Commuting - Polls at work

As summer "ozone" season begins (May 1 through Sept. 30,) my workplace starts getting environmentally correct. This is good.

The fun thing is when I log on to my computer terminal to record my time. Another screen pops up with a poll.

"How did you get to work today?" Of course, one of the options is, "bike."

:D

I love to enter, "bike," since I know I'm the only one in the whole department who rides a bike to work.

Lets hear it for LBM!! :beer: :fun: :thumbup:

Keep going. What's the most popular method of travel at your company? I think ours is the Underground/tube/subway, whatever you call it. Though bikes come a close second. Cars are not allowed due to there being no parking spaces in the vicinity. :)

including myself we have 2-3 year round commuters and then maybe 10-15 that occaisonally ride in the summer (usually maybe 5 on a nice day) from about 500 employees!

despite the fact that i work in Germany where cycling is a great option b/c distances are shorter, cars must drive more slowly in the city b/c most streets are smaller and there are bike lanes/paths everywhere and everything is compact (we're on the extreme edge just outside the city limit and it's 10km from the city center) AND we have a rail stop about 300m from our company...

so from 500 employees i think maybe 100 take subway/rail and 2-5 cycle... the rest drive cars to demonstrate how successful they are (Munich in particular is a very 'ritzy' city where the newest BMW/Mercedes/Audi is VERY important to many)

my office a new 'US Style' office park on the edge of the city (used to be farmland until 3 years ago and now there are 3000+ office spaces and more being built) with plenty of free parking - in the city where parking is difficult, expensive or impossible to find most people take the subway and then the rest walk, bike or drive...

Our company is moving to the city later this year. the new building is right next to a rapid transit station (Lindberg for you Atlantans). They put out a poll last week asking "How do you plan to get to work" and you should have heard the screaming. You'd think these people were having their cars taken from them instead of just being required to park them at a MARTA station. One guy even said, "That'll get a bit chilly in the winter" when told that there was a covered (not enclosed) walkway from the train station to the office entrance.

I guess it's a culture shock as we go from free parking to $55/month (or buy company subsidized rail/bus passes for $20/month). But I didn't expect the wailing, whining and gnashing of teeth that is happening here.

For me, it should be a benefit since we have never gotten bike parking in our current building. I added "bike" to every question (MARTA and bike, CCT and bike, bike). Think they'll get the hint :)

Originally posted by Kevin S
Our company is moving to the city later this year. the new building is right next to a rapid transit station...

One guy even said, "That'll get a bit chilly in the winter" when told that there was a covered (not enclosed) walkway from the train station to the office entrance.

I am shocked at people.

"I can't walk a block..." :cry:

:rolleyes:

Originally posted by LittleBigMan




I am shocked at people.



"I can't walk a block..." :cry:



:rolleyes:

Sheesh, tell me about it. Pretty much anyone in here knows that it takes maybe a week to "condition" to ride 10 miles on a bike, and that's even for people in mostly piss-poor shape; yet I still run across people that say, "I could never do that." when I mention (casually) that I managed to pull off all my errands and get in a 10-mile bike ride.

I just discovered that pretty much all of upper management cycles at my work; much more recreationally than I, but it's still a cool feeling to have the CFO chat with you about weekend rides and component groups. Now if we can just get the rest of the company on bikes...

"I can't walk a block..."

Like most people my wife and I work with people that will catch a taxi to travel less than a kilometre, to the other side of town. Our city is one square mile, from the middle of the city to the fringes is only 800meters, so there is no reason not to walk anywhere. The longest walk is 15mins. By the time you book a taxi and wait for it, then drive to the destination it is quicker to walk. The city is flat, and the weather is always good enough year round. People are lazy.:mad:

CHEERS.

Mark

Originally posted by Dutchy
People are lazy.

Originally posted by Matadon



I just discovered that pretty much all of upper management cycles at my work; much more recreationally than I, but it's still a cool feeling to have the CFO chat with you about weekend rides and component groups. Now if we can just get the rest of the company on bikes...

I'm jealous! I am the only manager that has the gonads to bicycle to work at my place. The others are all too concerned with image to be caught dead riding a bicycle to work.

Originally posted by mike
I am the only manager that has the gonads to bicycle to work at my place. The others are all too concerned with image to be caught dead riding a bicycle to work.
What about the "image" of an overweight executive who, by the time he/she retires to "enjoy" life, hasn't the strength left to climb a flight of stairs?

Aw, that's ok! There's always a great big SUV in the parking lot to drive around and those electrically powered shopping carts to ride in the supermarket. Heck, in our modern times, legs are hardly necessary (in fact, even hearts can be replaced!)

Originally posted by LittleBigMan

What about the "image" of an overweight executive who, by the time he/she retires to "enjoy" life, hasn't the strength left to climb a flight of stairs?

The fat breathless executive is more prevalent than the bicycling executive.

Like most people my wife and I work with people that will catch a taxi to travel less than a kilometre, to the other side of town. Our city is one square mile, from the middle of the city to the fringes is only 800meters, so there is no reason not to walk anywhere. The longest walk is 15mins. By the time you book a taxi and wait for it, then drive to the destination it is quicker to walk. The city is flat, and the weather is always good enough year round. People are lazy.:mad:

CHEERS.

Mark

And I thought it was only americans who are fat, lazy, and spoiled. I was on that track myself til some things happened open my eyes.

I worked with a friend to sponcer a bike-to-work event at work and we got 50 people to ride during the week. On the Friday end of week we did a 10 mile (round trip) bike to lunch... The resturant was so pleased that they promised to give us a free lunch in 2004.

I'd have to say that we got more steady comutters from doing this <hey I now know how to ride to work and it aint as far as I thought>... We went from 4 to 12 steadies and about 3 friday guys/gal...

This year we plan to work more to get the original cast to help bring in more ppl as me and my friend work on getting more county support.

This also branched into a bike club which now has 10 riders on the weekend!

I worked with a friend to sponcer a bike-to-work event at work and we got 50 people to ride during the week.

I'd have to say that we got more steady comutters from doing this... We went from 4 to 12 steadies and about 3 friday guys/gal...

This also branched into a bike club which now has 10 riders on the weekend!
Wow!!

:beer: