Employer obligations?

always_tyred

Hi all,

My small firm is being absorbed and we are all being moved to a new building.

Are employers under any obligation to facilitate cycle commuting? If so, to what extent?

Before anyone replies - I am aware of cycle to work incentives for employers, but an incentive is not sufficient in this instance, only an obligation will carry any weight.

I am the only one of 30 employees at the current firm who cycles (I believe that one or two others once owned a bike) and, of the 200 or so at the new place, I'd be surprised if there was anyone else who cycles.

The new location is in a shitty part of town, in the middle of a largely deserted warehouse district. So, no nearby gyms or anything like that to shower in, no nearby stations to rent bike lockers at, either. Nearest such thing are about a mile and a half. So right now I'm looking at changing my bike to a lamp post and changing in the toilet, and walking home becuase my bike's been nicked. That would take about 8 hours - I commute about 20 miles.

New place is great for BMW's, Audi's and Mini coopers - CCTV on the car park and subsidised parking. Yippee

cntl

>>in the middle of a largely deserted warehouse

I would just leave the bike somewhere inside WITHOUT asking. I do not get any hassle from my company, in fact the manager suggested later I kept the bike inside the buliding (I didn't even ask him, I was doing it already). If someone has a problem with it, go to the person higher up. If you manager says you can not keep the bike inside, ask him/her what is his problem exactly? Tell him you will NOT comply till you hear back from his manager or the owner. Stand up for yourself and do not take NO for an answer. I would never agree to keep the bike out IF I was convinced there's no harm in keeping the bike inside the buidling.

always_tyred

Yeah - its a converted warehouse - but an office building now. Might be at risk of scratching the directors' cars! But its a good point - find the least important person who can arrange a key to a secondary entrance or something like that. If its the basement with no windows, it might even be my office!

redvee

If they provide parking for the car drivers then they should provide equally for ther greener, cleaner cyclists. Showers no, but somewhere you can leave your bike without worry of some local chav nicking it to ride down to the shops to get their fags on.

MilitantGraham

If you are provided with secure cycle parking by your present employer, then aren't your new employers obliged to do the same under TUPE regulations ?

If not, buy a cheap scrap van, dump it in the car park at work and use it as your own personal secure, undercover cycle shed.

chronyx

MilitantGraham wrote:

If not, buy a cheap scrap van, dump it in the car park at work and use it as your own personal secure, undercover cycle shed.

We have a winner, that is class :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

Starting to understand your user name's meaning!

fossyant

They should at least supply something you can chain it to - mine is outside but under a cover with two Gold standard locks.

I know one or two others take bikes inside, but I don't have anywhere other than my office up a very narrow staircase. The other guy works in the post room.

A - W

Park in one of the car parking spots? Drill in some fixings?

NFMC

I think the practicalities is the number one reason why people don't cycle-commute to work. Forget cycle lanes and all that gubbins.

If (when) I was Prime Minister I'd give tax breaks for businesses to put in secure bike parking and showers and lockers and make it an obligation on all new-builds or renovation offices for places with more than 30 employees.

alan_sherman

Locking is easily solved - with a great big lock. However after 20 miles a shower would be the main worry for me. Do you know if they have a shower at the other place? Push for one to be fitted.

BigBlackShed

I know from my place of work that to install a shower, your employer has to then produce risk assessments and inform the local council that they have a "Legionella Risk" on site. Honest. A shower is effectively a cooler tower. And all of the out breaks of Legionella have come from cooling towers. The maintenance of just one shower can end up costing so much your employer can get away with not installing one, due to "it not being reasonably practical". That's the get out clause in any Health & Safety obligations.

It still can't help to ask though.

always_tyred

alan sherman wrote:

Locking is easily solved - with a great big lock. However after 20 miles a shower would be the main worry for me. Do you know if they have a shower at the other place? Push for one to be fitted.

Probably depends on the bike - I would not lock my bike anywhere for fear of taco wheel when I come to cycle home. Plus, I have so many bits and bobs on it (saddle pack, £X00's of lights, pump, plus everything that you can easily unscrew) that I'm as well to walk it would take so long to dismantle and reassemble it. Remember, it doesn't have to be of any use to the person who nicks it to be nicked.

I have a better idea of things than at time of last post. A tarp and a number of locks as an interim measure will be okay - there is a secluded corner against a fence that you'd have to be really desperate for a wee to think of looking. It'll do for a while and I'm getting the impression that the new lot do want to be seen to do the right thing in general, so I'm optomistic of progess after the move.

As for the 20 mile shower issue .... I've not had any complaints. Yet.

It will remain a secret of the cycling community, more closely held even than not wearing pants under cycling shorts..

I didn't know the H&S issues with showers. Makes sense why my current boss said he'd put a shower in once everyone decided to cycle.