Dave Cutter

WOW! In all my decades at work.... I never even ONCE had a morning like that.

Avoid potential disagreements? You mean avoid the opportunity to be dynamic, convincing, and to show leadership? And... instead lie... and expose yourself as untrustworthy? No... that would ruin my work relationships.... and my mornings.

gerv 

That notion is common everywhere. We just need a few adventurous people like yourself to correct the idea.

wipekitty

It comes and goes. I've definitely found that it's worse in some regions of the US than others, but every place I've worked, I've found at least a few well-meaning people who think that something bad will happen to women if they are not enclosed in a giant metal machine (and conversely, that nothing bad will happen to women if they are enclosed in a giant metal machine.)

In my own mind, the bicycle is actually the safest way to get places: I get to park close to the building, so I'm not walking around by myself, I'm not going to be targeted by car thieves, I'm not fumbling around with keys in the dark (any fumbling I do is while wearing a helmet, which makes me feel a bit safer), and I can outpedal any troublemakers pretty easily.

These sorts of arguments won't work on the pro-car folks. Action is the only way to demonstrate that cycling is completely safe for people of any gender, even at night, in bad areas, and so on. Usually, a few late night trips by myself on a bike without incident is enough to "prove" to my concerned co-workers that I'll be just fine. If they're particularly concerned, I'll usually just not bring up the bike thing until I have sufficient "evidence" (repeated trips without any problems) to prove my point.

Ekdog

I'd try to avoid bringing it up. Leave the bike in a place where your boss won't see it. By the time she realises you're commuting by bike you can tell her you've been doing it for weeks, months or whatever. If she objects, tell her you'll go back to driving as soon as you get you're car repaired. Then just keep on cyclin'.

Machka 

Really??

In my countries, the Labour Boards would have something to say about that!!

Machka 

Good for you!

Unless you need your own personal car for work purposes (a rare occurrence that requires a special contract) employers don't care how you get there, as long as you show up on time.

wipekitty

It might just be a US thing, but some employers use employment-at-will as opposed to a contract. Different states have different regulations regarding notice, protected classes, etc., but basically, it means that the employer really can just fire somebody for no reason whatsoever (and conversely, the employee can quit for no reason whatsoever.)

So, theoretically, you could get fired for using the wrong form of transportation. I'd hope that most employers wouldn't be that ridiculous.

Now that I think about it, I was turned down for a job once because I didn't own a car (and it wasn't pizza delivery.)

Machka 

I think it must be a US thing. Here in Australia and in Canada, it's not easy to fire someone ... you've got to have a solid reason, and you need to present the reason to the employee and give them a chance to respond ... there's often a 2 or 3 chances type of system.

The exception is if the employee is a temp/casual/short-term contract worker, or perhaps if the employee is still in a probation period.

Having a car or not having a car has never even come up in any of my interviews. I think I was asked if I had my own reliable transportation in one interview, but that was with good reason because the job location was 35 km out in the country and there was no bus service. They were fine with the idea of cycling, and told me that several other people cycled too ... all they wanted to do was to check that I wasn't going to have transportation issues.

katsrevenge

We 'let' a certain political party gut our labour rights. It sucks, but way too many people bought the whole unions are evil/ we don't need worker protections hook, line and sinker.

wahoonc

It depends on the state... North Carolina is an "at will state"

Link

Also the lower down the employment food chain, the more likely they are to treat you like crap.

Aaron

Ekdog

The same thing is happening over here.

nostalgic

After work, my coworker offered to put my bike in the back of his SUV and take me home, but I turned that offer down, and rode my bike home. It took 45 minutes.

I felt incredibly safe. The funny thing is that the two people who tried to get my attention were women, not men! As I was about to get on my bike and head to work, a woman tried to ask me for cab fare, saying she was stranded and a good christian woman, and she promised to give me her earrings. O__O After I left work, another woman tried to ask me to do her a favour, but I kept on riding. I heard her in the distance say "Fine!"

At worst, riding a bicycle at night makes me a moving target.

@Ekdog: I love your signature!

Ekdog

Thanks. It was meant to ruffle a few feathers, but if you like it, that's great!

Artkansas 

There's your problem. Very few birds or dinosaurs actually read bikeforums.

Ramona_W

I like that term "car light". Unlike @Ekdog I am not anti-car. I believe all types of vehicles can co-exist as long as everyone is patient and tolerant. (And, yes, I take the lane when I'm on a bike.) Plus, there are some things that can't be transported by bike like my elderly mother, my brother who's 275 if he's an ounce, and my daughter's belongings to and from college. So car-free is not an option but car light definitely is.

And Congrats on making the jump @nostalgic!

Roody

If you ever want suggestions for becoming even more carlight, this forum is a good resource.

Your brother's situation resonates with me. I weighed about 275 when I started cycling. Some people who are heavier than that ride bikes also. So it can be done, if he wants to do it.

JReade

I've been asked "Do you have reliable transportation" before. Some jobs may require you to have use of a vehicle. Visiting clients or other offices, sometimes carrying large amounts of gear with you.

Ramona_W

Funnily enough, he has my car now. His is in the shop as of this morning waiting on a part to be two-day shipped. I'm the only one in the family who feels comfortable/can get around car-free so he's borrowing it until his gets back. Looks like I may be putting a rack on my Trek sooner than I'd thought. And thanks.

katsrevenge

Fight it or you'll be in the same boat we are.

katsrevenge

I'm close to that (squishy and I pack on muscle easily) and I bike. We're car-light too. My guy works too far away on poorly designed roads to justify biking. The bike is our 'second car', so to speak. Car gets driven to work and for big shopping trips/out to the boondocks to visit family. Bike is used for regular shopping and most of the local trips.