Not-so-Happy Meal as cyclist refused service at drive-thru McDonald's

What is this, gastrosnobs.cc?

I bloody love a McDonalds at times, and have ridden through a drive-through on my bike before (many years ago). My reason? Because they didn't have anywhere to lock my bike.

The woman who took her horse in was clearly a completely separate matter: even bore it sh#t on the floor having animals in restaurants is unsanitary.

Jesus what the problem with the odd McDonalds every now and again?...some of us have kids and you know what sometimes we just think sod it I need a rest lets have a drive through....

As for people saying its poison etc. just f**k off - its about balance we cant all always give our kids or ourselves the ideal healthy food...

So whats the policy with motorcyclists?

Oh my, just read the Space for Cycling page on it. The RoSPA response is entertaining. Appears "consultation" means "look at websites with no specific advice regarding drive throughs".

Devils Advocate time...with the acceptance that McD's policy is not applied at every store (brain dead staff)and is probably not legally compelling or competent in all areas...

If you go through the drive-thru on your bike and staff take money upon an order being placed then a contract has been entered by both parties willingly.

If you then have your £5k road bike squashed by a car then McD's could be held accountable and liable as most cyclists (read cyclists, not roadies) do not have insurance that protects the bike or the rider. Cars (or most of them) do have cover which also provides personal injury protection and satifies the 'bean counters' at the McD corporate office.

McD's are also somewhat regulated by the HSE rules so maybe redirect your anger towards them? Even if miniscule there is still an increased risk if a cyclist uses a drive-thru.

There is also public interest to consider. McD's dont want bad publicity if a cyclist (oe pedestrian for that matter) got injured, killed or their ecpensive bike got trashed.

All these things and more need to be considered when coming up with a policy. I personally think the furore over things like this is daft... They are called "DRIVE THRU" for a reason.

I am not affiliated to McD's in any way. I now think their food is shite but used to eat it when I was younger, regrettably. McD's load their burger rolls or buns with sugar to make kids like them, in fact they load everything with sugar to make your children love what they sell and craze you to go McD's.

I wonder what they saw in the Highway Code that was in any way relevent to this?

Anyway, if they're going to have such a policy, they need to have clear signs at the entrance to the lane. Being told it is "against policy" when you reach the pay window is ridiculous- as they've already let you get into a position that apparently their own policy says is dangerous.

(would always avoid such places myself, but for the purposes of this discussion the nutritional or otherwise delights of their food is rather moot)

I'm so annoyed by the food snobbery displayed in these comments that I'm off out tomorrow for a McDonalds. Yummy!

You are what you eat. McD is junk.

On Saturday evening (31st August 2013) I went into the drive through on the A23 in Waddon, next to Pets at Home. I was followed by three girls walking through it.

They were served and I watched them pay for and then collect their food from the window.

Why can pedestrians walk through, but cyclists are not allowed to cycle through?

I think the HSE should close down MaccyDs for being a breach of health and safety!! LOL!

The HSE do a daily web update of stupid health and safety excuses. I've used the McD's drive thru in Sandbach on quite a few occasions for coffee and cola (and maybe the odd burger) when I've been on a long one over that way.

McD's are worried that motorists might not see a cyclist or horse rider at the drive-thru. You mean that someone too busy scoffing chips/burger, juggling drinks and change as they drive off might not be in safe control of a tonne or more of metal, well unless there's a horse around no sh*t sherlock! Talk about missing a trick - a quick ride through for coffee on a club run perhaps? Even Pickles seems to realise it's safer for motorists to get out of their tin boxes to buy things!

Jack in the Box refused me, but Taco Bell said OK. Last night I took my bike inside Jack in the Box and they didn't throw me out (the bike is trained not to defacate in public restaurants). $3 for a Waffle Sandwich which was no more than 4 or 5 man bites but packed 470 calories. As it was the only "meal" in a 306km ride with 5576m of climbing, I think the bad stuff was probably burned up.

I have been refused on a motorbike as they couldn't hear me apparently? They did hear what I next called them though funny that .

Ignoring the health debate for now.

The policy is rubbish. To be refused service you must enter and queue in the lane. By the time you are refused you are already in a dangerous place according to mcd's. if they want to implement the policy then they should man the entrance.

The policy doesn't apply to motorbikes, of course........

McD is expensive if you consider you could cook a decent meal for the same price (and much healthier... and yummier cause McD is pretty crap tasting). But that's neither here nor there. McD's stated policy, back when there was that thing with the horse rider, is that they don't serve horse riders or cyclists in the drive through. So why the big deal? If it's against their policy rather than a spur of the moment decision by a burger flipper, then stop acting like you're the injured party. Really a non story.

Well, Macdonald's TV ad in Singapore shows that drive-thru order is possible.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svc1zpblGI0

I value my body too much to poison it with a Mc D.

"...the food was a treat".

A treat?? Eh?? What the hell does that kid (assuming that's who it was for) have to endure when he has done something bad?!

McDonald's - the Evans Cycles of fast food?

If life gives you lemons... make a packed lunch.

I've been served on a drive thru on my trike, I just blagged it and said I couldn't get off as my wheelchair was in the car miles away, unless they would help me turn the trike after I cycled into the outlet, they would be better serving me at the drive thru.....(p.s. I don't have a wheelchair and can get out of my trike unaided most of the time)

There's nothing wrong with a Maccy Dee's oocasionally. Snobs.

'I'd give a shit but describing McD as food is somewhat debatable.'

Sadly not everyone can afford swan.