I work at a community health center.

For the past month, I've been bike commuting 2 days a week, and driving 2 days a week (when I get out after 8pm). I commute in shorts and a jersey, enter by the side door, go directly to my office (4 doors away from the exit door), and change into shirt, pants & tie. I store the bike in my office, against the wall near the window (out of the way). When I'm ready to leave for the day, I change back into shorts and jersey, fill up my water bottles, and leave the same way I came in.

I do see some administrative types in the hallways from time to time, and have gotten a couple of funny looks before, and some 'You bike to work? That's great' type stuff. Along with the typical 'How far do you ride?'. Never thought it was a problem.

But today, I arrived to work to find signs posted in the hallway where I enter and again outside my office that state 'No bicycles allowed on the premises (large or small). No exceptions.'

Now, I have not seen even 1 other person with a bicycle inside the building, so I -know- this is directed at me. And I'm steamed. Honestly, I don't understand what the problem is. I don't smell (I checked with the person I share the office with) -- I birdbath when I arrive, apply new deodorant, wear clean clothes. I arrive extra early before the center opens and to give me time to cool down before work begins. I'm promoting healthy living. I eat right. I look fit. I don't use up a precious parking spot.



I thought about pulling down the sign, but thought better of that. I don't think it'd help, and might just make things worse. I don't want to get suspended or fired, after all.

- Don

Unless it's actually hazardous to health, isn't it pretty much up to you what you keep in your own office? Is there a building manager you could talk to?

That seems very unfair. Please keep us posted as to what happens.

Buy a good lock or two, lock the bike up across the street, and continue biking to work.

It sounds like you have someone at work who can't understand why someone would bike to work. It's your life, don't let some knucklehead dictate to you how to come to work because they can't understand the choices you make.

Nice passive-aggressive bureacratic move. Rather than speak to you, whoever didn't like your bike in the office just arranged to have a sign posted.

I think I'd pull the sign down, walk into the boss' office and say, "What this all about?" Even if there's a legitimate office or building policy, you at least deserve to be spoken to directly, like an adult.

This kind of garbage is standard operating procudure in NYC. No bikes in buildings. I have asked in so many different office buildings and they always say security. It is beyond ********. anyway, you have two options, lock up outside or get a folder that you stuff in a bag to bring inside. nobody will even know you have a bike. good luck and sorry that you, too, are being screwed.

I Agree with Ziemas!
You're probably making someone feel lazy or guilty for not taking care of themselves. You know for some reason people seem to like to bring others down rather than pulling themselves up. Don't let this stop you, lock up your bike and leave your helmet in an obvious place on your desk. A little salt anyone?

Lock your bike up right outside the front door. Make sure you are good and sweaty, switch to spandex, and sit around in the lobby after you arrive, wringing out your shirt and sliming any seats you can find until you dry and cool off. Repeat as needed.

what a low ball move on their part. the only thing i can think of that might have prompted this was some damage to the building. did you leave rubber marks on the walls, oil stains or mud on the carpet by chance?

whatever it is you should talk to an actual person about it. i'd be steamed too. good luck.

Some body objects to you riding your bike to a health center??
Sounds truly bizzarre.
Probably worth finding out who posted the sign. Perhaps they merely need to be enlightened. Or maybe there really is some misguided policy re bikes in the building.
Perhaps locking your bike up outside is the only option, but it seems like there should be some alternative (back stairwell, basement, utility closet, rooftop, etc).
Good luck finding a workable solution, don't give up, and keep us posted.

Actually they are not objecting to the mode of transportation as much as simply it's presence in the building (for some odd reason).

Is is possible that someone once left tire tracks somewhere? Is it possible to "park" your bike where all the cars park?

Find out if the sign posting was authorized, and, if it was, by whom. If it wasn't, take it down. If it was, talk to whoever authorized it. Find out what their reasoning is.

The area that the health center is located in is one of the truly dangerous places in this city. Drug dealing takes place just a block away. The city is trying very hard to crack down and revitalize the area (has been for a while now), but projects like this take time. Years.

There is no way I can keep my bike outside and expect it to be there at the end of the day. Or if it is there, not to be damaged or in pieces. No, not my <1 month old new bike.

I don't think I left any tire tracks. I take off my clipless shoes at the door and walk through the hall with my bike in 1 hand and clipless shoes in the other. I'm already in spandex

Actually, I found out that there was someone who left their bike in the lobby by the security desk, and I guess the guard complained that he didn't want to have to be responsible for it. Sigh.

- Don

What about a folding bike? then you can put it in a bag/carrying case.

This is your move. You deserve some sort of explanation. I've been onformed second hand that Bicycles aren't allowed in my building. I checked it out with out facilities manager (employed by my company) who said she'd check with the building manager (employed by the building). She hasn't gotten back to me yet so I just keep bringing my bike in. No one with the building has said anything -- just a bitter co-worker trying to rain on my parade.

Go right up the chain until you find who authorized the sign posting. You may find no one authorized it. If some low level manager authorized it go over their head. You have a right to be heard. Here we have a commute trip reduction program that is very important to businesses with more than a few employees. Keep us posted.
Phil

Was the sign scrawled in crayon?

Well now that u know the reason, can u talk to management (or even the guard) to let you be an exception? I mean it's not like you're walking in and out with the bike, you go to work with it for cryin' out loud.

You want to think about some kind of box or carrying case to put your bike in before moving it inside. A friend got a cardboard shipping box wich he keeps in this office. He drys the bike if it's wet, pulls the frount wheel, crams the bike into it's box and lugs it into the office. Total crap, but he's still riding.

The desk people themselves may be responsible. Follow the trail to the end and find out what the concerns are and how they can be mitigated. Is parking provided for those who drive? If so, request that you be provided an appropriate parking spot in the garage. If nobody knows how to do this, suggest that perhaps they could take the spot that your car would otherwise occupy and put in a bike rack or cage. That'll probably get them thinking a little creatively.

(Says the guy who can't get anyone at his workplace to even ACKNOWLEDGE that secure bike parking might be a responsible thing to consider when redesigning the garage.)

I agree with everyone who said you should follow the trail to its end. If they get haughty with you, ask them to show you were it specifically says 'no bikes allowed' in their policy. Make sure that you ask them to point it out to you where it says it in writing, otherwise they can't really enforce it.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

when you find out who authorized the postings, make sure you point out that you are an *employee* and a useful one. then maybe track down the buildings-person and talk reasonable at them to see if there's a staircase or closet or someplace where you could leave your vehicle that would not be in the way of cleaning personnel and such? i think if you present yourself as curious and solution-oriented rather than frustrated and pissed-off (regardless of whether you are or not, i would be) you might have better luck finding a safe place to park. hope it goes well.

Dude,
Hassle from a community health center? Man, I feel your pain.

I work in a building that is rather old. For years we had a shower intended for union people to clean up after their shift. They stopped using it. Soon runners and other athletes began using it.

So there began to be pressure for re-use of the building and there was a struggle for space. One of the plant engineers hit on use of the shower for another purpose. He was a lifelong smoker. (hint) When I heard about the threat to eliminate it, I found the one manager that occasionally used it after a lunchtime run. Didn't matter if he hadn't in a year.

Its no longer a discussion. Period. I just suggest you have to find the one "godfather" for want of a better word and no, I don't think "mentor" works here. It helps.

I think being diplomatic would get you someplace. Start with a letter explaining your enthusiasm for cycling and also emphasize how important your bike is as your primary mode of transportation. Remind them that you've brought your bike inside without incident, and bring to their attention the fact that you arrive early, shower, and remain clean and neat during the day, making the cycling aspect as unobtrusive as possible because you don't want to intrude on their company or the other people that enter the clinic, and that it hasn't been a problem so far. Then go into the detail of the signage, and tell them you understand someone left their bike with the guard and the guard doesn't want to take responsibility for bikes. Then give your opinion here- thank them for supporting your decision to stay healthy as well as contribute positively to the environment by allowing you to ride your bike in to work and keep your bike safe by parking it in your office, then give your opinion that you think overly enthusiastic enforcement of a rule created by one bike adversely affects you, since it's not a safe neighborhood, and they don't provide you with a safe alternative to park your bike. Tell them cars that park in the parking lot have some kind of basic protection, but bikes do not, and explain how easy it is for someone to steal a bike (assuming they have some kind of security for their parking lot area). Ask them why, if there was a problem, they didn't go directly to the person who left their bike with the guard instead of acting in such extreme measures, knowing that the actions of one would have a negative impact on people who ensure that the work environment is negatively affected by their riding. Ask them if there is anything you can do to help resolve the situation, since the building does not give you any alternative for a place to park, though they do for cars. Then tell them that you appreciate their support for your decision to maintain a healthy lifestyle and your decision to contribue to a clean environment. Ask them if the situation can be resolved, and ask them if there is anything you can do. Then end by telling them you will follow up within the next day, because you want to continue to ride into work without delay.

Be as diplomatic as possible. Don't be hostile. You will definitely catch more flies with honey than vinegar. I believe it.

Good luck and report back.

Koffee

Are there stationary bicycles inthe health centre? If you buy a trainer, wouldn't that turn your bike into a gym equipment?