General Cycling Discussion - My work outlaws bikes..

So today my boss(es) tell us that the property manager of our building will not allow us to lock our bikes in front of our workplace anymore. They said that they have taken a description of all of our bikes and will cut the locks and take the bikes if they see them locked out front. It is private property (owned by Paul Allen), so I'm not sure if we can fight this. There are no signs at the bike racks that say anything about not being allowed to lock our bikes there. There are about 150 employees and about 20 of us ride bikes. Anyone have any advice on how we can fight this, or are we screwed?

So today my boss(es) tell us that the property manager of our building will not allow us to lock our bikes in front of our workplace anymore. They said that they have taken a description of all of our bikes and will cut the locks and take the bikes if they see them locked out front. It is private property (owned by Paul Allen), so I'm not sure if we can fight this. There are no signs at the bike racks that say anything about not being allowed to lock our bikes there. There are about 150 employees and about 20 of us ride bikes. Anyone have any advice on how we can fight this, or are we screwed?

Your bosses are *******. When that happened where I worked last year, the publisher (it was a newspaper in a leased building) told the owners that we were riding bikes in an effort to save energy, and if they tried to ban bikes, they'd get, A) a story in the paper pointing out that they were interfering with employees' efforts to stay healthy and benefit the environment, and B) sued.
Still, it's hard to fight if the boss isn't with you. Is there a columnist at the local paper that you could tak into doing something on it? Columnist are often desperate for material (I was one for 30 years), and if you present it to him or her as a group of concerned workers being thwarted by an unreasonable property manager, you might be able to stir something up. Can't do it without identifying yourselves, though...
Failing that, how about negotiating for a secure lockup or bike rack somewhere else on the property? We did that, too, and they gave us an indoor rack, out of the rain and behind locked doors. You can use the same arguments: You're saving parking places, keeping yourselves healthy for lower insurance costs, setting a good example for the rest of the community, all that stuff.

They have a bike rack but won't allow bikes to be locked to it? That is rich. I would lock them up in the most visible spot closest to the property without being on private property. The paper thing would be well too.

That's a quite aggressively confrontational communication. Has any discussion about bike parking preceded it? If not then it's also a very rude communication!


It could possibly be a fair enough request, though, depending on circumstances. If the bike racks have been provided as a facility for customers/clients, and they are being filled by employees instead, then it's a genuine concern. In that circumstance employees should be negotiating for a suitable alternative for their use.

This really sucks. I would try writing Paul Allen directly or ask your managers to suggest another place to lock your bikes. This is hardly too much to ask. Good luck!

Velo Dog is right. Your bosses are wimps. Why is the property manager doing this? Let's hear more than just a flat-out no here.

http://www.google.com/search?num=100&hl=en&safe=off&q=seattle+cycling+advocacy

http://www.bikeleague.org/links/advocacy.php

http://www.bikeleague.org/index.php

Robert N. Anderton
Anderton Law Office
710 Second Avenue, Suite 700
Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 262-9290
bob@andertonlaw.com (bob@andertonlaw.com)
www.washingtonbikelaw.com (http://www.washingtonbikelaw.com/)
Bob is a daily bike commuter and an experienced advocate for injured bicyclists. Associate attorney Stacie Bain is a highly motivated car-free former bike messenger. Both are available for free consultations by phone, email or in-person.

edit: and of course publicity http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=seattle+news

Actually Catweazle has a good point. I would get the group together and appoint a representative to talk to the BM. First see if there is a valid reason the bikes cannot be parked out front. If there is, try to agree to an alternative.

If that does not work, I would try getting in touch with Paul himself.

If that does not work, get in touch with environmental groups and the press. It is going to look very bad for Paul Allen if he is portrayed as anti green.

In the mean time, can you park in a nearby parking garage? They usually have racks available.

If being reasonable does not work. Go to the junk yard and buy a running and smoking junker. Paint it bright oragne and in black letters say something aobut wishing you and your co workers could ride your bikes. Then put you bike in the trunk during work hours and leave the junker in the parking lot as long as possible. Get you bike out and ride back and forth. Occassionally drive the car home so they cant say it is abaonoden. Park in your bosses parking spot sometimes.

Is this in Seattle City? My understanding is that there are bike parking requirements in Seattle.

East Hill

Go to the junk yard and buy a running and smoking junker. Paint it bright oragne and in black letters say something aobut wishing you and your co workers could ride your bikes. Then put you bike in the trunk during work hours and leave the junker in the parking lot as long as possible. Get you bike out and ride back and forth. Occassionally drive the car home so they cant say it is abaonoden. Park in your bosses parking spot sometimes.

:) :) :) You don't even have to drive it home, just move it to a different spot in the lot. Big ugly gas guzzling four doors should be cheap to buy these days and they also are convenient to roll your bike in between the seats. Think of it as your work mandated bike storage locker.

I've got a similar plan going. Now that my sons have their own homes I'm in the market for two such junkers to park in their driveways. I think that it's only fair since they both did it (for years at a time) when they were living in our home. I don't get mad, I get even. :) :) :)

Paul Allen is a POS. I hate Charter.

Look for a win-win solution? Maybe suggest an alternative parking place. Find out the root cause of the prohibition? Work constructively. Make friends, not enemies.

All these things can be more productive than threats and stupid showmanship. It is, in the end his building/property. As long as he isn't being discriminator, he can just about do what he wants.

Look for a win-win solution? Maybe suggest an alternative parking place. Find out the root cause of the prohibition? Work constructively. Make friends, not enemies.

All these things can be more productive than threats and stupid showmanship. It is, in the end his building/property. As long as he isn't being discriminator, he can just about do what he wants.

+1

But if it doesn't work, I love Making's junker suggestion!

Then why don't you all just drive your cars?




















Just kidding!:p

Deytookerjerbs!

Is this in South Lake Union? Is it a private company?

They have bike racks, but they are going to steal bikes from people that use the racks? Strange...

If the company takes your bike, call the cops and have them arrested.
Theft is theft.

If the company takes your bike, call the cops and have them arrested.
Theft is theft.
If the bike rack is on private property and they informed bikers that they wouldn't be allowed to park there, they have every right to take the bikes. It wouldn't be cool, but they still have that right.

Like if I drove to work and parked in my bosses reserved parking stall, they would have every right to tow my car.

So you have bike racks but the property management comapny is going to steal your bikes if you use them when you come to work ?

Express your concerns to your employer and have them speak to the property management company.

If they do not rescind inform the press.

Inform the pm company that you will continue to ride to work and lock up in the stands that have been provided for this express purpose.

When my employer failed to provide secure bike storage we parked inside (and well out of the way) until facilities were provided... the rack they provided was poor and still left bikes vulnerable (they did not ask us what was needed) and after this we were provided with a secure room with an outside access.

Our offices were / are located in high crime areas so if a bike wasn't stolen, they would be stripped and damaged.

I went to other sites where the situation was the same and challenged their no bikes policy until they made changes at those sites as well.

If the bike rack is on private property and they informed bikers that they wouldn't be allowed to park there, they have every right to take the bikes. It wouldn't be cool, but they still have that right.

Like if I drove to work and parked in my bosses reserved parking stall, they would have every right to tow my car.


Have a freind, not employed there, lock up a bike at the racks every day. Wait for that bike to be taken, then call the cops.

If they do not rescind inform the press.

It would make a great story. In a time if rising fuel prices, environmental concerns and obesity a company prevents employees from doing their part to reduce our dependence on oil, help the environment and maintain their physical fitness.

It does not sound like the company is doing this but rather, the property management company.

In either case...it would make a great story that I am sure the press would be most interested in.

If the bike rack is on private property and they informed bikers that they wouldn't be allowed to park there, they have every right to take the bikes. It wouldn't be cool, but they still have that right.

Like if I drove to work and parked in my bosses reserved parking stall, they would have every right to tow my car.

Fair enough, but from what I've been able to google up, I believe in Seattle, bike parking has to be provided, and it sounds like it even has to be covered (meaning under a roof) if the car parking is covered.

http://www.washingtonbikelaw.com/ <--those guys, they are bike lawyers.

And (206) 684-7583 is the number to the Seattle Department of Transportation Bicycle & Pedestrian Program.
They will know for sure.

So today my boss(es) tell us that the property manager of our building will not allow us to lock our bikes in front of our workplace anymore. They said that they have taken a description of all of our bikes and will cut the locks and take the bikes if they see them locked out front. It is private property (owned by Paul Allen), so I'm not sure if we can fight this. There are no signs at the bike racks that say anything about not being allowed to lock our bikes there. There are about 150 employees and about 20 of us ride bikes. Anyone have any advice on how we can fight this, or are we screwed?

Get an old beater and secure it with 20 Krytonite locks. Watch the guy try to cut all of them off.

So today my boss(es) tell us that the property manager of our building will not allow us to lock our bikes in front of our workplace anymore. They said that they have taken a description of all of our bikes and will cut the locks and take the bikes if they see them locked out front. It is private property (owned by Paul Allen), so I'm not sure if we can fight this. There are no signs at the bike racks that say anything about not being allowed to lock our bikes there. There are about 150 employees and about 20 of us ride bikes. Anyone have any advice on how we can fight this, or are we screwed?

Talk with Cascade bike club - they do a lot of advocacy and are probably willing to help out on this.

Flatten all of the bosses car tires . . . ?

Get an old beater and secure it with 20 Krytonite locks. Watch the guy try to cut all of them off.

You will spend 1000x more money on locks than they on grinding discs.

Get an old beater and secure it with 20 Krytonite locks. Watch the guy try to cut all of them off.

Which would take under a minute with a portable oxy torch.

Look for a win-win solution? Maybe suggest an alternative parking place. Find out the root cause of the prohibition? Work constructively. Make friends, not enemies.

All these things can be more productive than threats and stupid showmanship. It is, in the end his building/property. As long as he isn't being discriminator, he can just about do what he wants.


+1

You've only got half a story so far. Before calling in reporters and lawyers and armies, do some reporting yourself. Call/email the mngmt company and ask why they're doing this, and where they suggest you (20 employees) park your bike. Make it clear that you're not going to stop riding, but work with them to figure out what the problem is, and offer ways to solve it. The reason might be something simple, but you'll lose your chance to solve it if you get all confrontational.

Is it a bike rack out front, or is it a handrail or handicap entrance or something? Seems strange for them to take pictures of and ban bikes from a bike rack unless they plan to remove it.

Bah, forget that appeasement stuff - Pitchforks and Torches FTW.

No actually ask the rationale for the policy and be polite. Even though the letter is really aggressive, it never hurts to take the high road initially. If they are unreasonable, I would totally go out and buy a bunch of $100 clunkers and start driving them to work, making sure to have oil leaking everywhere, after all why should you spend more than that for their ridiculous policies? And definitely get bike advocates on the case.

Fair enough, but from what I've been able to google up, I believe in Seattle, bike parking has to be provided, and it sounds like it even has to be covered (meaning under a roof) if the car parking is covered.

http://www.washingtonbikelaw.com/ <--those guys, they are bike lawyers.

And (206) 684-7583 is the number to the Seattle Department of Transportation Bicycle & Pedestrian Program.
They will know for sure.

This is my impression also, which is why I asked if the OP's place of employment is in Seattle.

East Hill

Just for the record. I dont mind giving advice on how to handle women and mangament.

Do not ever do anything I say.

ghst99, we need more details.
Who actually owns the bike rack? Your employer or the property management company?
If they don't want you parking your bike there then why do they even have a bike rack?

Post your employer's phone number and we can clog up the system with our opinions of this new policy.
(I'm just kidding about this one.)