Commuting - Response from boss when I said I was going to start commuting...

1. you cant do that
2. you're crazy
3. (this really pissed me off)... "that's neat"


Really pissed me off he was so disinterested. I was askign for a locker in the bathroom for me to keep shower stuff and an extra set of scrubs in. He put a keylogger on this computer so I'm sure I'll hear about posting this in the AM.

Keylogger?? Is your boss your friend?

Keylogger? wtf. Time for the old "laxatives in the boss' coffee" shtick.

As for his lack of interest, who cares? You're doing it for yourself.
If his lack of interest reflects on an unwillingness to accomodate you or even an attempt at frustrating you, then again laxatives are at least a comforting response.

"that's neat"
"Yeah, so's your mother"

That's ****ed up. You'd think people in health care would be supportive of bicycle commuting.
And a keylogger? Where the hell do you work? Oceania?

My boss is disinterested in how I get to work. Of course, she is located in Wisconsin and obscenely busy. Plus, I work in a tech geeky type of place where just about everyone is off kilter in some way or the other. :p Heck we do not even have a strict time to start or a requirement to be at work (working from home).

It would be more disconcerting if your boss tried to forbid it. Which would be difficult unless your job description had a requirement for a car.
Personally, I would not let it get to me. People's opinions are just that.. opinions ...correct or incorrect.

My manager tries to forbid me to commute every time I have an accident, which used to be a lot. Not because he was an ass but because he genuinely feared for my life. It was... weird.

BTW: It sounds hilarious if your boss said all that in 1 sitting...

You need a new job.

I couldn't care less about your boss's opinion of commuting, but if they trust the employees so little that they run keyloggers, then that is one sucky place to work.

Is it a hardware or software keylogger? If software, and if you can get admin access to the computer, you should be able to disable it. If hardware, use the "Virtual Keyboard" (I think it's under "accessibility options" -- gives you a keyboard window where you click keys with the mouse, I.E. you can bypass the keyboard for important things like dissing your boss).

[edit] Thank you Nico for pointing out my typo ;).

I could care less about your boss's opinion of commuting
you could?

you could?

Don't worry. That particular bastardization annoys me, too.

You need a new job.

I could care less about your boss's opinion of commuting, but if they trust the employees so little that they run keyloggers, then that is one sucky place to work.

Is it a hardware or software keylogger? If software, and if you can get admin access to the computer, you should be able to disable it. If hardware, use the "Virtual Keyboard" (I think it's under "accessibility options" -- gives you a keyboard window where you click keys with the mouse, I.E. you can bypass the keyboard for important things like dissing your boss).
it's a software one. HE didnt change the code to open the password screen from teh normal ctrl + alt + shift + some letter so I just went over the whole keyboard untli I found it.

oh mr T and your infinite wisdom

Don't worry. That particular bastardization annoys me, too.
ironic someone named ax0n posted on a thread about the field I work in. I do sleep studies and also EEGs :)

...I just went over the whole keyboard until I found it.
:D

Your boss doesn't sound very nice. Mine comes in to check on me on snowy days and says things like, "You did ride! Impressive!" :p

My company is owned by a bank and resides in the financial services sector. I would be a fool to not expect key logging and other forms of monitoring. Besides it is their equipment. That and I signed a long electronic usage document.
Now if they were monitoring me surfing on my cell phone....

My boss thinks I'm nuts to ride in on my bike. Oh well, he goes to the gym in the morning to work out in a room full of sweaty people while I get outside and have a nice ride in. I can't stand going to the gym. I get bored with it too quickly but cycling I never seem to tire of.

Still, he never gives me any crap about it and I can park my bike in my cube.

My boss (company owner) was said "OK" and I was happy, he also didn’t give me any problems with parking the bike in my office (sweet!). then last week his wife is in the office, and sees the bike. She says, "I like your bike, how far do you ride?" so I tell her its only 4.5 miles and she says "that’s great, keep it up. She then tells me that she wished her husband would take care of himself too..." I find out later that she works in health care (some dept manager??) and walks 20 minutes to work every day, how sweet, I know I'll never get gruff for riding and being occasionally late, wet, ragged... :) :) :)

I work with older ladies, when the weather is cold/rainy/unpleasant they offer rides and condolences.

My old boss (same company, different owner now) found out I was going to be commuting during the winter and *picked up the tab* for my Nokian Mount + Ground 160's.

Yours sounds insufferable. Can you do me a favor? Leave your keylogger on and type:

Everybody on bike forums thinks my boss is an ass

Thanks :)

My company is owned by a bank and resides in the financial services sector. I would be a fool to not expect key logging and other forms of monitoring. Besides it is their equipment. That and I signed a long electronic usage document.
Now if they were monitoring me surfing on my cell phone....
You're right, I cant argue with that. I do tether my sprint phone to my tablet pc most of the time, but it's annoying to not just be able to use the office computers to surf craigslist or something.

1. you cant do that
2. you're crazy
3. (this really pissed me off)... "that's neat"
What response would you expect? This is what I hear from about 90% of people who find out about my commute.

I don't take an interest in anyone elses' commute and don't expect them to take an interest in mine. Many do take an interest and ask questions, but getting to work should not be considered a remarkable experience.

My boss thinks I'm nuts to ride in on my bike. Oh well, he goes to the gym in the morning to work out in a room full of sweaty people while I get outside and have a nice ride in. I can't stand going to the gym. I get bored with it too quickly but cycling I never seem to tire of.

Still, he never gives me any crap about it and I can park my bike in my cube.
I'm using cycling to improve my strength training, among other things. I wish any of the bosses of any of these labs trained, cycled, or did anything really. Their choice I know, but it makes me wish I worked somewhere else to not have hardly anything in common with the people I work for and those I work with.

What response would you expect? This is what I hear from about 90% of people who find out about my commute.

I don't take an interest in anyone elses' commute and don't expect them to take an interest in mine. Many do take an interest and ask questions, but getting to work should not be considered a remarkable experience.
I should have better stated in my post it was all his rationale for not putting up a fight to the owner or med director to get me a locker. His disinterest in my mode of transport makes him not want to help me out with getting at least a small corner to put my stuff in. I completely agree he shouldnt care otherwise, unless I got a contact high everytime I rode down the bike trail under the bridges with all the stoners.

Sounds like an apathetic \ lazy person with a deficient personality to me.

What response would you expect? This is what I hear from about 90% of people who find out about my commute.


I expect a prompt and highly erotic sexual encounter when I tell someone I bicycle commute.

Disappointed quite frequently?

Half the time you tell someone you bike commute, they react like you told them you get yourself to work by being shot out of a cannon.

Here's something ironic. My friend works for a national healthcare company which is flooding the airwaves with their "live, thrive" mantra, going on and on about living a healthy life. So she asks upper management that if she commuted by bike to improve her health, whether she could bring the bike into his office because the nearest bike rack is 3 blocks away at the bottom of an unguarded public parking structure. The answer? No, you should just drive. Bikes in the office are a hazard.

This after employees complained that they wanted to take the stairs instead of the elevator, but were told that the stairs are not accessible unless there is an emergency.

I'm curious about the "you can't do that" and "You're crazy." How far are you talking about riding?

I'm curious about the "you can't do that" and "You're crazy." How far are you talking about riding?
Once they get used to you, they realize that no distance is crazy.

I expect a prompt and highly erotic sexual encounter when I tell someone I bicycle commute.

I wish I worked in the Playboy Mansion with kemmer...:rolleyes:

Ride your bike to a different job.

It's going to be awhile for companies to really care about their employees that want this lifestyle. Most are at the stage now where they want you to be fit, but just won't help you in your efforts to integrate it into your commute. There are cities where this is an acceptable lifestyle; it seems that Denver is one of those that's in transition, but not as advanced as Seattle, etc.

I know most on here are young, but the only thing I can say is that if you have influence, encourage your employees and company to promote this...

Here's something ironic. My friend works for a national healthcare company which is flooding the airwaves with their "live, thrive" mantra, going on and on about living a healthy life. So she asks upper management that if she commuted by bike to improve her health, whether she could bring the bike into his office because the nearest bike rack is 3 blocks away at the bottom of an unguarded public parking structure. The answer? No, you should just drive. Bikes in the office are a hazard.

This after employees complained that they wanted to take the stairs instead of the elevator, but were told that the stairs are not accessible unless there is an emergency.

that's crazy! do they not see the irony?

that's crazy! do they not see the irony?
Most upper management lack basic common sense though. Its a requirement that you drop IQ points before you get promoted. Its in the management handbook.

wow.. your boss is kinda... err.. bossy... :p

i work in a lab too.. i wonder if my computer is wired as well... how do you find out?

My bosses son said today that he envies me riding in weather like this (perfect shorts weather) but most of the time when I ride through rain and snow he thinks I'm crazy :-)

I'm curious about the "you can't do that" and "You're crazy." How far are you talking about riding?
16 miles each way, bike trails 15 miles of it.

My boss is a jock. He wants everyone else to be fat and out of shape. Makes him feel better about himself.

My boss is interesting:

5'8-10" and weighs in at 310 lbs.

Eats 6 times a day, literally.
3 of those meals is a #4 at Dairy Queen.
Smokes 2 packs a day.

I get whatever I want really (shower facilities, free gym memberships, to put my bike in his office), considering I have more money than him usually because I am a vegetarian and bike 75% of the time:)

My boss is a jock. He wants everyone else to be fat and out of shape. Makes him feel better about himself.

So is your boss a fat guy wishing he could be thin so makes sure that everyone else will not look as good when standing next to him, or is he just an insecure, narcissistic jerk? :p

easy there, I'm narcissistic, or so I've been told.

1. you cant do that
2. you're crazy
3. (this really pissed me off)... "that's neat"


Really pissed me off he was so disinterested. I was askign for a locker in the bathroom for me to keep shower stuff and an extra set of scrubs in. He put a keylogger on this computer so I'm sure I'll hear about posting this in the AM.
You know your boss put a keylogger on your work computer and you are posting on BF from that computer the next day and complaining about said boss? You ain't too smart are you? Sounds like the boss is wise to you.

My boss is supportive and also rides .I some times see him on the ride he always waves and beeps. I get freindly teasing sometimes but I thinks its respect. I do not go on the forum at work. ( I don't think I can get past the firewall but I havn't tried either ) I save it for when I'm at home. I teach school and try not to bring it home so when I'm at school I do school work and when I leave I leave it. You can't expect your boss to care, very often they have much more to worry about than you and how you get to work.

I should have better stated in my post it was all his rationale for not putting up a fight to the owner or med director to get me a locker. His disinterest in my mode of transport makes him not want to help me out with getting at least a small corner to put my stuff in. I completely agree he shouldnt care otherwise, unless I got a contact high everytime I rode down the bike trail under the bridges with all the stoners.
Maybe it's not his disinterest in your mode of transportation that causes him to be apathetic to your situation. Maybe it's the fact that he knows you dick around on internet forums at work instead of working and doesn't view you as a valued employee worth hassling his superiors for. Could be part of the equation here. Something to think about.

My boss thinks i'm crazy... genuinely thinks it's neat, and brags to other employees about it. I haven't told anyone... but feels the need to.

Then they think I'm crazy. :D
Well, that's after I/he defines "bike". Everyone immediatly thinks motorcycle, or my Banshee 4wheeler.

When he has health problems later in life due to his lazy ass and attitude, you can LAUGH!! MUUUAHAHHAHAHA!!!!

Maybe it's not his disinterest in your mode of transportation that causes him to be apathetic to your situation. Maybe it's the fact that he knows you dick around on internet forums at work instead of working and doesn't view you as a valued employee worth hassling his superiors for. Could be part of the equation here. Something to think about.
dood, I work in a sleep lab... I have a ton of down time. I can read a book or read a discussion forum while watching patients.:D

You know your boss put a keylogger on your work computer and you are posting on BF from that computer the next day and complaining about said boss? You ain't too smart are you? Sounds like the boss is wise to you.
Haha, you're right. What was I thinking? Should I just save him the trouble and print this thread out? Maybe leave it on his desk to review at a later date? I'm not too concerned with job security, I'm the most qualified person who works at this company.

The keylogger has been on there for a couple months.

If I didn't suck at animated graphics so hard I would have made a spoof of 300 by now.

....bike commute....this is madness....

...no, not madness......this is CYCLIIIIINNNNG! *kicks dude in chest*

My team lead (not official boss, but a little higher than a peer) is a real fatherly type, and almost every day wishes me a safe ride when we leave the office. It's nice that he's concerned, but OTOH it gets real annoying after a while. It feels condescending. Now whenever he says that, I reply "And you have a safe drive." I don't know if he gets it yet. :)