#BikeToOscarsWPG
“The owner of Oscar’s Deli worries the protected bike lane will eat up precious parking spots his customers use when coming by for lunch.”
According to the CBC, Larry Brown is concerned about a loss of business if Winnipeg beefs up its cycling infrastructure.
We get it. Small businesses walk a fine line, and the restaurant business in particular works on really thin margins.
And sure, the bike advocates and new urbanists can point to studies and experiences from other cities that claim he shouldn’t have anything to worry about, but at the end of the day, Larry Brown is the guy who has to make sure his staff stay employed. It’s Oscar’s Deli that stands to lose.
We believe that biking is good for business, so let’s prove it. Let’s show Winnipeg’s small business owners how much can be gained by becoming more bike friendly. Let’s bike to Oscar’s and grab a bite. Not all at once— 2000 cyclists showing up at lunch wouldn’t be helpful.
Here’s what we’d like to try instead.
If you ride a bike, we’d like you to Bike to Oscar’s Deli in Winnipeg between May 31st and June 13 for breakfast or lunch with a few friends. Be sure to take a picture and share it on social media with #BikeToOscarsWPG. And when you get there, let them know that you love them, and be sure to tell everyone you know about it too. Seriously, there aren’t many places left in Winnipeg that can make a proper Ruben.
We support Oscar’s, and we support good bike infrastructure. It’s not us and them. It’s us and us.