bike unfriendly workplace

[smilingcat]

Well just started work at a new place after 10month of unplanned hiatus. First week just finished and the warts are starting to appear. Ohh my and it's not even 12 mid night on Halloween...

I said something about checking with work about cycling to work in a thread about "plastic/styrofoam cups" at your work place.

Well they said I can lock my bike to a tree. Can't take it into the storage area cause I either have to go through the office hall way or through the lab. Well lab I can understand with the hazardous material around.

hmmm... this is a deduction of about 20 points.

No shower at the facility except for the emergency shower for chemical exposure another deduction, say 10 points.

they are not doing well with me... Who would have thought "Lock your bike onto a tree by the dumpastar!!"

oh when I hired in, I understood that on occasion, I would have to work overtime. Find out, they want me to work 9 hour work day every day. I've already get paid lot less than what I used to make about half as much and now they want to cut it down by another 12.5%. EEXXXCCCCUUUUSEEEEE MEEEE!!!!

But the deal breaker is the bike issue I think. Good thing I'm not so dependent on work. Think of going back into early retirement... And go riding. I think its good therapy. GO RIDE. Having the option really removes the stress. yippeee!!

but can you believe, "lock your bike onto a tree??" Have you heard such crazy thing?

oh BTW the place uses styrofoam cups.

[jessmarimba]

I fully support your decision! Total opposite here - my corporate office got bike racks despite the fact that the only way to get there involves a 6-lane highway during rush hour.

But you have to do what makes you happy, and it sounds like this place isn't a good fit. If you can be happier and still support yourself without that place - I'd be out of there in an instant!

Good luck!

(Oh and that 9-hour day thing, without advance notice? - not cool - they're stealing from you just as much as my company would say I was stealing if I left at 4 every day).

[Koronin]

If you don't need the work, then go for it. I could never even consider biking to work due to the type of work I do. I NEED the trunk of my car to haul stuff to and from stores. But the overtime without warning and everyday, yeah that would get to me real quick.

[lph]

ohh, that does not sound good, smilingcat. But are they really bike-unfirendly, or just clueless? Lots of people have bikes but don't use them much, and have no idea of how active cyclists live, get around, and what facilities are important to them. Is there any way you can explain all of the good reasons you bike, how your bike is equally valuable to you as a car is to someone who drives to work, and why locking it to a tree isn't a good option?

[bmccasland]

Sometimes I'd rather lock my bike to a tree, at least the tree isn't going anywhere. I've had a bike + rack stolen when I was in college.
OTOH if the tree is 3 feet around, then you can't even get your lock cable around it, the thought is a tad rediculous.

I thought according to labor laws they can't require you to work OT without paying you. Is it a salary position? Same pay for 40 hours or 48 hours?

[PamNY]

Tell them you should never lock a bike to a tree. It's illegal in some places, and can damage trees. Even if it's legal, it is poor form and sets a bad example. I try to avoid even leaning my bike against trees.

Good luck. I hope you can work something out. I agree that some explanation/discussion might help.

[ACG]

ohh, that does not sound good, smilingcat. But are they really bike-unfirendly, or just clueless? Lots of people have bikes but don't use them much, and have no idea of how active cyclists live, get around, and what facilities are important to them. Is there any way you can explain all of the good reasons you bike, how your bike is equally valuable to you as a car is to someone who drives to work, and why locking it to a tree isn't a good option?

Oh how right you are. I'm the paper cup/styrofoam office, still trying to get rid of all cups. Anyhoo. My suggestion look up on the city and county website where your employer is located. Some cities/counties have regs about providing space to place a bike, etc. Or provide discounts etc to employers that do. Is the owner of the building/property the same as your employer? Maybe they have something they can provide too. Weigh your options, if you can find another more bike freindly place, do it.

[jessmarimba]

Not to play devil's advocate here, but if you guys are talking about enclosed lockers I don't think they were removed from train stations to inconvenience cyclists. Most lockers are being removed from transportation hubs to remove temptation from terrorists (Amtrak stations once had public lockers available, too). That's likely why the LIRR ones are blocks from the station - still available, but not in a hugely populated public gathering place.

[jelee1311]

If you don't have to work,don't ,then you can ride all the time or you could find a job you really like.

[Jo-n-NY]

I commute on the Long Island Railroad to Manhattan. The LIRR is completely bike unfriendly. They had all bike lockers removed from railroad property. In my opinion a bike rack does not cut it as kids will be kids and bikes do get vandalized. Bringing a bike on the train, well only if you are riding for pleasure during the "off peak times" which we have done. Peak is a good chunk of the day during the work week. So we take advantage on the weekend which is also "off peak".

Long Island as a whole kind of stinks. None of the stores or strip of stores for that matter have bike racks. The cement pillars at the CVS drug store are so wide no chain and lock could fit around it. I had to lock my bike to the gate around the dumpster in the corner of the parking lot. It is like this all over, grocery store, anywhere to get errands done by bike. A complete shame.

[tulip]

The bike policy and the the fact that you don't have to work, combined with the fact that you are buying a house in Portland and your job is in LA would make my decision very easy! But only you can decide what to do.

Back in the good ole days, I was offered two very good jobs in the same week. One big deciding factor was the bike-friendliness of the places. One had a bike rack in the lobby and a commuter shower, and encouraged bike commuting. The other didn't have a clue about any bike policy, looked at me funny when I asked, and thought that maybe there was a shower somewhere in the basement, but that no one had ever asked about it.

You know which job I took!

Jo-in-NY, have you looked into getting a Tikit? If I were combining transit with biking on my commute, that's what I would get without hesitation.

[Biciclista]

I helped to change bike policy in my building. Because of my lobbying, we now have a great bike rack indoors. Previously we were told that the old rusty racks outdoors (which are great for our work bikes) would suffice. Enough of us with bikes each worth more than a grand complained. Now we are a model for the entire company. (our company has dozens and dozens of buildings)

but i don't mean to minimize, your workplace sounds like they're stuck in 1980!!

[shellkay1212]

Oh my. I had the same "lock your bike to a tree" conversation. Or the picnic tables. Uhhhh. NO. They wouldn't let us bring bikes in the building. I did the leg work and priced out the bike racks. Logisitics wanted to know how many people would be riding and how often. WHY does it matter???

(the kicker is...my company SELLS bike racks!!!!)

18 months after the battle began...we got a bike rack.

[smilingcat]

The bike policy and the the fact that you don't have to work, combined with the fact that you are buying a house in Portland and your job is in LA would make my decision very easy! But only you can decide what to do.

LOL so true!!! But the extra cash is always welcome. I figure my house will sell pretty soon so when it closes, I will be moving without looking back.

Well the job is only temporary. Sure I will get one of their pressing project caught up and finished and they can move onto the next thing. Mean while, I'll just have to commute by car. Not only that, but the area, Oh my!! the drivers around there are just plain mad!! I think it would be much safer if I drove.

[blackhillsbiker]

My boss thinks I'm crazy for bike commuting but he lets me bring my bike into the prepress area behind my desk. Since I'm the only one working back there, it doesn't bother anyone. I have an outside door so I don't even need to bring it through the front office/customer area. I bought a mat from the hardware store so on cruddy days it doesn't leave puddles on the floor. A previous employee used to bring her bike in and leave it back by the loading area. There's currently too much stuff back there for that to be practical anymore. I'm just glad it is inside and safe.

Deb