What's with the shopping cart barriers everywhere?

[SteelCityRising]

After being treated very unprofessionally by an associate at the Reston Harris-Teeter when I first moved here I have been doing all of my grocery shopping at the Giant in Reston's Northpoint district. There I am amazed to see people just wheeling their carts over to those barriers, abandoning their groceries (and in one or two cases I even saw purses left in the basket portions of the shopping carts by elderly shoppers), and going to drive their cars on over to the fire lane to load their vehicles. As someone who has been the victim of theft (twice) I can't believe how naive people in Reston are to assume that they are somehow "immune" to crime because we live in an upscale community (especially when our new Apple store has already been the target of two high-profile robberies). I walk my cart over to near Starbuck's, where there is a curb cut, and then hoof it over the speed bumps to get to my vehicle. After loading I reactive my car alarm and return the cart to the store, where I make sure it is firmly locked into the back of a row of carts so it doesn't roll into someone walking by when a gust of wind comes.

I never saw stores encourage people to block fire lanes with their vehicles until I moved to the South. What an IDIOTIC concept! I'm just one person who doesn't have enough arms to carry what often consists of a case of water or Vitamin Water, a gallon of milk, and three reusable shopping bags all at once. I refuse to open myself up to another theft by just "abandoning" my cart full of groceries on the sidewalk, as the store seems to want shoppers to do. Is this yet another case of businesses down here not taking into account the fact there there is a high population of SINGLE-PERSON HOUSEHOLDS in NoVA?

[Flamingo13]

Originally Posted by CAVA1990

If they don't have a cart corral I put 'em up in a planter or at some other out of the way spot. Eventually after having to round up carts here and there I figure they'll come to their senses and put in a corral.

I'll assume Cava comes from Cavalier? Point was made that people leave carts such as you describe (planters, etc.) can you not make it back to the store w/the cart, take your car to the cart? maybe too much of a cardio. workout? What?

As for those that try the "I have young children" - do you think when you were young you EVER were with your parent(s) while grocery shopping and they would ever think of just leaving the cart willy-nilly? You CAN leave your cart and drive up to it to load.

Too many people think life should cater too them these days - Do what is right, polite, kind. It won't kill you to walk some extra steps.

Before I get flamed, I'm completely aware of folks w/disabilities and understand there may be special needs - I have had had many foot surgeries and shopped, have had other issues as well, the store will work with you. No excuse for being rude and leaving carts where ever you feel like it.

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by Flamingo13

As for those that try the "I have young children" - do you think when you were young you EVER were with your parent(s) while grocery shopping and they would ever think of just leaving the cart willy-nilly? You CAN leave your cart and drive up to it to load.

Couldn't people then just walk by and steal things out of your shopping bags while you're off trying to find your car?

[car54]

Originally Posted by anonymous703

I don't think they are. Wikipedia says that TJ's is a privately held company based out in suburban Los Angeles.

Yes, TJ's is privately held....by Theo Albrecht, who, with his brother Karl, also owns Aldi. He bought TJ's from it's founder in 1979.

ALbrecht DIscount=ALDI

Theo Albrecht - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[dkf747]

Originally Posted by Flamingo13

Before I get flamed, I'm completely aware of folks w/disabilities and understand there may be special needs - I have had had many foot surgeries and shopped, have had other issues as well, the store will work with you. No excuse for being rude and leaving carts where ever you feel like it.

I'm not sure I get what you're saying. Have you noticed people with disabilities just leaving carts wherever they feel like leaving them? Is this more prevalent than able-bodied people leaving their carts wherever they feel like leaving them?

I noticed everyone missed it, but the reason the barriers are being removed is the result of a lawsuit filed by those with disabilities. They're not doing it out of the goodness of their hearts. see below:

Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs (http://www.washlaw.org/projects/disability_rights/dr_lawsuits.htm - broken link)

Access to Grocery Stores Cases
Disability Rights Council et al. v. Murry’s Steaks Inc.
Civil Action No. 1:01CV02070GK (D.D.C. Settlement October 18, 2002)
When the Project and Foley, Hoag & Eliot filed suit against the Murry’s grocery chain in October, 2001, five of the six Murry’s stores in the District had inaccessible entrances due to cart corrals that kept in shopping carts, but kept out people who use wheelchairs. Under the September, 2002 settlement, Murry’s agreed to make all entrances accessible, to address parking lot violations, to reimburse the plaintiffs for their damages and pay attorney fees.

Disability Rights Council of Greater Washington v. Shoppers Food
Warehouse, Save-a-Lot Food Stores, et al.
Case No. PJM 00CV2190 (D.Md. Settlement June 27, 2001)
In June of 2001, the Project and co-counsel Covington & Burling settled this suit, brought in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland against the SuperValu grocery chain. The suit had challenged access barriers at Shoppers Food Warehouse and Save-a-lot stores, including inaccessible cart corrals, which prevent passage by many people in wheelchairs. Under the agreement, the grocery stores will be surveyed, and barriers will be removed. Attorney fees were awarded to the plaintiffs.

Disability Rights Council of Greater Washington v. Giant Food, Inc.
(Settlement August 21, 1999)
On August 12, 1999, Giant Food, Inc., and the Disability Rights Council announced an agreement to ensure greater access for persons with disabilities at Giant supermarkets. Under the agreement, negotiated without filing suit by the Committee and co-counsel, Miller, Cassidy, Larroca & Lewin, with the Giant grocery chain, Giant pledged to modify store entrances and checkout aisles and to retain an expert accessibility consultant to review its plans for new and remodeled stores to ensure ADA compliance

Fox v. Safeway
Case No. 94-0878 (D.D.C. Settlement July 25, 1995)
The Committee and co-counsel, Miller, Cassidy, Larroca & Lewin, settled a lawsuit against Safeway alleging barriers to access by persons who use wheelchairs. Under the settlement, Safeway has surveyed over 800 stores nationwide to bring them into compliance with the ADA over a 5-year period.