The Rise of Drive-Throughs: convenience for you, but a burden for cities
Drive-Through business
Americans have grown accustomed to speed and convenience. A clear example is the increasing role of drive-throughs in fast food revenue and shaping towns and cities.
A large percentage
According to the Wall Street Journal, Americans buy around 43% of their fast food through cars. CNN said that for large chains like McDonald’s, it could be up to 70%.
Building more
That is why nationwide chains like Chick-fil-A, McDonald’s, and Starbucks are building more lanes, reshaping their restaurants, and creating new car-centric concepts.
Efficiency
They are also working on their efficiency. The WSJ followed the inner workings of Chick-fil-A’s quest to improve its drive-through times, and the numbers were impressive.
Only seconds
According to the newspaper, at its best, the restaurant they visited serves a car every 13 seconds. Still, the chain is looking to improve its times and avoid lines.
Dedicated teams
Chick-fil-A designated a dedicated team to study the flow of vehicles to identify areas for improvement, the WSJ reported. CNN said that other big chains are doing the same.
New tools
The outlets said chains are using drones, cameras, and AI to find ways to improve the drive-through service and design new locations with drivers in mind.
Not full solutions
However, as fast and efficient as the drive-through is, lines will continue. According to CNN, chains adding more lanes to address traffic also encourages more cars to come.
Traffic
The attraction of more cars is a major issue for cities that have to deal with the traffic a drive-through can cause. Still, traffic bottlenecks are not the only problem that drive-up windows cause.
Discouraging other activities
The growth of drive-through lanes in fast-food restaurants destroys walkable neighborhoods. It hurts neighboring businesses by discouraging consumers from spending time in the area.
Live, work, and play
They don’t “support any of the life and vitality and amenities that suggest people might want to come live, work or play in a neighborhood,” David Dixon, a fellow at the design and planning firm Stantec, told CNN.
