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Walk-in vs. drive-thru

It never ceases to amaze me how much time -- and gasoline -- are wasted in fast-food restaurant drive-thru lanes.

I, too, once thought drive-thru lanes were wonderful things until I finally saw the light about 18 years ago. Tricia, a friend of mine who worked with me at The Telegraph, from 1989 to 1991, and I went to grab some lunch to go at a McDonald's in Alton, Ill. As I pulled in, she urged me to park the car and order the food inside. She told me it would be faster that way. I was skeptical, but I listened to her.

It turned out Tricia was right. We ordered and received our food well before the car that would have been ahead of us in the drive-thru lane reached the window!

Over the years, I've found that most of the time I've been able to get my food much faster by walking into the restaurant than waiting in the drive-thru, including today during a visit to a McDonald's in Belleville. (Yes, I know eating fast food isn't the best thing to do, but sometimes it's necessary.)

There was a long line of at least seven cars in the drive-thru lane. I, of course, walked into the McDonald's to get my meal. I took a look at the last car in line in the drive-thru. There was no line at the counter, and I got my food in a reasonably fast time. I looked outside, and that car still was sitting in line. I sat down and was nearly halfway done eating my meal before that car pulled away from the drive-thru window.

I much rather spend my money on bicycle tubes or lattes made and served by my niece at Mosaics on Main Street in downtown Belleville than on gasoline wasted in a drive-thru lane.

Thanks, Tricia, for teaching me that money-saving tip.

Labels: Belleville, conservation, food

Roger 1 comments 2:13 PM

Comments:

is there any reason a bike cannot go through drive throw?

# posted by  Anonymous : 7:28 PM

 

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