Henry C Kevane
Google
Beware. I very seldom post reviews such as this but my experience today was so unusual, and so plainly abusive of visitors, that I feel I need to share this story. My wife and I have visited New Orleans many times, and we have rented bikes here before. Today we rented 2 bikes. We rode to Tulane campus along Magazine and St. Charles. At some point on the way I sensed my front tire was flat. I stopped to refill twice but it kept leaking. I called the shop. No, we are only two here and cannot help, he said. Maybe your wife can ride back and get another inner tube, he suggested. I said that was rather an illusory solution as we were at Riverbend, about 6 miles away. He said “illusory”? “Are we talking Borges?” Yes. Snarky, just like it sounds. I said I would find a repair shop and asked if he would deduct the cost from the rental. No, you are the rider and this is your responsibility he responded. He implied this was my fault for not evading whatever caused the flat. If you have ever ridden a bicycle on the streets of New Orleans you will realize how silly it is to blame the rider for road hazards. I thought that a professional and empathetic response would have been to acknowledge the inconvenience and extend the courtesy of a rental adjustment. But no. After a token concession following my return I thought it would be fairer to just have my equipment upgrade removed and returned. So, we both lost. I paid $19 for a new tube and the full day rental rate. The owner still had to repair the flat. The only person who felt good after this was the stranger on a mountain bike to whom I gifted a brand new inner tube. Oh well. It could have been handled so much better by all involved. Just don’t expect much here. You can likely find a more supportive and helpful staff elsewhere.