notfred

My company is renting space in a large office building in downtown San Francisco, and the building manager apparently doesn't allow bikes in the building.



My old office was smaller and generally crappier, but I could bring my bike inside. I don't want to leave my bike outside. They have a really poor excuse for a bike rack in the parking garage next door, which will at least stay dry, but the rack isn't even bolted to the ground. Two strong guys could come and just carry the entire rack away, and if they had done so this morning, they would have got my bike, and about 6 other bikes, including two relatively expensive looking road bikes.

Patriot

bummer.

If you absolutely insist on riding to work, there is only three options I can think of.


1. Lock your bike outside on the rack.

2. Find somewhere inside no one knows about, sneak in, and hide it in a broom closet.

3. Get a differant job.

Cyclaholic

Too bad they won't let you bring it in, at least you have an undercover garage area.

I wouldn't use that rack. How about getting creative in that parking garage and finding something solid and out of the way to secure your bike to? I used to use a handrail in our old underground parking area, it was in front of the lifts but well out of anyone's way.

notfred

I'm planning on trying #2, and if that doesn't work, I'll just have to do #1 and hope no one takes my bike. The job's too good to quit.

squeakywheel

(1) Get a beater bike that nobody will want to steal. Lock that to the bike rack.

(2) Get a little folding bike and a bag to put it in. Walk through the front door with your "bag" over your shoulder.

14R 

+1

nowheels

I have two offices, one in a very snooty section of Philly where they will not allow you to bring in a bike or even lock it up in front of the building, and another in the burbs, where I have a bike rack in my office. Needless to say I spend more time in my office in the burbs.

banerjek

See if you can rent some enclosed space nearby.

georgiaboy

On things like this I like to get the word straight from the horse's mouth. So, did the manager tell you directly no parking of bike in the building? Why not seek him out to find out what he really thinks and his reasons for making such a rule. Does the building manager have an alternate solution?

Bob J

Is your boss cool about it? Maybe he can complain to the building owner.

thdave

I agree. Bikes aren't so bad inside and it saves parking spots for customers. You could compromise and tell him you won't bring it in when it rains--that might be his concern (bringing in a dirty wet bike).

But think about a real good spot first. Some building managers cite entry/exit issues. I've been told to keep mine out of hallways and stairwells. They need to be able to evacuate the building quickly and get a guerney into it without issue. Even in an office can be a problem in some cases--get it in a corner or cubbyhole.

rhm

+2. Seriously. I just rode 8 miles on my little folding bike, stopping only to sit on a train for an hour along the way, and it was great.

JumboRider

Ask your boss to get a bike storage locker for the parking lot. They are not that expensive and he will be able to write it off. You could also have your HR department petition the building owner to provide bike lockers since they don't allow bikes indoors. They can use the 'saves parking space' as an argument.

gbcb

I second (or third) the folding bike idea -- I keep mine under my desk at work, and don't even bother putting it in a bag. You'd be surprised how forgiving people can be of a folded bike. It's almost as if it ceases to be a bike!

Another option might be to ask about using the freight elevator. In my office building in a very fancy area of Shanghai, they don't like me taking the bike on the normal elevator, but have no problems with me using the freight elevator.

oboeguy

Folder FTW. That's how I rode to work at a hedge fund in Midtown Manhattan.

lil brown bat

Wise suggestion, this. I'd try this first.

whatsmyname

Would it not be easier and cheaper just to get the bike rack bolted to something substantial, and get a dummy/real CCTV camera pointing at it? There's no need to reinvent the - well, you know.

AndrewP

Buy a van from the scrap yard and have it towed to the parking garage. Then put your bike in it while you are at work. You might be able to share it with some of the other cyclists.

velocity

Ride a skate board to work and when they finally get sick of you doing aerials , kick flips over the other desks and doing slid outs to be first in line at the cafeteria may be they will reconsider their errors in judgment.

notfred

Tomorrow (I work from home on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so I'm not in the office today), I'll ask the building management about the specifics of the rule, and why the rule exists. Maybe this will let me use the freight elevator to bring the bike inside.

If that doesn't work, I'll at least request that they permanently attach the bike rack in the garage to the ground. Also, I'll be sure to take out a renter's insurance policy, which I should probably have anyway.

If my bike does get stolen, I'll make a claim with my renter's insurance, and when I get reimbursed for the bike, I'll buy a folding bike and just bring it inside with me.

Seem like a reasonable enough plan?

velocity

NO Skate board flips?

banerjek

This is the best idea, because it also gives you a locked place to store gear....

sukram

Just a variation on this suggestion since building management won't let you bring the bike inside.

(1) Get a beater bike with a kickstand that nobody will want to steal. Chain and lock front doors of building. Stand bike a few feet in front of chained doors and photograph scene calling it a study on the alienation of bicycle commuters in society due to the lack of dedicated public resources for everyday cycling.

whatsmyname

School buses go cheap!

e0richt

talk to someone above him that is renting the building. determine that they do have liability insurance and that they will be hearing from you if your bike gets stolen... they might change their mind...