bike unfriendly workplace

[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.

[tulip]

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

[Bike Chick]

Too bad for you! I hope you can get it all worked out and, if not, you are in a position financially to be able to educate them and walk out the door. How stressful for you.

I'm the only one in my building that commutes by bike. Everyone thinks I'm crazy and says "I can't believe you rode 9 miles on a bike" while shaking their heads. However, nothing is said about me parking my bike in the hallway outside my office and for that, I'm grateful. We don't have shower facilities but I've become a pro at a T,P&A bath.

[lilly99]

How sad! I think workplaces should push the idea of cycling to work. it's got so many positive aspects. Really sad to see a workplace that try to make it harder for cyclists.

[Jo-n-NY]

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.[/QUOTE]


Tulip, I have a bike permit that allows the bike on the train during "non peak" hours.

Although the station that I go to did not even have bike lockers, any station that did LIRR made the DOT remove them and put them on "town" property which could be blocks from the railroad station. Whatever negative things you hear about the LIRR you can believe it. I pay over $300 a month for this also which does include the subway once I am in Manhattan, but the cost will increase soon.

The Mayor of Manhattan has done wonderful things cycling wise in Manhattan. It is too bad he can't do anything with the LIRR and Long Island for that matter.

[tulip]

Tulip, I have a bike permit that allows the bike on the train during "non peak" hours.

Although the station that I go to did not even have bike lockers, any station that did LIRR made the DOT remove them and put them on "town" property which could be blocks from the railroad station. Whatever negative things you hear about the LIRR you can believe it. I pay over $300 a month for this also which does include the subway once I am in Manhattan, but the cost will increase soon.

The Mayor of Manhattan has done wonderful things cycling wise in Manhattan. It is too bad he can't do anything with the LIRR and Long Island for that matter.

If you had a Tikit, you could just bring the bike with you. It folds up small and is still very nice to ride. That's what I would do, but your situation might not match the Tikit.

[redrhodie]

If you had a Tikit, you could just bring the bike with you. It folds up small and is still very nice to ride. That's what I would do, but your situation might not match the Tikit.

I had to google Tikit. It's a folding bike. Now I know.

[Jo-n-NY]

I had to google Tikit. It's a folding bike. Now I know.

Ah ha!!! thanks, I should have done a search, lol. I thought of the idea and would invest in one if I did not work so far from Penn Station. They keep moving us all over the city. Then the LIRR are making cut backs and elminated and combined trains. Going and leaving work the train is filled with people standing in the doorways. I would feel bad having my bike take up space.

I will have to keep nudging the DOT to put up lockers in the town where my station is.