So many choices, but none seems to fit my situation.

Out of curiosity, why are you keeping the poll open until the end of next year? "This poll will close on 12-06-16 at 09:30 AM"

All in all, mine is very good. I have access to a key-card secure indoor cage with sufficient rack space and access to showers and lockers. I think the building was able to use these as points towards its LEED certification.

It was pretty simple conversations such as: Yes, I have a drivers license and a car but, I choose to ride my bicycle. I like to commute on my bicycle because...(insert reasons). This is my primary means of transportation to work.
The sticking to your guns: I am going to be washing up and changing here in the bathroom everyday at this time. My bicycle is just as valuable to me as your cell phone, purse or wallet is to you; this is not a toy (pointing to the bicycle). Understand that your job (the security officer) is to protect the property and my bicycle has just as much value as the people and building. My bicycle clothes are necessary, would you drive your car without a windshield?
These are a few examples.
It was not easy at first I heard everything that others have heard, the you can't park your bike here, you can't wear lycra in here, you can't change in here, etc..

only viewable in the US (so I hope it's correct!)

The Stockholm Syndrome Pt. 1 - The Daily Show - Video Clip | Comedy Central

Sorry to correct you, however, non-fit people file claims that eat away at the bottom line. The company my wife works for offers a $120 per year per person incentive for wellness (measured with an annual health check - I rock their socks off every year).

The insurance company wants fit clients, they are cheap to insure, like me, I have no medications, no chronic issues, I only go to a doctor for the wellness checks. And I still pay the same amount as the guy who never gets off the couch and has a fist full of pills to take every day.

Exactly. Which is why the OP's workplace sounds weird.

sorry to hear about you circumstances. they are truly behind the times. there are many many other places that are far far better for bike commuters. I know jobs are hard to find but you should be looking. my wife thinks I'm nuts for bringing bike commuting up at 1st interviews. but you know what? I know who I want to work for, and if bringing something like that up turns them off, then I don't want to work for them. I am old enough to know this. for example REI in Natick has a shower and they welcome bike commuters as employees.

I put Average. My co-workers are mostly indifferent, but are also supportive. They like seeing me come in on a rainy or cold day. One guy will occasionally offer me a ride home if the weather is bad. He probably would give me a ride even though he lives in the wrong direction, but so far I have not taken him up on it.

I can bring my bike inside on bad weather days, but I normally leave it outside locked to a tree. It is visible from my window so I'm fine with it there. The tree provides shade in the summer.

I don't have a locker or showers. I just use the bathroom to change and/or freshen up. I store my clothes at my desk.

Weird, yet normal for the healthcare insurance companies.

You're right I honestly don't know what I was thinking. Maybe I was thinking premium payment are lower and not considering expenses.

Maybe among their customers, but assuming a health insurance company self-insures, then healthier employees = fewer/smaller claims = lower cost.

I should clarify I was intentionally vague about the nature of my work (HIPPA compliance and all), but I work with clinical trials. It's very odd to me because our work place is small (less than 30 people), very intense/high stress (many people who are 20-30 work 50+ hour weeks), and there are a number of people who are generally not particularly healthy or fit. That being said, I've got some weight to lose, but I exercise regularly and try to eat right as best I can. I'm very surprised we don't offer wellness incentives, and part of me thinks its because I work with unhealthy people.

I do puruse other opportunities, and thank you for the advice

The greater the N-value, the more statistical significance (even if my population is somewhat biased :thumb:).

Anyone who cycles to my work can bring their bike inside if they want. Mine sits right outside my office. We have showers available for those who wish to use them. In 9 years of commuting I've never felt the need to use 'em once. The employees and management vary from being very supportive that I commute, to not caring or thinking I'm crazy. Not sure where I would put my vote.

Glad that worked out for you. At other places, a less tolerant management may have stuck to their guns and showed you the exit if you insisted on sticking to yours as described in your post.

You're almost right. Insurance companies are in business to make a profit, not make people healthier. They don't like risk they can't control, and are happy to take in premiums from unhealthy customers as long as the odds are in favor of the insurance company. They don't like paying for things that will save anyone money beyond the expiration date of your insurance policy, and that's why they won't pay for things that you'd think would be common sense to pay for.
Wendell Potter knows a lot about this. He's an exinsurance company big shot who got a conscience and wrote about some of the things mentioned above if you want to know more.

You do realize that once this is out of the top 5 threads, no one will read it, and after it drops off the first page, it is ancient history. Good luck keeping it active and getting anything useful out of it.

Well.

I can bring my bike inside -- on sunny days, it stays in my office; on wet days, it stays out in the warehouse. There is a shower I could use if I clean it out, but generally skip it.

Of 14 people I work with, one cycles for exercise on a regular basis, either rides at lunch or on a trainer at home. Two are into fitness and appreciate that aspect of it. None really understand the whole bike-bus-bike commute thing and regard it skeptically, but we're pretty laid back, all of us have our quirks, so no hostility, some curiosity.

Funny thing, in Minnesota all insurance companies are not-for-profit.... but somehow we don't get lower rates. The company my wife works for is for-profit and does not sell in Minnesota (funny again).

Yes, they are a profit-driven company. However, keeping costs down is the only way they make money, ACA (and other regulations prior to that) set rates. And other regulations make sure certain services are covered. Therefore, keeping the insured healthy is the best way to improve profits.

You make a fine point about the companies not caring about your care or health after you leave their coverage.

Sadly, I know way more on this subject than I would like - but the wife (chief of staff for an exec) and I talk about it over drinks most every night.

that is awesome that you were able to bring about those changes. I have been trying to convince my place of employment to install PERMANENT bike racks. Our current racks are not stuck the ground. I did get them to say they want to install bike lockers but they are only going to install 2 which I am not sure how that will work considering there are 5-7 guys who ride on a regular basis.

I have access to a shower and a locker to store stuff in. My coworkers think it is awesome that I bike commute. the ones who drive a shorter distance that I ride feel like slackers. I encourage them to get a bike and ride. they might like it.

The insurance companies still have too much control, and set too many of their own policies. It's the fox guarding the hen house, and unfortunately it's getting easier to explain to patients why their insurance wont cover much with so many people having problems with their insurance.
I remember being surprised at how surprising the topic of Sicko was to so many in the audience when we saw it. I thought most of it was common knowledge, but it wasn't.

Fortunately Denver is very aware of the growing bike community. Thankfully I don't work for a less than tolerant management staff.

I'm not super concerned with keeping the thread active, but if anyone does search it in the next year and wants to toss their two cents in, the poll is open for them to do so. No need to be negative about the polling outcome! :D Additionally, I've gotten plenty out of the thread already.

That's pretty rad that you all can influence so much change at your offices/workplaces. Unfortunately we rent space (as in the case in much of Boston), so no real changes are expected here.

IMO, the whole industry has major issues, from the insurance companies, to the hospital & care providers, to the pharmaceutical & device companies, to the physicians. I don't know a perfect solution, even a single-payer systems has a bureaucracy and coverage is denied.

I'd just like to see companies with their profit (& name) focused on healthcare be better at promoting healthy living with their staff. Biking to work is a well- documented way to improve the health of your employees.

I wasn't being negative, just realistic. (BTW, I'm helping keep it active, so a little appreciation would go a long way:thumb:) Here, is this better?

Good luck keeping it active and getting anything useful out of it.:)

Things are getting very bikey here in NYC. Last night, my commute was through some very windy and cold weather. There were still people on bikes, wearing clothes to combat the cold. I see a very encouraging trend.

Some of my cow-orkers tell me they used to ride in but haven't recently. (I'm new here.) But they don't think I'm weird and are glad to see me riding in. We don't have much bike parking, but my boss doesn't want me to risk my bike, so he lets me just bring it in and lean it against the wall near my desk, and for that, I am grateful. They all think my bike is super-cool, which is funny, because I haven't really thought about it. But with the leather saddle, leather handlebar tape, dynamo front wheel and light system, I guess it is pretty cool. It's also pretty heavy.

My workplace is small. People I work with are mostly indifferent to my daily bike commuting. I have a good reputation and I am at good terms with my boss and the management and I can bring my bike into my work area without any issues. I can even work on my bike if I wanted to during break times.

My coworkers are pretty supportive and I can park my bike indoors, in the unfinished basement. People in this town are generally outdoorsy and active, so I don'the get any flack for riding.

well ...we have not yet gotten them to install the bike lockers or RACKS. They resurfaced the parking lot because it is also the roof of the building I work in... SHHH dont tell anyone but I park mine in a virtual computer lab that you have to have a badge and key to enter. :innocent:

I consider it a personal goal to encourage our building to lead the way on some cycling infrastructure in my companies global footprint. :) Technically we rent our building from someone else and that REALLY REALLY slows everything down too.

I work at a school and park the bicycle in my office. My co-workers always have a positive comment when I arrive on my bike. Of course, there are several staff bicycle riders on campus. There are no showers available, so I use the baby wipes method after I arrive and before I start my workday.

Sorry for jumping the *** there; thanks for your support and input! :thumb: