31PM
“It would be nice to think this would work, but I have my doubts. Theft is such a problem when anything useful is made available on a loan basis. I wonder how many trailers Waitrose will have left in six months time.
Still, such pessimism doesn't mean we shouldn't try. I wish the scheme luck.”
by Graeme, Clifton
Sunday, January 11 2009, 8:55PM
“In response to Adrian (Bristol).
You can buy shopping trolleys such as these:
http://www.leggero.com/leggero/shop/store/product_view.asp?KatalogeID=36
Check the video link and the close-up of the bicycling linkage on this web site:
http://www.mysmarttrolley.com.au/index.html
I think this is a brilliant idea. If nothing else it increases the awareness and acceptance of the use of bicycles & trailer for the weekly shop.”
by Howard, Somerset
Friday, January 09 2009, 11:24PM
“Some may (and on here, probably will) scorn bike trailers but I use my own CarryFreedom trailer for all sorts of jobs one wouldn't normally consider using a bike for. Done the supermarket shop for a family of four - (big plastic box on the trailer plus a pair of panniers on the bike). The supermarket is only a mile away, but 160 feet lower so it keeps you fit on the homeward uphill haul! I was surprised that I managed it the first time I tried it; a lot less effort than expected and a lot easier than attaching a similar load on the bike itself. The trailer has been used for things like hauling bags of compost from the garden centre, logs, rubbish to the tip...
It saves getting the car out and I get a bit of a fun work out whilst doing useful errands.
Gyms? Who needs 'em :-)”
by Martin, Clifton.
Friday, January 09 2009, 10:32PM
“Four trailers for all the cyclists that use the store. This is really a gimmick and an advertisement to show how green they are.
(But well done for trying anyway).
What utility cyclists really need is decent places to lock up our bikes, i.e. sheltered Sheffield stands, within the sight of the public, and preferably with CCTV. This will encourage utility cycling far more than other facilities.”
by rob bushill, bristol
Friday, January 09 2009, 8:13PM
“there are bikes available that you can do the shopping on without resorting to a trailer. admittely you have to buy a new bike but to own a really useful bike makes allsorts of things possible on a bike that were not before. fair play to Waitrose for seeing the sense in it. owning a really useful bike will change the way you do things and ultimately our society and quality of life.”
by john, swineford
Friday, January 09 2009, 5:43PM
“Lorraine I have never been in a Waitrose to find it in dirty and a dump. Sad that you did. Give it another try.”
by lorraine, bristol
Friday, January 09 2009, 3:02PM
“went to this store over xmas
didnt think much it was dirty had nothing much of interest on shelves and was a bit pricey
it use to be a nice store years ago but know its its a dump
sorry its meant to be the smart price of M&S dont think so”
by Mark, Stoke Bishop
Friday, January 09 2009, 2:30PM
“Hey, this was my idea! I enquired at this store about cycle trailers as recently as Sunday. The lady looked at me as though I was a few allen keys short of a hex set. No change there.
I expect that the self-scanning aspect is only available to John Lewis/Waitrose card-holders. It's not a case of turn up, fill your boots and ride off into the sunset.
As the store is at the top of Henleaze, mercifully it is downhill to just about everywhere. I would be more concerned about 'jackknifing' on Parry's Lane while laden to the gunwhales with my weekly wine ration.
Trekking back up to return the trailer seems a bit of a fag. I recall once reading in some blurb that the trailers would be orange and available on permanent loan? There is no point in cycling to the store unless you can be sure that a trailer will be available.
Good bit of craic, nonetheless.”
by James S, Bristol
Friday, January 09 2009, 12:53PM
“Craig,
"dragging 40Kg of shopping up a steep hill in the rain what fun!"
40kg of weight being towed wouldn't feel that bad at all - it's not like your carrying it and painfully steep hills are few and far between and at most take a minute or so to go up - at worst it'd mean warmer legs in the short run and stronger legs in the long run..
Rain is what waterproofs are for.
Plus; no extra fuel costs (bar a little bit of extra food), extra milage = extra fitness.. etc etc..
Not that cycle shopping is for everyone, but for the many people who already cycle to the shops having trolleys like this available is a good thing, hope my local supermarkets take this up!”
by GingerRog, Bristol
Friday, January 09 2009, 12:47PM
“Does the guy featured in the video have a drink problem?! Seemed quite a load to be lugging around. Liked the hand signal. I don't see many of those to the penny. Are there lamplights on the trailers for shopping on dark evenings?
Good initiative. Bet the thieves will be loving it though.”