Not Just Bikes  @nula.pubApr 4, 2025

These Ugly Big Box Stores are Literally Bankrupting Cities

North American suburbs are littered with these giant ugly "Big Box" stores. People like them because they're easy to drive to and they sell a lot of stuff at pretty cheap prices, but the way they operate is by literally bankrupting cities.

 Nebula First

Not Just Bikes — These Ugly Big Box Stores are Literally Bankrupting Cities

North American suburbs are littered with these giant ugly "Big Box" stores. People like them because they're easy to drive to and they sell a lot of stuff at pretty cheap prices, but the way they operate is by literally bankrupting cities.

Nebula
Show threadReindeR Rustema

@notjustbikes This reminds me of my (only) visit to a 'big box' store near Amsterdam this year.

I rented a car to get mousetraps because they were sold out in all local shops. It would be 20 minutes by bike and it was half an hour before closing time.

The parking lot is on the ground floor, the box is build on top of it. Solid concrete structures, it will probably stay there for many decades.

I didn't stay long because the rented car is cheaper if you return it quickly.

@notjustbikes

Apr 4, 2025 at 4:39pmWeb
Show threadNot Just Bikes 🇳🇱Apr 4, 2025

@rrustema020 yep! I've been to that Hornbach. I had enough time to bike there though. 😁

The European hypermarket is nowhere near as bad as the American Big Box store!

Show threadRadimApr 4, 2025
@rrustema020 @notjustbikes @notjustbikes Big box store over a parking lot seems like a great compromise. Take a look on what we call call transit-oriented development in my city. A big box store with a surface parking lot next to a train station, 900 meters from the old town.
Show threadRobin DaughertyApr 5, 2025

@rrustema020 @notjustbikes @notjustbikes I’ve also traveled to the Hornbach in Sloterdijk…they had a specific thing I needed the same day.

A train from Utrecht, a bike rental at the station, dedicated bike paths all the way to the big box, and a bike rack to lock up inside the garage. Even out there, there’s bike infrastructure and a bus stop that’s not too far away with a bus every 30 minutes including on the weekend. Hard for a North American to imagine.

Show threadReindeR RustemaApr 5, 2025

@robnich @notjustbikes Most remarkable from my visits here was the street it is in. No bicycle lane or path! It's like an exotic outing to car car land, going in deep.

Just measured it. It's about 80 meters only… Nothing remarkable.

Full disclosure. Last time I biked there I was feeling adventurous and biked through that zone. Asif I was breaking the law, leaving the bike infrastructure. Checking behind me. It was a weekend, no cars around... Me, a hero on socks (Dutch expr.)