Northeast - Blacklisted from Office Building with Bike!!

So here's a rather complex situation. I'm an industrial designer whose office just moved into 11 E26th St in NYC. I've been an avid biker for the last couple seasons with my dad's vintage Bottecchia. (which I love, and would like to here some feedback, suggestions, etc.)
This new building apparently has some major issues with bikes. They don't allow bikes through the front door, since they're worried about the glass doors being damaged, elevators being scratched etc etc. So we have to ride to the back entrance and take the freight elevator up. (no problem right?) The freight elevator however, only operates from 8:30 to 5:30. I don't know any designers who actually work from 9-5. So, after 5:30, we try to carry our bikes down the back stairwell, only to find that that's not kosher either. The building management secretly installed an alarm on the back stairs a few days after one of my co-workers got caught. So now it was my turn to test the waters. One night I tried to take my bike out the front and maybe chat with the front guard about what the possible exits we could take. He wasn't having it, and took my name down. Couple days later, I ride in to work, go straight for the freight elevator only to be turned around. "I can't take you up sir. You tried to take the bike out the front, now I was told not to let you in with the bike." Whaaaat!? Apparently, the front guard had reported me the other day, and the management had blacklisted me! Now I can't bring the bike into the building at all! No warning, nothing.
I was left with no choice. Luckily I had my chain on me, and locked the bike up on the street. Naturally, I was worried all day that my bright green Bottecchia would be damaged or stolen. Thankfully, it was still intact by the end of the day.
This whole fiasco happened a few days ago. I am furious, and curious if anybody out there has experienced anything of this sort? Is the building management even allowed to do this? Is this lawful? Suggestions as to how to get my name off their "blacklist" and change their views on letting bikes into the building? Do I have to suck it up and lock my bike outside??

Damn the man!

Regards,
-Aaron Tsui-

PS - I'm new to this site. How do you go about posting photos? Would love to share pics of my Bottecchia and see what you guys and gals have to say. Peace.

Oh right, found the "Attachment" "Insert Image" buttons. I'll post pics of my bike soon.

...This whole fiasco happened a few days ago. I am furious, and curious if anybody out there has experienced anything of this sort? Is the building management even allowed to do this? Is this lawful? Suggestions as to how to get my name off their "blacklist" and change their views on letting bikes into the building? Do I have to suck it up and lock my bike outside??...

See this similar recent thread from the Commuter Forum, "Biclycle kicked out of my office building":

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=514793

Streets of New York. Sooner or later your tires will be slashed or the bike damaged. You'll need a really strong chain.. The only solution. I'd move out of the building. asap.Glad, it's not me.. My temper would be strained.

Streets of New York. Sooner or later your tires will be slashed or the bike damaged. You'll need a really strong chain.. The only solution. I'd move out of the building. asap.Glad, it's not me.. My temper would be strained.

its his OFFICE, not his residence.:rolleyes:

Chad

its his OFFICE, not his residence.:rolleyes:

Chad

Yeah, I know.. He had a private business. I assumed he worked for himself.?... You still can move.. If wrong and he worked for someone else, I would ask for taxi fare in the business arrangement.

This whole fiasco happened a few days ago. I am furious, and curious if anybody out there has experienced anything of this sort? Is the building management even allowed to do this? Is this lawful? Suggestions as to how to get my name off their "blacklist" and change their views on letting bikes into the building? Do I have to suck it up and lock my bike outside??


Did you talk to the building management about it? Try talking first and see what they say. Then gather other bikers you know in the building and try to write a letter or talk to them collectively.

Get an old beater bike.
Lock it up front and tell (in writing) the security officer and management they will be held responsible if it is stolen.

If you have a nasty looking bike and a really good locking system you should be ok. Leave a good chain and lock at the site and carry a secondary lock with you. Use both when you lock up. Try to move the bike around to different spots so it's not always in the same place every day - predictability helps thieves.

Make sure both wheels are locked and have the seat secured with a chain of some sort. I used to melt candle wax into allen bolts on the handlebar/stem areas...good luck!

Thanks guys. I have spoken to my immediate boss, and he is rather supportive. He has contacted building management, and city of New York concerning this issue. No response yet, naturally.

Getting a beater and locking it up on the street isn't a bad idea, but then you have to ride an old beater. Haha. If at all possible, I'd love to keep riding my beloved Bottechia. When I do lock it up, I take the front wheel off and chain the frame and both wheels to the racks. Seems to work well, but if thieves catch wind of this bike, I'm sure they'll have a field day ripping it apart.

I like the idea of pouring wax or resin into the allen holes. Only downside to that is you'll have difficulty doing maintenance on the bike.

Bah, I should just get a new job where the building is more bike friendly. I need a raise/promotion anyhow. Now if only the economy would pick up the pace! G'OBAMA!

IMO a better option, although not the cheapest one, is to get a folding bike -- specifically a Brompton.

Bromptons have a very compact fold and a decent ride. It won't take up much room in your apartment or at the office. This dramatically reduces the chances of damage or theft.

You can get a bag for them as well; this may satisfy the building management to let you carry it using the normal elevator, since it won't scuff it up. I'd discuss it with the building management first though, since otherwise the security staff may still just say "it's a bike" and make you use the freight anyway.

IMO a better option, although not the cheapest one, is to get a folding bike -- specifically a Brompton.

Bromptons have a very compact fold and a decent ride. It won't take up much room in your apartment or at the office. This dramatically reduces the chances of damage or theft.

You can get a bag for them as well; this may satisfy the building management to let you carry it using the normal elevator, since it won't scuff it up. I'd discuss it with the building management first though, since otherwise the security staff may still just say "it's a bike" and make you use the freight anyway.

+1, though I will say that one of the front desk guys at my old office building (1 Penn Plaza) decided one morning that my small luggage sized Brompton was a hazard. I asked to see the head supervisor, who barely glanced at the folded bike and said there was no problem.

I'm very lucky that my current building is super cool with bikes. I've had no problem bringing a road bike and the folder in. The folder I stash in my cubicle. The road bike is stored in a safe place in the basement. :)

I would say go with cyclezealot's, or ulugeyik's idea and request a taxi fare since your office does not approve of your transportation, or write a claim letter and request compensation for bike loss or damage.

One of the things I don't miss about living in NYC is having to deal with office buildings and apartment buildings! I used to live in a fourth-floor walkup in Brooklyn. When my kids were toddlers, the co-op board decided that strollers wouldn't be allowed in the building. (Mine was the only stroller, of course.) I was made to store the stroller in the basement, and would have to retrieve it out of the basement and put it back every day in order to use it. People are idiots. :(

true dat

I have to go thru the basement too

There's currently a bill before the City Council, Bicycle Access Bill (Intro 871) (http://webdocs.nyccouncil.info/textfiles/Int%200871-2008.htm?CFID=83876&CFTOKEN=93871409), that would require office buildings to allow bike access. Maybe you could use this as a bargaining chip with building management?

There's also a related discussion at http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/03/06/bike-friendly-zoning-advances-to-city-council-bike-access-bill-next/

Talk to the local bike coalition? Organize a protest at your building? Are you friendly enough with management to ask them to intercede with the landlord on your behalf?

If you can't win, the folding bike is also a good idea. I like the Xootr Swift. www.xootr.com

Ooh. Thanks Stacy. That's some nice leverage against my office building.

About the folding bikes, also a nice idea, however, my building is also really idiotic about bringing large bags, boxes in. Have to use the freight elevator for those.

best solution = get a folding bike, carry the bag with your in your backpack.. when you arrive @ work, simply fold the bike and insert into carry-bag. walk in FRONT DOOR and laugh at the security guard.

You can also ask him to shove it if he likes.

Might look into an official letter/petition. Gather all the bikers in the building.

Nice.

That bag thing is redonculous. Kind of want one. Hahaha.

In these situations I'm always curious if someone would pay a place to hold their bikes? I work in the Chrysler building and there is no way I can get my bike in. I really hope they pass that law so I can at least bring it up in the freight elevator. I worked for a building management company before and sometimes they act like dicks just because they can, same as cops.

This is a pretty negative factor when evaluating whether the building is environmentally friendly.

One of the factors considered when a building tries to get LEED certified is whether it has bicycle parking. (http://www.supereco.com/glossary/leed-certification/ and http://bcgp.blogspot.com/2008/03/bicycle-parking-in-leed-certification.html)

See page 6 of http://www.usgbc.org/Docs/LEEDdocs/LEED_RS_v2-1.pdf

Could there be an angle here for criticizing the building as not being green?

I 2nd the buy a crappy bike and good lock idea. I did the same and commuted a good chunk of last year with no problems. A old $100 bike off craigslist can become a fun ride/project.

Good call ROJA. Actually, my boss was in charge of designing our space when we moved in. His big hurdle was to be LEED certified Silver at the least. We installed bike racks in our space, have a shower in the bathroom. But we can't get our bikes up the elevator! He has brought that up with building management, but no response. Jerks.

In that case I'd strongly suggest you email Councilmember David Yassky (http://council.nyc.gov/d33/html/members/home.shtml) who is sponsoring the Bike Access Bill, and apparently running for City Comptroller. (http://davidyassky.com/) Maybe you can testify before the City Council in favor of the bill!! You might also want to look into Transportation Alternatives. (http://www.transalt.org) who is also supporting this bill.

I've posted on this topic when it's come up before. It is incredibly frustrating.

I have a similar problem and live too many miles and hills away to commute on a beater. Which would be stolen or vandalized soon enough anyhow.

I've had no problems bringing a folder past building security when I break it down and put it into its carry bag. You can't tell I've got a bike in there. But my cheap folder is not up to the commute and I don't know that I want to invest in an expensive one -- yet another bike which I may not even like riding.

I'd be willing to pay a reasonable amount for secure parking. Even given that we're talking "reasonable" by midtown manhattan standards.

For a couple years I gave a few dollars to the guys at a local garage to let me lock it up in some dead space under a ramp. That was great, but when the staff changed I got cut off. I don't know why the garages aren't open to this, it's found money. I haven't found a replacement yet, but if you go around to the lots, especially the low end outdoor ones with a guy in a shack, they may let you leave the bike for a reasonable amount. I'd think the OP in the W.20s would have some luck. Chrysler building guy, more doubtful.

IMO, a great solution would be for the city to require the garages to take bikes for a market rate. I'd pay $80/month for safe bike parking.

Good call ROJA. Actually, my boss was in charge of designing our space when we moved in. His big hurdle was to be LEED certified Silver at the least. We installed bike racks in our space, have a shower in the bathroom. But we can't get our bikes up the elevator! He has brought that up with building management, but no response. Jerks.


Wow. That is absolutely ridiculous. I think your company's management needs to push the building to allow you access to your bike storage 24/7, even if it means you have to take the freight elevator. Why else did you spend the money to install bike racks?!?!?

EXACTLY! Quite the mess, eh?

You may have lost the battle but not the war.
I'm 50yo and commute to work, about 48 miles round trip 3-5 days a week.
Here's my sage advise.
Get a low end single speed or fixie, plus a NY Fahgetaboutit lock.

You "may" win the battle with the landlord, I know the building.
The reality is they don't care, don't have to.

The lease that your boss signed has the standard freight hours in it.
Since their is no clause allowing you to lug the bike up/down the stairs, you basically are screwed.

You may find a local parking lot that may allow storage.

Here are the NY Sheltered parking spots in the city
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=115990831693653875298.000459b6e13ccb3ead2ff&z=10

Try these also
http://www.transalt.org/resources/garages

Good luck

Rob

Thanks Rob. My boss just had a conversation with the building owner today. We'll see if they drew any conclusions.

Good Luck.

Perhaps, when you get a moment take a look around the neighborhood
you may find some good spots to park like near NY Life or the Health Clubs.
I remember a few colleges in the area, Baruch is one and a dental school.

Rob

Yeah isn't that new Derrick Jetter Gym right there on the corner too? I've had one of my bikes parked outside by Baruch for months straight now (over the winter).

Good argument for some sort of bike parking in NY. Call Bloomberg. I just heard on WNYC that he's still on the richest of the world list, surely he can spare a few mill to build a bike garage in midtown.
Whenever I'm back in NY I always notice bikes, specifically ones that are chained up with mammoth locks, and I also notice poles with chains around them, no bikes? and sometimes bikes that are still there but stripped down to nothing. Good luck man, our cities and culture really need to get with it.

Whenever I'm back in NY I always notice bikes, specifically ones that are chained up with mammoth locks, and I also notice poles with chains around them, no bikes?

What many people do is leave their lock and chain at the place they park for the next time they come in to work etc. Of course that may leave them with no lock
for the weekend.

I did that in one place, but I own 2 heavy locks and chains.

Rob

Soooo, results are in. The building owner made it clear that no bikes are allowed up/down the stairs. Front elevator is out of the question. We are only allowed to use the freight elevator from 8:30-5:30 Mon. thru Fri. If we want to work later than 5:30PM, we have to bring our bikes out and lock them outside, come back upstairs and finish up at work. Total pain in the butt.

There are a couple Inverted "U" racks on the block. The building owner mentioned he is open to suggestions for new and improved bike racks to be installed out front. He is planning to redo the sidewalk. Fancy that, my girlfriend and I designed a bike rack for the DOT Cityracks Design Competition. Maybe we can propose that to the city/building owner. Haha.

Ooh, I finally had a chance to take some shots of my praying mantis of a Bottecchia. It's a hand-me-down from my dad. I tweaked it out, replaced the grips, grip end caps made by yours truly, seat, seat post, stem, pedals, tires, brake pads.

I'm trying to figure out what model it is and what it's potentially worth. Any ideas, suggestions, critiques?

Very nice bike!

As everyone else from NYC has said, the situation you face is not at all rare. This NY Times story from December '08 (http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/12/09/two-wheels-at-the-office-still-rare/) pretty much sums it up. The Credit Suisse building that allows secure indoor bike parking is at East 24th Street -- maybe you could talk up the security guards and see if they'd let you in?

Of course the owner basically said screw you.
Time to look for a fixie or move your bike downstairs at 5:20, there may be more spots around.

Rob

Yeah, gonna go shopping for a single speed or fixie. Any recommendations for used bike shops in NYC area?

Ooh, I finally had a chance to take some shots of my praying mantis of a Bottecchia. It's a hand-me-down from my dad. I tweaked it out, replaced the grips, grip end caps made by yours truly, seat, seat post, stem, pedals, tires, brake pads.

I'm trying to figure out what model it is and what it's potentially worth. Any ideas, suggestions, critiques?

Really lovely bike. With enough attractive old campy bits you don't want to leave it outside. As for what it's worth, I bet you would fetch more piecing it out on ebay than you would selling the entire bike. But you don't want to do either, I'm sure, it looks like such a great ride. Best of luck on the building situation. I wouldn't want to commute on another bike, and I wouldn't want to leave that outside. Non-cyclists won't understand.

Best reccomendation in NY is recycle -a Bike in LIC.

Performance has a few $299 -399, decent bikes.
Sales run from time to time 10-20% off, freight about $35.
Try a post here on the board.

Also Bikesdirect has the Hour for $299 shipped, there are comments in the Fixie thread here.

Also Craigslist.

Bottom line, the less hi-tech the POSSIBILITY that it will not be taken.
Remember, anything that can be unscrewed can be taken ie, saddle, bottle cage, handlebar, stem, bell, lights. So try some hardware fixes to save your investment.

Rob

Thanks Rob. I'll check out Recycle-a-Bike. They have a few locations right? You recommend LIC over DUMBO or East Village?

They are all equal. Its a hit or miss.
You most likely will NOT get a fixie but a decent bike thats been looked over.
Rob

Best reccomendation in NY is recycle -a Bike in LIC.

Performance has a few $299 -399, decent bikes.
Sales run from time to time 10-20% off, freight about $35.
Try a post here on the board.

Also Bikesdirect has the Hour for $299 shipped, there are comments in the Fixie thread here.

Also Craigslist.

Bottom line, the less hi-tech the POSSIBILITY that it will not be taken.
Remember, anything that can be unscrewed can be taken ie, saddle, bottle cage, handlebar, stem, bell, lights. So try some hardware fixes to save your investment.

Rob

+1 on that, bought the ClockWork from BD and Got a old beater off craigslist before.
I've never been to the place, but there is a shop in the east vill I think that sells only old bikes. Anyone know what it's called?

Also check out Busy Bee bikes, 437 E 6th St. They have a ton of cheap, old, used bikes.

+1 on that, bought the ClockWork from BD and Got a old beater off craigslist before.
I've never been to the place, but there is a shop in the east vill I think that sells only old bikes. Anyone know what it's called?

Landmark Vintage Bikes on 3rd. Personally I think their cheap bikes aren't set up all too well and overpriced to boot. Very friendly sales girl the when I was there with my gf a week ago, but I wouldn't buy a bike there without negotiating the price or maintenance costs first. Their selection mostly ranges from vintage Schwinn Varsitys and Suburbans to a couple of choice steel rides.

Landmark Vintage Bikes on 3rd. Personally I think their cheap bikes aren't set up all too well and overpriced to boot. Very friendly sales girl the when I was there with my gf a week ago, but I wouldn't buy a bike there without negotiating the price or maintenance costs first. Their selection mostly ranges from vintage Schwinn Varsitys and Suburbans to a couple of choice steel rides.

Word, thanks, I was always curious. Prices of the stuff they post on CL looked a little high too.

Security Guard " who i rand into during when i was working "

the bad one well they lived in a very dull / i don't care about this jobs / underpaid / useless and also having a case of what i called " power tripping " and some even think they are cops when they cough an attitude and also be careful some are even former thug and ex-cops and they have a chip on the shoulder 24/7

the good one - okay and good and doing there jobs

and i know that this might look bias but this is from my experiences so this is from me and my view and one last thing being a security guard is my view in work or employment is the lowest of all jobs they are nothing more that " rent a cops ".........................!