acidfast7

I think you answered your own question

joeyduck

They don't want to encourage a lifestyle that eats away their bottom line.

Mark Stone

I voted "Very Well", but it helps that I'm the boss. However the people that work for me, in addition to the people that work in the two other divisions in our building, encourage me all the time. Their comments actually make me proud when I commute on the Black Knight. "Wow, that takes a lot of dedication" - "You make me want to get out my bike" -- etc. I also get the same type of responses from family at home -- "We're proud of you Grandpa!!"

I-Like-To-Bike

Perhaps Sweden has more fellows drinking tea and nibbling crumpets at the stroke of 3PM than known to exist anywhere else in the Western World. Or at least more jokers who could possibly be positively influenced by such a twee advertising pitch. Seems more suitable for promoting Ralpha Bicycle Clothing or mustache wax.

tsl

I chose Moderately Well.

It's a longstanding--if unwritten--policy at the library that staff get indoor bike parking. I was able to get my boss to approve, and facilities to install, a wall-mounted rack that I bought to store mine. All our libraries have lockers for staff.

They are indifferent, but in a good way. Of the 12 who work at my neighborhood branch, I'm the only bike commuter, although if pressed, a couple of others will admit to woning bikes. I say indifferent because it's no big deal to them. It's just the way Bruce comes to work. The novelty of it wears off new hires quickly. Patrons too quickly tire of always hearing, "Of course" when they ask if I rode to work--like yesterday when it was 13F and winds in the 20s gusting to the 30s.

OTOH, upper management has taken notice and tapped me to help with the bicycle bookmobile project. Even as we speak, our facilities department is beavering away at fabricating shelving and displays on top of a mid-sized Bikes At Work trailer that I'll be pulling around starting in May. (Quads don't fail me now!)

For the record, at 58, I'm the oldest male in three generations in both sides of my family to have NOT had a heart attack. (55 is the previous record.) My doc wishes she had my lipid numbers and BMI. My diet, while low-fat, is easily recognizable as typical middle-aged American fare. I do this, BTW, with one bum knee, an arrythmia, and only 1.5 working lungs.

I find myself moderately amused that at health and wellness company actively discourages bike commuting. It's like the time a 300-pound nurse at my doc's office asked how I keep my BP and resting HR so low, "I just do what you people tell me to do," I told her.

Hypocracy thrives everywhere. Or is it that your employers are just trying to drum up business? No revenue in healthy people.

alan s 

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"

caloso

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.

thrllskr

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..

acidfast7

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

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

Hypno Toad

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.

caloso

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

rumrunn6

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.

mgw4jc

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.

Hypno Toad

Weird, yet normal for the healthcare insurance companies.

joeyduck

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

RubeRad

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

bigredkevbot

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 ).

AlmostTrick

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.

I-Like-To-Bike

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.

no motor?

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.

alan s 

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.

mconlonx

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.

Hypno Toad

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.

RidingMatthew

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.

no motor?

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.