A.Tsui

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.

A.Tsui

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

Jim from Boston

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

https://www.bikeforums.net/commuting/514793-biclycle-kicked-out-my-office-building.html

cyclezealot

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.

Nimitz87

its his OFFICE, not his residence.

Chad

cyclezealot

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.

ulugeyik

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.

10 Wheels

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.

pgoat

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!

A.Tsui

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!

Bacciagalupe

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.

jeebusaurousrex

+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.

anemptygun

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.

baggaratz

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.

pgoat

true dat

I have to go thru the basement too

Stacy

There's currently a bill before the City Council, Bicycle Access Bill (Intro 871), 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 https://www.streetsblog.org/2009/03/0...ess-bill-next/

ROJA

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

A.Tsui

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.

fordfasterr

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.

A.Tsui

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

A.Tsui

Nice.

A.Tsui

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

Sikbug

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.

ROJA

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. (https://www.supereco.com/glossary/leed-certification/ and https://bcgp.blogspot.com/2008/03/bic...ification.html)

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

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

Sikbug

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.