How do you feel about taking bicycle riders bringing their bikes into the office building?

Question

I am being unreasonable? For the past 10 years I rode my bike to work 5-10 times a year, took it up the elevator and kept it in my office. Nobody ever complained. Last May I was leaving the building with my bike and I ran into one of the building owners who went off on me about the bike. The next workday I got a call from the building manager telling me bikes are not allowed in the building. There us a bike rack outside the building, but it's next to a major avenue and I don't think my bike will be safe there. My ride is about 20 miles each way so I ride a pretty nice ($$$) bike so bike safety is high on my list. It has been a year since this happened and I'm still fuming about it I can't believe that in this era of high fuel prices, unstable oil suppliers, and carbon buildup, people can be so backwards. Bringing a bike into the building doesn't cause any damage or unusual wear, so this seems arbitrary and idiotic to me. Am I out of line? Do you think this rule makes sense?

Answer 1

I think the building owner is being unreasonable. Obviously your business is OK with it, and that's all that should matter.

I agree bike racks are insufficient. Sure, you can lock the frame and maybe a wheel. That doesn't prevent easy theft of the seat, other wheel, and any other accessories on the bike.

Ask the building owner if he would feel comfortable parking his car there all day, every day, with it locked, but his windows down. That's the equivalent of using a bike rack.

The appropriate suggestion is to ask the building owner to build some bike lockers on site. Put the onus back on him.

Good luck.

Answer 2

Of course the rule makes sense. What happens if there's a fire or other emergency in the building? People are going to be tripping all over the bike that you put either in your office, cubicle or hallway! Plus you're probably making tire tracks all over the entry to the building (don't say, "What about footprints?"; that's why there are footmats. How about the extra space you're wasting in the elevator when you selfishly bring your bike in with you? Are you ensuring you're not messing up somebody else's clothes with your tires? I think the building manager is well within his rights to ban bicycles from within the building, especially as there is a bike rack outside! Get over it - or find another job!

Answer 3

We have bikes in our office, i'm fine with it as long as they're not inconsiderate. Alas, the reputation of bicyclists is losing ground...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critical_Mass#Conflicts_with_motorists