Bike Friendly Employers??

Gags

<soapbox>

A few weeks ago I changed jobs and I now work in a pretty new building in
the Melbourne CBD. The organisation is supposed to be very pro-bike and
encourages employees to ride to work. They have got a really flash bike
cage down in the basement carpark that has secure swipe card access and
caters for over 100 bikes (wild arse guess on my side). There are lots of
lockers and I have been told that some bike commuters were included in the
stakeholder group when they designed the building and office layout a few
years ago - not that you would know given the situation that I am faced
with!!!

In my old job I worked for Defence and I had a big double locker about 1m
wide and over 2m tall that was located in a changerooom with about 40 other
guys. I used to drive into work on a Sunday night every two weeks and drop
off a stack of ironed shirts and pants and then I would take in socks,
jocks, and singlets as I needed them. There was carpet on the floor, two
ironing boards permanently set up, and plenty of chairs in the middle of the
room. Although the room was not secure the environment was such that I felt
comfortable leaving my $300+ helmet on top of my locker with my bike shoes
and I would leave all of my bike gear hanging on the outside of my locker to
air out and dry. I am only now realising just how lucky I was......

In my new job I went to see about getting a locker and was able to secure
one in the basement level where the bike rack is (good start I thought).
Upon going down to the locker I discovered that it is located in an insecure
room that can be accessed by anyone who is using the underground carpark
(open to the public until 11pm every night). Then I find that the locker is
one of those L-shaped lockers that is only half the height of the entire
locker (effectively doubling the number of lockers but halving the size). I
went back to see the locker guy to see if I could get a second locker but
apparently that would be "special treatment" despite the fact that I ride to
work every day and the fact that it was clear from the layers of dust in the
locker room that not many of the lockers are being used (there are over 150
lockers down there!!!). I couldn't convince the guy that in winter when it
is wet I would have the following items that would be wet and sweaty:
shoes, socks, shoe covers, leg warmers, knicks, undershirt, jersey, arm
warmers, wind vest, waterproof jacket, beanie, helmet, gloves (inners and
outers), reflective bands x 2, backpack cover. All this crap is not going
to fit into one of the small lockers and I would not feel comfortable
subjecting my workmates to having it hung up all around the office during
the day. But of course there was to be no special allowances made for me!!!

I did manage to get around the locker situation by scoring a key to a
cupboard up on my floor that is supposed to be for file storage. I removed
all but the top shelf and then wedged in a couple of bits of dowel on the
underside of the shelf so that I can now hang stuff in there (shirts face
forwards as the dowel goes from front to back) and I also have the top shelf
for socks, jocks, singlets, etc.

It is workable now but this is the logistics of it all and I am not looking
forward to winter when I have to get back into wet clothes at the end of the
day due to them being stuffed in a small locker and not being able to dry
out:

Get to work in the mornings and lock my bike in the cage in the basement
level.
Go to my downstairs locker and get a pair of shorts and T-shirt as well as
my shower thongs and towel.
Shower on basement level and change into shorts and T-shirt.
Back to basement locker to hang up bike gear and put on runners.
Lift to Ground floor then transfer to another bank of lifts.
Lift to 37th floor.
Get work clothes out of my upstairs cupboard.
Change into work clothes in the disabled toilet on 37th floor.
Put shorts, T-shirt, and runners back in upstairs cupboard ready for trip
home.

Finish work, get shorts, T-shirt, and runners and go to disabled toilet.
Change into shorts etc.
Back to cupboard and put back tie, belt, workshoes, shirt & pants (wear each
twice (rotate through rest of clothes before wearing the 2nd time) before
taking home to wash).
Lift from 37th floor to ground floor (have to equalise pressure in my ears
after this!).
Transfer to second lift from ground to basement.
Get bike clothes from locker.
Go to men's toilets to change into bike gear
Back to locker to drop of shorts etc for the next day and to get helmet,
gloves, etc
Go to bike lockup
Ride home

I think that there needs to be some serious education of employers and
perhaps building designers to ensure that they are providing environments
that are cyclist commuter friendly - particularly for those of us who have
made the decision to ride every day. I like to think that I am doing my bit
for the environment every day, not to mention my own health and it would be
nice if my choice of transportation was more widely accepted and catered
for.

</soapbox>

Gags

Zebee Johnstone

In aus.bicycle on Tue, 30 Oct 2007 01:22:49 +1100
Gags <gagsunderscore44@tpg.com.au> wrote:
>
> It is workable now but this is the logistics of it all and I am not looking
> forward to winter when I have to get back into wet clothes at the end of the
> day due to them being stuffed in a small locker and not being able to dry
> out:

Yeah, my employer's cycle facilities aren't well thought out either.
The changerooms have no decent ventilation so they get humid enough in
winter in summer you can towel all you like you won't get dry...

What people here do is hang their wet things up in the bike cage.
Lots of hangers hanging from the pipework that runs across the
ceiling. Other drape the stuff over their bikes.

I didn't have a locker or decent drying stuff at my previous place so
I got in the habit of taking a spare set of shorts/shirt/socks with me
to work. I will probably do the same here.

Zebee

flyingdutch

Gags,

wanna send me some details?

f dutch at g mail . com

John Tserkezis

Gags wrote:

Basically, (at least here in sydney), anything goes. I've worked at some
places that appear to have decent support for cyclists, yet in reality, it's
as much fun as you found it. Other times, the building has absolutely no
support for cyclists, yet, it works out just fine.

If you can afford to be picky, it might be an employment condition for you.
Worth asking around to see if anyone else rides, if so, how they handle things.

I really don't see the building guys allowing for cyclists though,
realistically, it costs money to cover only a very small part of the employee
base.
Really nice if they have showers, (though might only be feasible on the
larger buildings) the rest I can work out myself. I'm not going to wait for
some fat guy who drives a BMW to the boardroom to make the move for me.

--
Linux Registered User # 302622
<http://counter.li.org>

EuanB

Pfft. And people wonder why I have panniers? You've been spoiled mate.

Not saying that we shouldn't be striving for utopia, just that many commuters are used to carrying the gear they need day by day 'cause there's no other choice.

Duncan

On Oct 30, 9:32 am, John Tserkezis
<j...@techniciansyndrome.org.invalid> wrote:
> I really don't see the building guys allowing for cyclists though,
> realistically, it costs money to cover only a very small part of the employee
> base.

true..

I think this is where the planning authorities need to step in.

They are already limiting car spaces on new developments (such that
there are only allowed to be X% of workforce car spaces).. they need
to ensure that the transport alternatives are attractive as possible,
or everyone ends up driving and clogging up the local streets (Sydney/
North Ryde/Optus, anyone?)

The bike locker is a start, but clearly showers, lockers etc need to
be placed near them.

To the OP; does the disabled toilet have a shower? I've used those
in the past (to the obvious dismay of building maintenance staff...
but if it is there.. then it must be available for use, no?)

fwiw, my workplace has no 'dedicated' facilities at any of its sites
(except a bike rack at one site).. but is very convenient: showers,
and no narky issues with leaving bikes &/or clothes in corners of
rooms where required.

duncan

Bugbear

On Oct 30, 4:28 am, Zebee Johnstone <zeb...@gmail.com> wrote:
> In aus.bicycle on Tue, 30 Oct 2007 01:22:49 +1100
>
> Gags <gagsunderscor...@tpg.com.au> wrote:
>
> > It is workable now but this is the logistics of it all and I am not looking
> > forward to winter when I have to get back into wet clothes at the end of the
> > day due to them being stuffed in a small locker and not being able to dry
> > out:
>
> Yeah, my employer's cycle facilities aren't well thought out either.
> The changerooms have no decent ventilation so they get humid enough in
> winter in summer you can towel all you like you won't get dry...
>
> What people here do is hang their wet things up in the bike cage.
> Lots of hangers hanging from the pipework that runs across the
> ceiling. Other drape the stuff over their bikes.
>

A trick that I find handy for drying out towels is to use two...

Day one: get to work, shower, dry myself with my first towel. Take
wet towel up to my desk (in the dry, air conditioned office) and drape
it over anything handy. In the afternoon, take my second (dry) towel
down to my locker.

Day two: get to work, shower, dry myself with my second towel. Take
wet towel up to my desk, swap with the first (which has now had about
24 hours to dry out in the office). In the afternoon, take the first
towel back to my locker again. Repeat as needed.

Basically, don't underestimate the drying power of an air conditioned
office.

> I didn't have a locker or decent drying stuff at my previous place so
> I got in the habit of taking a spare set of shorts/shirt/socks with me
> to work. I will probably do the same here.
>
> Zebee

Out of consideration for my workmates, I also take a second set of
shorts/shirt with me. Otherwise my desk really starts to stink!!!

John Tserkezis

Duncan wrote:

> I think this is where the planning authorities need to step in.
>
> They are already limiting car spaces on new developments (such that
> there are only allowed to be X% of workforce car spaces).. they need
> to ensure that the transport alternatives are attractive as possible,
> or everyone ends up driving and clogging up the local streets (Sydney/
> North Ryde/Optus, anyone?)

Where I am now in North Lane Cove is a new Corporate park. Our building has
no showers (non that we have access to anyway), the few bikes that do turn up
are parked within our property on the balcony. I suspect these guys do the BO
basher shower thing (lots of deodorant on top of the sweat).

Underground parking is limited to the certain crowned few, outdoor parking
is first come first served (since it's limited, that means forget it, unless
you're happy with a ten minute walk). Motorcycle parking doesn't exist, so
you either park within a car spot and hog an entire spot, or technically
illegally on the path where you're out of the way.

Public transport doesn't exist around that area. Just to make it funny,
there was a proposed railway station almost across the road, but it's that
section of track between Epping and Chatswood that now ISN'T going be built.

--
Linux Registered User # 302622
<http://counter.li.org>

lemmiwinks.au@gmail.com

On Oct 30, 11:18 am, EuanB <EuanB.2z8...@no-
mx.forums.cyclingforums.com> wrote:
> Gags Wrote:
>
>
>
> > <soapbox>Get to work in the mornings and lock my bike in the cage in the
> > basement
> > level.
> > Go to my downstairs locker and get a pair of shorts and T-shirt as well
> > as
> > my shower thongs and towel.
> > Shower on basement level and change into shorts and T-shirt.
> > Back to basement locker to hang up bike gear and put on runners.
> > Lift to Ground floor then transfer to another bank of lifts.
> > Lift to 37th floor.
> > Get work clothes out of my upstairs cupboard.
> > Change into work clothes in the disabled toilet on 37th floor.
> > Put shorts, T-shirt, and runners back in upstairs cupboard ready for
> > trip
> > home.
>
> Pfft. And people wonder why I have panniers? You've been spoiled
> mate.
>
> Not saying that we shouldn't be striving for utopia, just that many
> commuters are used to carrying the gear they need day by day 'cause
> there's no other choice.
>
> --
> EuanB

Yep. I actually consider myself very lucky as I ride up to the door,
take my bike (pannier still attached) inside and go up 2.5 flights of
stairs to my office where the bike is safely stashed. Once the sweat
has dried off I get changed in the spare office next door through the
interconnecting door.

Today I had to carry extras (shoes, socks, jocks and a towel) that I
wouldn't normally take because it was raining. It still all fitted in
one pannier though :-)

lemmiwinks.au@gmail.com

On Oct 30, 2:12 pm, John Tserkezis
<j...@techniciansyndrome.org.invalid> wrote:
> Where I am now in North Lane Cove is a new Corporate park. Our building has
> no showers (non that we have access to anyway), the few bikes that do turn up
> are parked within our property on the balcony. I suspect these guys do the BO
> basher shower thing (lots of deodorant on top of the sweat).

That's my approach as there's no shower in my building (not sure if
I'd really want to shower at work anyway). I air dry first then
slather on the deoderant, I hope it works ok! I can smell other
people's stinky BO so I'm assuming it does...

brucef

On Oct 29, 11:22 pm, "Gags" <gagsunderscor...@tpg.com.au> wrote:
> I went back to see the locker guy to see if I could get a second locker but
> apparently that would be "special treatment"

Sorry if this is a duplicate, I thought I responded earlier, but
I don't see my post:

Suggest you ask a colleague to claim a locker for your use.
Nothing that they can do about it really, and it has the added
benefit of driving the locker nazi wild :-)

Zebee Johnstone

In aus.bicycle on Tue, 30 Oct 2007 04:11:13 -0000
lemmiwinks.au@gmail.com <lemmiwinks.au@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Yep. I actually consider myself very lucky as I ride up to the door,
> take my bike (pannier still attached) inside and go up 2.5 flights of
> stairs to my office where the bike is safely stashed. Once the sweat
> has dried off I get changed in the spare office next door through the
> interconnecting door.

Previous building I would ride up to the door (and sometimes through
it... automatic door!), take the bike up in the lift, and stow it in
the lunchroom. Then grab pannier and head 2 flights of stairs (lift
didn't go that far) to the shower. Shower, leave towel and sweaty
gear there on one of many hooks along with other people's stuff,
change into work clothes, back down stairs.

Now I ride into carpark, park in cage, grab towel from hanger in cage,
go through swipecard locked door into changeroom, shower, change into
work gear leaving bike gear in locker, put towel back in cage, and
head up in the lift.

THis of course means that you buy work clothes that will cope with
being in panniers.

As I'm a sysadmin, black jeans and t-shirt are the usual attire so
that's easy. I don't bother with the boots unless I'm on the
motorcycle, just comfortable shoes.

Zebee

lemmiwinks.au@gmail.com

On Oct 30, 3:36 pm, Zebee Johnstone <zeb...@gmail.com> wrote:
> In aus.bicycle on Tue, 30 Oct 2007 04:11:13 -0000
> Previous building I would ride up to the door (and sometimes through
> it... automatic door!), take the bike up in the lift, and stow it in
> the lunchroom.

We're not talking about the baby beemer though Zeebe ;-)

Zebee Johnstone

In aus.bicycle on Tue, 30 Oct 2007 04:40:17 -0000
lemmiwinks.au@gmail.com <lemmiwinks.au@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Oct 30, 3:36 pm, Zebee Johnstone <zeb...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> In aus.bicycle on Tue, 30 Oct 2007 04:11:13 -0000
>> Previous building I would ride up to the door (and sometimes through
>> it... automatic door!), take the bike up in the lift, and stow it in
>> the lunchroom.
>
> We're not talking about the baby beemer though Zeebe ;-)

Heh.

You think you are joking.

In fact when I worked for UNSW the baby Beemer did ride up in the
freight elevator and get stowed in a plant room with the bicycles!

That's cos the building janitor saw me arrive on it one day and said
"you can't leave a lovely bike like that out here with students[1]
about, go round the side and use the freight elevator"

Zebee

[1] Which, as all workers at universities know, is a swear word.