Conference noted::bicycle

When I first started biking to work (at the Mill), brought the bike into 
my office.  This lasted for a few months till security caught on - they 
said I couldn't do this any more because of "policy".  Since then, have 
found this "policy" seems to apply to every facility I've been at.

For all the reasons you state, plus the fact the the usual bike racks 
often turn my wheels into pretzels, I hate the racks.

Personally, I'd like to bring my bike inside again, but it's like 
fighting city hall.  And yet when I did bring it in, NOBODY ever 
complained except security!

Any suggestions or strategies for a reasonable solution?

	- Mike

    As an old school bicycle commuter, I have experienced this problem
    everywhere I have worked, in or out of DEC.  Either security or
    maintenance decides the bicycle is a threat to the public, but can't
    understand the need for secure cover.  I'm at BTO, Burlington, Vermont,
    where we have discussed purchasing an ugly Sears steel shed and
    installing it ourselves (of course, they'd tell us we can't do that
    either...)
    		John

At Spitbrook (Nashua, NH), the reason for "no bikes in the building" is
that they are a fire hazard.  It must be either the wax on the chains or
the other lubricants, or spontaneous combustion. 

(actually, the "fire hazard" reason is that the local fire dept is afraid 
that bikes will inhibit proper egress from the building in the event of 
fire, blocking hallways and such.)

When ZK01 was the only building we had to use a bike rack next to the
motorcycles and were squeezed by the motos on good days.  When they added
the catwalks connecting ZK01 and ZK02, they added a concreted area under
one of the catwalks that has 16 pairs of fixtures attached to it.  The
front part is a pair of shaped aluminum parts that you can put your front
wheel between -- so that noone can tamper with your quickreleases.  The
back part is a verticle piece that has a pretty sturdy ubolt on it.  You
put your chainstays into the ubolt so it also goes through part of your
rear wheel.  The end of the ubolt has holes through which you can insert
your lock.  There are a couple of other holes around. One of those holes
has my Citadel attached year-round.  That way other prople can use the
fixture, but when I ride in I can get my citadel and use it -- without
carrying it, etc. 

The inconveniences include the fact that there is are doors nearby but 1 of
them (ZK2) only has card key access during runners lunchtime hours.  The
other (ZK1) is only a fire door.  You have to walk back up the hill to get
into the building (the entrance is 3rd flr ZK1) and then across the catwalk
to ZK02 and then back down to the first floor to use the showers. 

The worst thing about these racks is the four paint chips that you are
likely to get from them.  Even chrome will succomb eventually. 

As for security, you do worry about it but there has been an unclaimed bike
out there for about 18 months now with a very flimsy lock on it -- but then
I wouldn't take it if it was given to me.

	I wonder if some form of bike carying bag would be acceptable?
	You could ride to work, stuff the bike in a bag with a 
	sholder strap and walk in carying the bike.  If the bag had
	a pocket where you could stick some papers, you could claim
	it was a briefcase (that you just happen to keep your bicycle
	in when you aren't using it).  I have never seen an objection
	to any sort of carying case comming into the building.

				-John A. Wasser

Camera Cases are objected to, but that's a subset of the
"No Cameras" rule -- an appropriate topic for a different notes file.

ed

    I have yet to have a problem here in LM04.  Last summer I rode to
    work about twice a week, and have done so once this season.  
    
    This was also discussed in ASKENET notes file, it seems to be a
    facility-by-facility rule.
    
    I keep my bike in my office, my boss doesn't mind.
    
    Try negotiating with you facility manager, he holds the key.
    
    good luck,
    
    Bob Hatcher
    
    

I had trouble in PK01. But that building is so overcrowded that the 
bike had to be in somebody's way at any given time. 
Kathy Norton used to keep her bike in her office in MR03. I haven't tried
to bring it in my (MR02) building yet. I suspect I'll have a hard time,
because I come in the back door, and there's no guard there...only a machine
and machines are not to be reasoned with.
The comment about a bag, using it as a "Brief" case made me chuckle. That
would be more like a Gross case, wouldn't it, John? 
I have lobbied often, and unsuccessfully, for steel storage sheds. These
bike racks they have around here, are put out near the road, leave the bikes
open to a moving van coming in and taking the whole shooting match, open
to rain, dirt, vandals etc etc. A steel shed hides the bike, protects it
from the weather and vandals and can be locked up easily.
Someday!
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=gary=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
		(took the long hilly route in today and he's tired!)
		(he's also still got those tubes he tried to give away)
    

    
    	I think I must be one of the luckiest ones.  I park at the north

    end of MR01, the visitors entrance.  The second floor of the building
    overhangs so much that the bikes are totally protected from the
    weather.  The bike racks are overlooked by continuous windows from
    about waist high to 8 ft or so, I don't have an office in that area but
    potential vandals probably don't know that.  The rack is quite well
    protected by foam rubber.  By the time I walk to my office to pick up
    the towel, shoes, dress pants, etc and climb the stairs to the showers
    at the other end of the building on the third floor I am nicely warmed
    down.  The showers are SO under utilized that I sometimes get paranoid
    that facilities will decide to rip them out to make some more offices,
    maybe the runners use them at lunch time but in the mornings I get them
    pretty much entirely to myself.  The only micro-gripe is that the large
    (fist sized) deco-rocks around the bike rack are hell to walk on with
    cleats, but since I am not strong enough to get much advantage from
    real racing shoes I commute in touring shoes anyway. 
    
    	Reg
    
    
    

    Try asking the security people to produce a copy of the policy that
    prohibits bringing a bike into a building and keeping it in an area
    that does not block any aisles. I had this same problem in Stow
    a year ago. When I told security I would be happy to comply with
    the policy if they could show it to me in an apprpriate manual,
    I never heard from them again.

    Old note - but are you still having trouble getting your bike in?
    
    I took the advice in .9 and.....
    
    I called security and the gave me the 'fire hazard policy' story.
    I then located this notes file.
    After reading .9 I immediatley called them back and asked them for
    a copy of the policy.  The security guard put me in touch with her
    supervisor who put me in touch with the MLO SAFETY group.  They
    are going to send someone up to look at my office and determine whether
    or not it's a fire hazard.  (Not my office, that was determined
    to be a fire hazard last fall.)
    
    
    I'll let you know what happens.
    
    /Greg
    

    I've had no difficulty here at YWO.  I brought my bike in every
    day till the weather got rotten.
    
    I keep it in my office standing up on the rear wheel.  Just took
    a length of phone wire and made a loop at each end.  I can then
    string this through the front wheel and hang it from the coat hook
    in my cubicle.  Nice, and out of anyone's way.
    
    

    re: .10  Did you ever get permission to bring your bike into the
    building? You never got back to us.
    
    I am windering if it would be worth the battle to try it here in
    ZK0. Do you have to have a special pass if you win this battle?
    
    Bill
    

I thought that some of the readers of this notes-file would be interested
in our struggles here at RLO (Rolling Meadows, IL).  We are a field office
with different sales, software, field service, and ed services people in
the building.  Across the street is a forest preserve with a 10-mile loop
paved bike path......


The opening salvo was the following memo which I sent to facilities, my
manager, and personnel.

============================================================================

			  Bicycle Storage at RLO

				 The Need

	A number of people here at RLO have been riding the Busse Woods 
Forest Preserve bicycle trails over their lunch hours.  In the Area Support 
Group alone, there are at least 9 people who would definitely use bicycle 
facilities at RLO.
	The cycle trail at Busse Woods is accessible by crossing Golf Road 
and consists of a 9 mile loop, which can be ridden either in whole or in 
part for fitness or recreation over the lunch hour.
	The problem is that there is no place to store bicycles or to clean 
up after riding.  Whereas other Digital facilities have provisions for
bicycles and even in-house health clubs, we at RLO have very little
provided for employee fitness.


			       The Solution

	We request that showers be installed at the RLO facility and that 
a room have bicycle racks installed and be desiginated for bicycle storage.
The Support Group has a room that could be made available for this purpose.
Showers could be installed elsewhere in the building at the discretion of 
facilities management.
	Indoor storage is suggested for the reason that outdoor storage is 
insufficiently secure.  Most bicycle owners would not want to use an 
outdoor rack, because a bicycle would have to be removed and taken home 
every night.  An alternative to one large room for storage would be if 
groups interested (field service, software, sales, etc.) each designated a 
smaller area within their own work space for storage.
	The installation of showers would also benefit those who would like 
to run, jog, play softball, or any other physical activity during lunch.

			    Benefits to Digital

	A significant number of employees out exercising and improving 
their personal physical fitness has to improve performance and would
certainly make happier workers.

===========================================================================

Notice that I tried to make it beneficial to more than just the bikers....
Anyway, several weeks went by, and I didn't hear from anyone.  This beauty
landed with a resounding thud!
	Anyway, I phoned personnel.... The personnel rep said that that was
something to take up with the Employee Activites Committee.  He also said that
outdoor bike racks were mentioned once, but the Employee Activities Committee
said they weren't really needed.  I assume that no one on the Committe rides.
Too bad they didn't ask the rest of us first.  Anyway, since I don't want to
haul my bike back and forth every day, and I sure don't want to leave it on
an outdoor rack at night, I pushed for indoor storage.  Also, the personnel
person said that he would be more sympathetic to a bicycle commuter than to 
someone who went out over lunch to exercise.  Well, I live about 40 expressway
miles (50 bike miles) from work... Too far to commute.  I found a guy who wanted
to commute, and asked him to write a memo to the same people that I did.  It
also landed with a resounding thud.  Do you think we're being ignored here?

	Next.... the Chat With Facilites.

ME: 	Did you get the memo I sent a few weeks ago about bike storage?
Facilities Person:  Yes, but there is no money for a bike rack.
ME:	Well how about letting us keep bikes indoors?  Maybe in ones cube?
	Or how about getting a room within the building designated?  Our group
	has a room that could be made available.
FP:	Bikes in the building are AGAINST POLICY. (sound familiar?)
ME:	I'd like to see that policy, if I could.
FP:	It's an area policy, so I don't have it.
ME:	Well, if it's an area policy, it still has to be written somewhere.
FP:	It's not a written policy.
ME:	If it's a policy, it has to be written.
FP:	No, it's not specifically authorized in the policy, and if it's not
	specifically authorized, it's forbidden.  Besides, if we let bicycles
	in, then the people with motorcycles would want to bring their vehicles
	in.
ME:	You're probably right.  Then you'd have the problem with sports cars.
FP:	(Suspecting her leg was being pulled)  Well, we really can't condone
	bicycles in the building.  Besides that, the next thing you know,
	people will want showers.  (didn't she READ my memo?)
ME:	Well, I've had my bke in the building for some weeks now.  Until I see
	a policy specifically forbidding it, I'll be keeping it there.

At this time, the conversation turned to other things.  A few weeks later,
the FP asked me to get my bike out when the facility was due to be inpected
by some higher-ups.
Being a Good Corporate Citizen, I complied.  It's back now, stashed away in
a storage room, waiting for tomorrow's lunch-time constitutional.  I try
and keep a low profile, taking it in and out the back door, staying out of the
main hallway with it, and not doing anything *dumb* like riding it down the 
hallways.  So far, it's worked out.  The war isn't won, but I have what I
want.  I'm not sure I really want a firm corporate ruling on bikes in the
facilites (we could *LOSE!!!*)
	Anyway, just thought I'd pass this along.  Has anyone else gotten 
indoor or other secure storage?

    I have been granted permission to bring my bike into MSO (Powdermill
    Road, Maynard).  I asked the receptionist if bikes were allowed
    in the building.  She replied that there was a bike rack outside
    near the side of the building.  I told her that I was aware of the
    bike rack, but I wanted to know if bikes were allowed inside the
    building.  She wanted to know why I wanted to bring my bike inside.
    I said point blank to her -- "Well, it's brand new, and I paid close
    to $1000 for it, and I don't want the paint to get scratched on
    the bike rack."  (All this in a whining voice)  Since my bike is
    worth approximately the same as her car, she decided that I can
    bring it into the building as long as I keep it in my cubicle and 
    I don't ride it down the hallways.  I was also told to try to be 
    discrete about it.

    No complaints on my end.
    
    	-Nancy
    

    I think it is Grace Hopper who coined the phrase that most of us
    at DEC live by: "It's easier to ask foregiveness than permission".
    
    In LMO I just brought my bike in and nobody said anything.  I left
    it in my cube.
    
    Tell security (or facilities) that giving you a hard time about
    it doesn't make them a very good "valueing differences" citizen.
    
    .13 is doing it right - just do it.
    
    Bob
    

This happened a few years ago, when I worked at PK2 (the
building with Thea Cook in the lobby... if you recognize her
name, you can see where this story is headed.)

Anyways... the bike needed work after season's end, and one
day in midwinter I decided to bring it into the shop, during
the slow time of year for repair work.

So I put the bike in the pickup, drove to work.  Reasonable
enough to store it in a cube for a few hours, then on to the
bike shop during lunch hour, right?

Temperature 15F, wind 30mph, and Thea says "Company policy,
no bicycles allowed in the building."  Yeah, sure lady, like
I rode it to work that day for enjoyment.

Looking back, I suppose I should have ignored her and walked
right in anyways.   As it turned out, a co-worker with a
station wagon was able to accomodate the bike for the morning.
	- dave

    
        I sent a message back in Dec 89 to the "suggestion box" regarding bikes
    being allowed inside building.  I got a reply saying that it had been
    forwarded around Feb 90.  Then a followed up on it in Mar to which I
    got another repl that the message had just been sent to the appropriate
    person.
    
    Maybe if enough of "us" sent our opinoin to this "employee invovlement
    thing" the powers-to-be might realize just how many people this
    concerns
    
    
    Just babbling,
    
    Tim B.

	In UCS (Mt. View, Ca), Dr. Fuso is not only allowed in the building, 
he has his own cubicle....and name plate.  There are three or four of us in 
this building who bring our bikes in.   The facilities and security folks 
are really good about it.  The security guard in the morning usually sees me 
coming and opens the door for me.  Nice! 

	

Tim,

How 'bout given us the e-mail address of this entity, so we can send our's to 
the same place?

Kevin

    
    I've brought my bike into the following site...
    
    	CFO2 (Concord, Ma.)
    	FXO  (Franklin, Ma.)
    	DLB9 (Marlboro, Ma.)
    	
    And I hope I'll be able to bring it into ML04....
    

    These are the notes I sent and the latest reply.  The E-mail address I
    sent it to was SOCIAL::INVOLVEMENT.   Tim
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    
From:	MSHRMS::BRIGHTMAN    "PMC '90, AUG 18th & 19th"  9-MAR-1990 08:29:19.46
To:	SOCIAL::INVOLVEMENT
CC:	BRIGHTMAN
Subj:	Follow-up

I sent the following question and received a reply that it had been forwarded
to the proper group (or something to that effect.).

I have never heard from any other group as to whether this topic was looked 
into or not, if it had any merit or if it was just not possible.

I am curious to know if this is the usual way that questions/suggestions
are handled? 

Thanks you for your time.

Tim Brightman
______________________________________________________________________________
From:	MSHRMS::BRIGHTMAN    "DTN: 291-9681, LOC: NKS5-2/C5"  6-DEC-1989 07:10:04.37
To:	SOCIAL::INVOLVEMENT
CC:	BRIGHTMAN
Subj:	Question re. bicycles inside DEC facilities.

To Whom It May Concern

Recently, while discussing the new SHR3 facility in a department meeting,
I asked if any consideration had been given to bicycle storage. I don't
mean winter storage, but daily storage for employees wishing to commute by
bicycle.  In "most" facilities it is "against policy" to bring bicycle
inside if one chooses to ride his/her bicycle to work. 

Security officers usually state that it is because bicycles are fire
hazards and that there are bicycle rack out side. But, I do not understand
why a bicycle is an more of a fire hazard than a VAX, a file cabinet or a
reference table if it is "out of the way."  If an employee was to leave a
bicycle in a "hazardous" place they should be warned.  Just as those who
leave equipment in hazardous locations are cited. 

As for outside bicycle racks, for those individual who are avid cyclists,
a bicycle valued $800 is not uncommon and actually might be a low figure.
Therefore, leaving a bicycle outside in the elements, especially here in
New England, and not to mention the possibility of vandalism, does not
make for a ideal situation. 

Bicycling promotes health, fitness, ecology, economy, reduced traffic
problems, reduced parking problems, etc..  The list goes on, including 
morale.

Digital, on a corporate level, should look at this issue and consider the
advantages from promoting bicycling by requiring that cyclists be allowed
to bring bicycle indoors at all facilities.  Although, this would not
affect every Digital employee, there is a large number of cyclists working
at Digital. 

Sincerely,

Tim Brightman
NKS5-2/C5
291-9681
MSHRMS::BRIGHTMAN

    	An excerpt from the Continuum article, "Can Bicycles Save The
	World", in the February issue of OMNI magazine.

	"In their enthusiasm for engine power," writes Marcia D. Lowe,
	author of the Worldwatch article, "transit planners have over-
	looked the value of human power. With congestion, pollution,
	and debt threatening both the industrial and developing worlds,
	the vehicle of the future clearly rides on two wheels..."
______________________________________________________________________________

From:	FACMTS::FACMTS::MRGATE::"BARTLE::A1::EMPLOYEE.INVOLVEMENT"  9-MAR-1990 13:22:04.44
To:	MSHRMS::BRIGHTMAN
CC:	
Subj:	RE: Follow-up

From:	NAME: Employee Involvement @CFO     
	FUNC:                         
	TEL:                      <EMPLOYEE.INVOLVEMENT AT A1 at BARTLE at CFO>
To:	NAME: VMS MAIL user BRIGHTMAN <BRIGHTMAN@MSHRMS@MRGATE>

      Tim,
      
      Your suggestion was sent to Dan Hlozik, Corporate Facilities 
      Manager just yesterday and are waiting for his response.
      
      Thanks for being so patient.
      
      Millie Martin

    When I worked at LNT1 (Littleton) I stored my bike in my cube. As
    a matter of fact the guards sometimes even held the door open for
    me as I brought my bike in.  
    
    I know work at MKO1 and wouldn't think of trying to bring my bike
    in.

    	RE: 45.22
    
    	Why wouldn't you think of bringing your bike in to MK0?
    
    	Scott

    	I, like Tim Brightman, sent a letter to
    	SOCIAL::INVOLVEMENT. I got an immediate response,
    	with a template to use for any subsequent suggestions.
    	I even received a specific number for my suggestion.
    	I was also asked to call a certain person if I didn't
    	get results fairly quickly.
    
    	Scott

    	A woman called me today to tell me <basically> that
    	things would remain as is.
    
    	I asked her what that meant. I said: "They haven't
    	even come out and said the Facilities' Manager has
    	the final say so. All they're doing is keeping the
    	status quo."
    
    	She also said that they cannot figure out why a vehicle
    	that is meant to be ridden in the elements needs to be
    	inside. I said: "It doesn't need to be inside because
    	of the elements; it needs to be inside because the
    	bike rack is kinda hidden from security's view and someone
    	could steal or vandalize my new bike."
    
    	She said she'd talk to them again. FWIW, she did sound
    	like she was on my side, but, she's not making the
    	decisions.
    
    	I still have a hard time figuring out what the big deal
    	is anyway.
    
    	Scott (Yes, I just picked it up)

If someone wants to start a petition, I'll sign it.

As mentioned earlier we are allowed to bring bike in here (UCS, Mt. View, CA).

However when we moved into a new temporary building in Cupertino a couple years
ago we had an overzelous security guard who didn't want to let me in.  I don't
even carry a lock so I wasn't going to leave the bike outside.

We had a conversation that went something like this:

        I pull into the lobby, sling the bike over my shoulder and start up the
        stairs.

    guard: Where are you going?
    me   : To work (keep walking)
    him  : You can't bring that in here.
    me   : Oh yes I can (keep walking)
    him  : No you can't
    me   : Yes I can (keep walking)
    him  : No you can't
    me   : Talk to my manager (most of the way up the stairs now)
    him  : I don't care about your manager, you can't take that in.
    me   : Talk to my manager, I'm not interested (now all the way up the
            stairs and he's still yelling).

A couple hours later my manager comes up and says "no problem it's taken care
of".

The guards out here seem to be temporary employees, especially the off-hours
guards.  Most are content to just do their homework or read a book but
occationally you find one who thinks he's FBI or Secret Service or something. 
While they can't show you where it's forbidden, they just *KNOW* that it must
be illegal.

My advice is ask you manager.  If they say it's OK then just ask them to tell
the guard.  The guards should not be allowed to make policy.

    I had an interesting experience with one of the temporary 
    Security people a few years ago, that underlines the kind of
    mentality that works these jobs....  (Yes, I have done some
    security work myself.... and I STILL don't like the type!!)
    
    I was a temporary, working with Shipping at the Mount Royal
    site (I-495 and route 20) in Marlboro, Mass..  The site was
    two buildings, of about 5 stories each.  Building 1 had a
    loading dock and Shipping / Receiving facilities, while
    building 2 had none of these.  Building 2 people got their
    material through building 1.... where we hauled it onto the
    elevator, up 1 floor, out the doors, across 50 feet of pavement,
    through the doors into building 2, and up the elevator.  We made
    this trip a minimum of 10 times daily.  
    
    One day we wrestled a (heavy) pallet load of material into the
    lobby of building 2, and headed for the elevator.  Junior G-Man
    at the Security desk started the conversation with "You can't
    bring that in here!"  Dumb looks from us.... then we explained
    that we were Shipping people, etc...  it was Digital material
    (show paperwork)....  No, we could NOT bring it in without a
    property pass.  Conversation deteriorated to an argument....
    G-Man held firm.  Okay, we surrender..... we can NOT take it
    in without a property pass.  We started to wrestle it back
    out the door, and (did you guess it?)  "You can't take that out
    of here without a property pass!"  See, we had brought it IN
    the building (which we could NOT do, but...), and now the RULE
    was that it needed a property pass to go OUT.  Oh, brother....
    
    Quick solution was for me (after signing in under gimlet eye
    of G-Man) to stand by the material (Pallet truck, pallet, and
    boxes of material were all "impounded") and watch it, while
    my boss went back to Shipping to make some phone calls.....
    
    About 10 minutes later G-Man got a phone call that I could hear
    clear across the lobby.  His part in the conversation consisted
    mostly of "Yes, Sir!" and "No, Sir!!".....  Shortly afterward,
    the head of the department that was waiting for the material
    got off the elevator, spoke briefly with the guard, and then
    asked me to help hom take HIS material upstairs....  I did.  
    
    In all fairness, I must say that it was the FIRST time I had
    seen Junior G-Man on duty there.  Since we came in about 0900,
    I can guess that his training had consisted of being told where
    to be from 0800 to 1600, and a few basic rules.  Training?
    What's that??  Probably he wasn't even told who to call with
    "minor" problems or questions........  He did work that
    location a few times after that....  and we NEVER had any
    more trouble from him!!
    
    			- Ed B. _
    

    RE: .23
    
    The security guards from what I've seen here at MKO are more stringent
    then other guards.  This is just one persons opinion.
    
    Shannon

    I spoke with the same woman as Scott (.25) and was left with the
    impression the it will be/remain a site issue.  She said that the
    question was directed to the "corp facilty" preson who's response was  
    basically "they've got bike racks, what more do they need?"
    
    She call me to get a little more info as to my concerns.  I told her
    that these bicycle are not K-Mart specials, that bikes valued at $1000
    or more was not unusual.  
    
    I ask asked her to consider requesting site mgr to re-evalute site
    policies regarding bikes inside if there are policies against bikes.
       
    As stated a couple replies back, maybe it's time to stop ask security
    and start talking to mgrs.
    
    
    Tim B.

    	Why not show them a copy of Digital's "look at how environmentally
    conscious we are" Earth Day brochures.   Show them that this is
    how they can help.
    
    	(I still think that the property pass from your manager should
    end the nonsense.)

    	John,
    
    	Well, if I were on the other side, here's how I would reply.
    
    	(1) Fine, ride to work. Just leave the bike outside in the rack
    	    we provide.
    
    	(2) You can't get a property pass for you bike (which should be
    	    in the rack).
    
    	I agree with you, but that doesn't help much.
    
    	Maybe the day will come when Digital, IBM, et. al., REALLY
    	encourage environmentally-conscious/fitness-conscious people
    	instead of just talking about it.
    
    	Yeah, right. When pigs fly.
    
    	Scott

    
    	They probably will reply as you suggested, trying for debating
    points rather a mutually acceptable win/win solution.  That's why I
    suggested going for a management override.  Re-read Mike Buchanan's
    entry.  It worked for him.  It should work wherever security works
    for management instead of becoming an independent, regulatory entity.

   Well, I rode my new bike in today and had a run in with our security (HL02). The
story I'd heard from other people was that it was ok to bring bikes in, but when I 
wheeled my new pride and joy in, the supervisor came running up and planted himself 
in front of me. "No bikes", he said. "But people have brought them in before", was
my reply, and he then said "Not this year". Now, if I'd been a little bit quicker on
the uptake, I would have asked what changed between this year and last. However,
what I did say was that I didn't have a lock. whereupon he tried to find one. (I
suppose that he could have told me to ride back home again!) As he didn't find one,
he decided to let me in, with the admonisment to bring one in on Monday. Yeah, right.
I'm never riding in again. Who needs to deal with hassels like these?

							One unhappy DEC rider,
							Rob

    Well, over here at MRO4, it seems as if we have a pretty cool cat
    manning (or womanning, whatever) the security services coz every time that 
    I get arrive at the side door, he/she buzzes me in so that I don't have to 
    dig into my jersey pockets to take out my key card (yes, there's a video 
    camera pointed at the door).  
    
    Alfonso

    I received a call today from Dan Hlozik, Corp. Fac. mgr.  To make a
    long story short, he said DEC provides bike racks and that it. Bikes
    are meant to be outside not inside.
    
    I wasn't in the mood to argue since the security person here said he
    could not find policy restricting bikes from being brought inside.
    
    So, it sounds like it every person for himself.
    
    Good luck,
    
    Tim 

I'll repeat what I was trying to say earlier.  You have to get your manager to
take up your fight.  It shouldn't be the job or Security or even Facilities to
decide whether or not you can bring the bike in.  However right or wrong you'll
probably loose the fight.  The only way I see is for your manager or better
yet his (or her) manager to go to Security and say something to the effect of:

    This is MY group and MY area.  There is a place for that bike where
    it's out of the way and is not bothering me or anyone in my group.  So
    back off!

Thank the Lord I don't have this problem or I'd be looking for anyother
job, and that's no lie.

i, personally, would be very happy if people who worked for service 
organizations realized one simple fact:

"some of us are here to make things, and some of us are here to help the 
others make things."

we run into problems when those in the latter group feel that their job in 
itself is the  reason for their existence, and those in the former group
are getting in their way. 

craig

      On the other hand, perhaps you should be grateful that you can even
      get a bike into the building. Most of the sites I know here in the
      U.K. have revolving doors which preclude even asking if a bike can
      go in! To add insult to it, the bike racks are always straight
      forward arrangements with a bit of corrugated iron over them to
      keep the rain off. Fine if there's no wind!
                                                 
      At least most of the bike racks are positioned close to an
      entrance, though, so perhaps that is one good thing.

      Tim

RE .39
>      To add insult to it, the bike racks are always straight
>      forward arrangements with a bit of corrugated iron over them to
>      keep the rain off. Fine if there's no wind!

    Your bike racks have something to keep the rain off???  Wow, what luxury!
    That's more than we have here at ZKO...    

    -Denis

    I heard thet when the people were compaigning for bikes on
    the T, they would send people with objects larger than
    bicycles to go before and after.  The idea was to demonstrate
    the absurdity of allowing one large object but not another.

    Other times they would show up with a bike and split it up.
    Two people would carry wheels, and they would give the seat and
    pedals to others.  It was then up to the T guy to decide who
    was actually holding the bike.

    I'm not sure that these tactics are appropriate for DEC,
    but then again, it's the squeeky wheel that gets the grease.

    -Jeff Bell

    The plant I'm in has handicapped access, including special restrooms
    on each floor.

    So, are they going to say that wheelchairs are a fire hazard?

    Perhaps they should require that people leave their jogging shoes
    in the parking lot - after all we don't need them tracking in any
    extra dirt in the cleats, do we?

    And while they're at it, they really should require that people
    leave their winter coats in their cars too.  All that flammable
    fabric is a *fire hazard* if I've ever heard of one.

    Then again, maybe I shouldn't say this, since it could give some
    security nut ideas...

    My feeling is that posession is 90% of the law - if you have a
    side entrance with keycard access, it may be best to simply come in
    early and just take your bike to your cubicle.  I haven't done this,
    but am fairly sure it would be no problem; my supervisor and manager
    would definitely not mind...  there's enough room in my cubicle for
    my road bike.

    There are side entrances in HL - I don't think it's necessary to
    go in the main entrance, is it?

    - Jim

	I live in ....work in HLO and the corner entrance in HLO1 would 
        probably work since there's no security there... justa keycard.
	I've never tried that one out, though...

	When I come in on weekends I bring my bike in through the HLO2
	main entrance (keycard, no guard)... Haven't had a problem yet, 
	although the alarm did go off once because I held the door open
	too long. 8^)


	/ken

    For What It's Worth.......
    
    A new notes conference has been started that consists of the idea sent
    to the employee involvement people.
    
    The conf. is CAPVAX::DELTA_IDEAS.  Note 65 is a reprint of the
    suggestion I sent regarding bikes inside.
    
    Never know who'll be reading!
    
    Tim B.
    PMC '88, '89, '90, .............