Unclear on the concept

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

And now, an automobiling tip from your pal Irving Patrick Freleigh.

Across the highways and biways of this grand republic, you may notice the wondrous new-fangled invention called a "drive-thru." These can be found attached to buildings housing restaurants, coffee shops, banks, laundromats and various and sundry other business places. The intent behind these "drive-thrus" is to enable the fair motorist to exchange money for goods and services without leaving the comfort and safety of his or her horseless carriage.

So imagine then the great surprise and anguish visited upon one Irving Patrick Freleigh to-day when he piloted his automobile over to his local bank to find one of his fellow citizens stepping out of a vast sporting-utility vehicle parked to the side and striding by foot on over to the drive-thru automatic teller machine device, thus forcing Irving to hit his brakes because the local constabulary would surely frown upon knocking over the poor man and parking his front tires atop his prone, lifeless carcass so he could reach the buttons more easily.

This dullard then was required to swipe his automatic teller device card through the slot thrice before he could commence his transaction. So it seems to follow logically that if one could not comprehend that the drive-thru is for the use of a person or persons still in a motorized vehicle, then one will surely be unable to use the device found in the drive-thru area.

[Aethian]

I've had to do that before when the window of my car was broken and the bank was closed. What was bad was that you could only use the card at the bank's atm and no where else.

[Arm]

Maybe so, but I bet you wouldn't have stepped in front of oncoming traffic to do it.

All the laws of politeness would say, the people in line go first. And the much more pragmatic law of superior tonnage suggests you should NOT pit your fragile, breakable human body up against a moving motor vehicle. Sounds like this dude failed on both counts.

[Fufu487]

One of the drive thru bank area around here has a sensor that knows if a vehicle is parked there or not. No vehicle, no money. Because it was such a local place, they had a problem with alot of people walking up to the drive thru ATM and almost getting smoked by the cars that come racing around the corner. And STILL people try to walk up a use it, despite the several signs claiming it will not work for pedestrians.

[XCashier]

And now, an automobiling tip from your pal Irving Patrick Freleigh.

Across the highways and biways of this grand republic, you may notice the wondrous new-fangled invention called a "drive-thru." These can be found attached to buildings housing restaurants, coffee shops, banks, laundromats and various and sundry other business places. The intent behind these "drive-thrus" is to enable the fair motorist to exchange money for goods and services without leaving the comfort and safety of his or her horseless carriage.

While reading this paragraph, I mentally heard that awful flat organ music they play in those old educational films from the 1950s!

Back on topic, does your bank have an ATM for pedestrians too, or just the one in the Drive Thru? If so, that guy is doubly stupid, as he could've more safely used the pedestrian ATM.

[froglet]

Back on topic, does your bank have an ATM for pedestrians too, or just the one in the Drive Thru? If so, that guy is doubly stupid, as he could've more safely used the pedestrian ATM.

But what if it was aaaalllll the way over on the oootttthhhheeerrr siiiiiiide of the bank?

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

There's only the drive-thru ATM at this bank.

However--there are tellers inside the bank who will get you your money and all you have to do is fill out a little piece of paper telling them how much you want! Those banking people have thought of everything!

[protege]

However--there are tellers inside the bank who will get you your money and all you have to do is fill out a little piece of paper telling them how much you want! Those banking people have thought of everything!

That's all well and good, but what if the bank is closed?

Also, not many banks (locally) have more than one ATM, even the ones located in the shopping centers. I should also mention that many people take the bus to those places. If they need cash, they have no choice but to walk through the drive-up ATM.

[Nohbody]

This may be a stupid question, but are these "our bank only" ATMs part of any larger network?

I mean, yeah, using a non-yourbank ATM means a charge (twice, if the bank is Wachovia; once by the non-bank ATM, then again by Wachovia at the end of that month ), but unless the bank is totally isolated from the rest of the world you can still get money at any time.

[Chromatix]

In Europe, pedestrian ATMs are the norm and drive-through ones are rare.

Interestingly, the local hamburger chain (Hesburger) has two kinds of establishment - a normal Golden Arches style restaurant and a drive-through cabin. The two have different prices, with the drive-through ones being round numbers (probably deliberate to reduce the need for making change). But the drive-through cabins also include a tiny barstool-type restaurant in the end, sharing the same kitchen, to cater for pedestrians and motorists who want a rest.

[mattm04]

My local branch has a the bank and the walk-up ATM and on the other side of the parking lot a small "shed" housing the drive-up ATM. The is no parking near the drive up ATM, except 1 "space," actually a paved area about the size of a armored car, behind the building for service and whatnot. When ever I have used the drive-thru ATM and seen some ped using it I usually see them walk all the way back to their car, which is much closer to the bank and the pedestrian ATM.

[Imogene]

I do something similar to that, when the ATM is in a drive through lane and ONLY a drive through... I'll drive through, only slightly off to the side, park, and get out. Two reasons: 1) My left side is roughly worthless, sad to say, 2) My driver's side window doesn't roll down... it's pinned closed.

[PepperElf]

i admit i walk up to the drive-thru atm too.
my bank doesn't have any walk-up ATMS at the branch.