A lesson learned.

chromehoof

Daniel B wrote:

Ireland. Computer company, now who could that be?

chromehoof wrote:

Being green is very important to the image of a company like this.

if it is that important to them, they they should really be offering in incentive, even if it is just the cycle to work scheme.
A place i used to work offered a green incentive that is you came in under your own steam for 5 days a week, you had an extra £100 per year to take home, before Tax, but that's still a pretty big difference.

It was done on a daily amount, so if you said you wanted to drive for 1 or 2 days per week, you would get four or three 5ths of the whole amount.

Good luck with your meeting, and let em have it

Dan

almost certainly not the one you're thinking of, but good guess!!

thanks for the good wishes. That is the exact concern I have. If they haven't gone the whole hog and offered any kind of incentive, chances are the whole thing is just one hollow ploy to get some free publicity. I'll certainly call their bluff, but I expect the same old back from them , about resources being tight, etc....

daniel_b

chromehoof wrote:

almost certainly not the one you're thinking of, but good guess!!

I guess you need to try and mention the increased health of the workforce, and consequently less sick days, and greater productivity - ie a healthy happy employee is going to be in work more, and do more when they are there than one who isn't (healhty and happy).

That was a convoluted un-concise way of putting it, but hopefully you get the gist :roll:

Dan

chromehoof

Daniel B wrote:

chromehoof wrote:

almost certainly not the one you're thinking of, but good guess!!

I guess you need to try and mention the increased health of the workforce, and consequently less sick days, and greater productivity - ie a healthy happy employee is going to be in work more, and do more when they are there than one who isn't (healhty and happy).

That was a convoluted un-concise way of putting it, but hopefully you get the gist :roll:

Dan

yes, and god knows in my line of work people need all the encouragement they get to go out and do some exercise!

the uber-boss in here actually cycles in too so I'm thinking it should be a no-brainer. But then again, if he has to justify the cost of what we're looking for to his superiors, then the problems could start.

I'll report back wednesday after the meeting.

cheers for all the encouragement though.

DavidBelcher

Biscuiteer wrote:

Used to know someone who instead of leaving a carrier bag tied over his saddle when his bike was parked, carried around a carrier bag with two holes cut in it. Upon returning to a wet bike and soggy saddle situation, he'd get his special placcy bag out and wear it for the ride home like a pair of big waterproof over-pants :shock:

Something there for the folks at Rapha to think about.

David

Stuey01

biondino wrote:

Hmm, in ours you just need to press a button to get out. There is CCTV but I wouldn't put much faith in the people watching it!

You have a covered, locked, CCTV'd bicycle park... and still complaining - what more do you want?

chuckcork

chromehoof wrote:

almost certainly not the one you're thinking of, but good guess!!

thanks for the good wishes. That is the exact concern I have. If they haven't gone the whole hog and offered any kind of incentive, chances are the whole thing is just one hollow ploy to get some free publicity. I'll certainly call their bluff, but I expect the same old back from them , about resources being tight, etc....

I wouldn't guess the one starting with D anyway, more likely either HP, Google or Microsoft? Would only take an online search to guess....anyway what can you say about it being a publicity stunt?

If Lenihan wanted to encourage people to cycle, it would be an allowance of €1000 a year, not every 5 that i recall it being announced as, and an allowance for people to claim cycle mileage the same way TD's can claim a large allowance for being within, what, shorter distances than many people commute into Dublin with no great wack of money attached? Within what is cycle distance of the Dail?

TBH they could do a lot better and make it equal the UK scheme (for all its faults it comes across as more generous) or better still and to the benefit of every cyclist, not just the ones whose employers sign up to some scheme, argue for a EU wide change in the VAT banding for cycling equipment and servicing so it goes to a lower band or becomes zero rated.

Unfortunately I consider it to be more of a publicity stunt to deflect complaints away from increases in petrol tax, without actually affecting revenue to any remarkable extent, given the few people who will take it up as a proportion of those who drive.

chromehoof

chuckcork wrote:

If Lenihan wanted to encourage people to cycle, it would be an allowance of €1000 a year, not every 5 that i recall it being announced as, and an allowance for people to claim cycle mileage the same way TD's can claim a large allowance for being within, what, shorter distances than many people commute into Dublin with no great wack of money attached? Within what is cycle distance of the Dail?

exactly. And if the Greens walk out of government, which seems likely if they don't row back on their education plans, the cycling incentive will be out the window completely. To me it seems to have been done in the first place just to pander to the greens and keep them quiet. Gormley himself cycles from Ranelagh into town (I cycle to work that way and have seen him many times - without a helmet, tut, tut). I wonder if he'll claim it himself!

I'm dying to see how they police it. I can envisage lots of people cycling in one day a year just to claim they're cyclists, and get the money. I think its gonna be pretty impossible, and I won't believe it'll happen until I see it.

PS. Nope, none of the companies you mentioned!

daniel_b

Daniel B wrote:

And another thing, tonight I find, due to the lock being out in the rain all day yesterday, that the bloody thing is very reluctant to give up the key :?

Looks like I will have to get another lock now as well :evil:

A bit of GT85 seems to have sorted this, my shirt got some as well :evil: but the net result is that the key is happy to vacate the locking mechanism.

Always handy.

Dan

chuckcork

chromehoof wrote:

chuckcork wrote:

PS. Nope, none of the companies you mentioned!

Intel?

How many other large computer/software multinationals are there?

chromehoof

chuckcork wrote:

chromehoof wrote:

chuckcork wrote:

PS. Nope, none of the companies you mentioned!

Intel?

How many other large computer/software multinationals are there?

pretty much all of them have a presence, very small in some cases.

simple_salmon

I'm responsible for administering our Green Travel Plan. To make it work we charge drivers £120 (£75 P/T or low wage) for an annual permit to hunt for a parking space on campus. We issue 1.25 permits per space so no-one is guaranteed to park. ALL of this money is ring-fenced for alternative travel options.

For cyclists we have two lockable sheds; one covered shed; other Sheffield stands and 24 cycle lockers. We also offer free reflective clothing, inner tubes, oil, GT85, puncture repair kits and waterproof seat covers. I also loan out locks and lights.

This was made possible by the requirements of a Section 106 agreement during building works to expand campus. I have also made the case on many occasions for improved employee health, reduced problems with parking, improved chances of attracting staff etc.

The point is that if we can do it (we're a university) you can too if a) you have enough drivers to make the required amounts of money and b) you have support from the powers that be (or the council in the case of a Section 106).

Keep at it; it's worth the battle.

chromehoof

simple_salmon wrote:

I'm responsible for administering our Green Travel Plan. To make it work we charge drivers £120 (£75 P/T or low wage) for an annual permit to hunt for a parking space on campus. We issue 1.25 permits per space so no-one is guaranteed to park. ALL of this money is ring-fenced for alternative travel options.

For cyclists we have two lockable sheds; one covered shed; other Sheffield stands and 24 cycle lockers. We also offer free reflective clothing, inner tubes, oil, GT85, puncture repair kits and waterproof seat covers. I also loan out locks and lights.

This was made possible by the requirements of a Section 106 agreement during building works to expand campus. I have also made the case on many occasions for improved employee health, reduced problems with parking, improved chances of attracting staff etc.

The point is that if we can do it (we're a university) you can too if a) you have enough drivers to make the required amounts of money and b) you have support from the powers that be (or the council in the case of a Section 106).

Keep at it; it's worth the battle.

excellent. Cheers for that. Just heard today that the big meeting which was due for tomorrow has been put off for a week. That only spurs me on more!