Successful Commute to a Business Meeting
01-14-06, 08:03 AM
#1
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Successful Commute to a Business Meeting
I commuted to an early-morning outside meeting yesterday, and it worked very well. I live roughly half way between the meeting and my office, so it seemed silly to ride to work, get in an office car, and then drive back past my home to get to the meeting.
So I called the government agency hosting the meeting three days in advance. I asked if they would let me take the bike inside. If that wasn't possible, I asked them where they preferred me to lock it outside. (I didn't want the lock to be cut). They said no one had asked before. The day before the meeting, they said I could bring it in.
The commute to the meeting was great. I brought my clothes and changed in a bathroom. The unusual commute provided some small talk before the meeting.
The way back to the office was harder. It was unusally warm for a Columbus January (50's), but there was a stiff wind in my face the whole 12-14 mile ride home. It was like going up hill the whole way. Oh well, more exercise I guess. I haven't talked to the powers-that-be about how to account for my time, but since they would have given me an office car, I don't think I can fairly write down more time than it would have taken me to drive round trip.
The key lesson is that when you want to commute to a business or government agency, it doesn't hurt to ask for permission to take your bike inside.
So I called the government agency hosting the meeting three days in advance. I asked if they would let me take the bike inside. If that wasn't possible, I asked them where they preferred me to lock it outside. (I didn't want the lock to be cut). They said no one had asked before. The day before the meeting, they said I could bring it in.
The commute to the meeting was great. I brought my clothes and changed in a bathroom. The unusual commute provided some small talk before the meeting.
The way back to the office was harder. It was unusally warm for a Columbus January (50's), but there was a stiff wind in my face the whole 12-14 mile ride home. It was like going up hill the whole way. Oh well, more exercise I guess. I haven't talked to the powers-that-be about how to account for my time, but since they would have given me an office car, I don't think I can fairly write down more time than it would have taken me to drive round trip.
The key lesson is that when you want to commute to a business or government agency, it doesn't hurt to ask for permission to take your bike inside.
01-14-06, 09:33 AM
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Glad to hear it was successful! To me the challenge of commuting to professional gatherings is fun.
As an aside, in my experience, government agencies have been "bicycle friendly". This is because governments typically participate in car trip reduction plans, and encourage alternative commuting. I work for the us gov, and they give rewards for not driving, provide bike parking, and, as I recently found out, they even pay for my bus pass.
As an aside, in my experience, government agencies have been "bicycle friendly". This is because governments typically participate in car trip reduction plans, and encourage alternative commuting. I work for the us gov, and they give rewards for not driving, provide bike parking, and, as I recently found out, they even pay for my bus pass.
