Bike parking at work?
 

If you had a bike locker you could use to secure your bike during your work day, and it was outside, would there be any problems with that vs. being able to bring it inside? As long as other people can't open the locker and steal your bike?

I like having mine inside, so I can pack and unpack my panniers, charge light-system batteries, inspect tires for embedded glass, lube my chain after a rainy/snowy commute, and so forth. I do work at a bike shop, so it would be very odd to NOT bring my bike inside.

If my choice was inside or a bike locker outside, I'd probably prefer inside. Given a choice between a bike locker outside, and a regular bike rack outside, I'd jump on the bike locker.

My workplace has outdoor bike lockers. You bring your own lock to secure them. I've never worried about my bike being stolen.

We have outside racks. Outside lockers would be cool.
Weather is of no concern out here, it only rains a couple dozen days a year.
Theft is a concern. Most of us commuting have mid to low end bikes. They have been relatively safe as the main rack is by the receiving dock and employees are they often and they know the commuters.

One guy did have a Madone stolen off his car when they cut the whole roof rack. He was parked not near a building exit. Real bummer, right in the middle of the day.
His car insurance did pay up, though.

I rent an outdoor bike locker and in the last decade never had a problem with theft or vandalism. My locker is located near the entrance to my downtown office building and the building has 24 hour security guards that roam the perimeter of the building every hour or so. The locker door is pretty solid and has a substantial built-in lock.

I routinely leave my bike overnight in the locker without any worries.

The locker is also very convenient. In addition to the bike, I also keep a spare tire and tube, chain lube, a floor pump, rag to wipe my bike down after a wet ride, and leave my helmet and gloves in the locker.

Rain is an obvious concern, but I can't see any problem beyond that. I would prefer to have my bike inside though so the summer sun doesn't damage the tires too much. For those living near the coast, the salty air may be a problem..

Seems like an obvious choice to me. I'd bring mine in if I could. But if I had a bike locker outside that I could secure, that would be a great second best.

My situation is third best, I guess. I lock my bike up to a bike rack under cover from rain/sleet etc. and walk the block or so to the building door. I could park right outside the building, but it is wide open to the elements so I don't.

I would much prefer to bring the bike inside and in one work place I am able to drag it right into my shared office. This is in a relatively high crime area and would not want to leave even my old commuter locked up outside. My other work place is in a more salubrious location and I leave my bike outside locked up to a fence and have never had a problem. One day I forgot my lock and a friendly staff member let me park it in an indoor storage room.

My bike is six feet away from my desk. So I can admire it instead of getting work done. :)

My company provides bike lockers but as i work in a parking garage i have access to many a places to store my bike securely, bike lockers to me kinda seem like your putting the bike in time out, Plus my bike wont fit in them with the bags on it.

we've got a fenced-off secure bike storage area outside at my office, and i don't mind leaving my old mountian bike out there, because if gets nabbed, oh well, not the end of the world, i got a good 15 years of use out of the bike thus far. but most days when the the weather cooperates i ride my fancy road bike, and that bike ALWAYS comes into the office with me. she is never left outside anywhere.

I work at a hospital and bikes are not allowed to be brought inside. There is a locked, fenced-in compound where I park my bike. I still, however, lock it to the rack inside the compound with a heavy-duty u-lock and square-link chain (with its own mini u-lock). You never know if another cyclist will forget to lock up the compound on the way out or, God forbid, make off with your bike. The compound is also under video surveillance which offers some added security.

I park my bike in the rack outside my building. No lock. This is in an office park at the end of a dead end street. We also have frequent security patrols. I probably should get a cheap cable lock.

If the weather is bad, the next building over (same company) has an indoor bike rack that I'll use. I also use this if I need to leave my bike overnight.

Regarding lockers, that seems like to much hassle given my situation. If I was in a higher crime area I think I would like them.

Paul

My bike is next to my desk. I actually bump into it with my chair sometimes..

If I wasn't allowed to bring it inside, i'd definitely prefer a bike locker to a regular bike rack though.

If I didn't have someplace inside, I'd strongly prefer a locker to an open rack.

http://www.brucew.com/images/kit/1024/100_6828.JPG

Fortunately, I don't have to worry about that where I work now.

Oh, I'm so jealous of you folks who can bring your bikes indoors!

At this point, I'd be thrilled to have a bike locker for the protection from the elements. Right now, I lock up to something the building management call a rack along one side of the parking lot. The only good thing is that it's in direct line of sight from the reception desk, and the receptionist and security guards all know who the crazy bike girl is.

A locker would definitely make me feel more comfortable about commuting more.

Find out what a locker costs and submit a proposal. Maybe they'll see the value in it and replace the rack.

+1! If I couldn't bring my bike inside, a locker would be ideal. My workplace is unfortunately populated by opportunistic thieves (one of them actually stole one of the lunch room microwave ovens!), so I wouldn't want it within their reach.

Max

winter commuting prefers indoor garaging, even at work

I work in a small fab shop, about 15 people on the production floor. My bike leans against the uniform lockers in the linch room. Some one needs in their locker they roll it out of the way. When the uniform guy comes in to pick up or drop off he leans it against the vending machines. No lock no worrys. I am one of the Sr employes and I think when the hire someone they tell them not to mess with the bike. Because it would just make the owner cranky and hard to deal with.

I would use such a system to protect the accessories on my bike more than the bike.

My work has a small garage that is for bikes only. We aren't allowed to bring them into the offices. But if we didn't have the garage I would certainly prefer a locker to a rack outdoors.

Actually, I'd prefer parking my bike 5 miles away in a high crime area. Second choice: The side of a cliff, hanging precariously above an active volcano.