Apologies for the blurry camera phone picture, but the message gets across all the same, right?
Since I just bought my baby (on the right) a couple of months ago, I don't yet trust leaving her in a garage all day. I always feel heartened when others (on the left) are as protective of their bikes as I am.
How many people bike to work in your office?
Melissa Esposito is the Car-Sharing and Bike-Sharing Program Coordinator for Arlington County and a Metro/bike commuter.
Our bike parking is not separate from the cars, however, we have bike racks, and our building is only accessible to employees (it's not a public garage, and all of us, including bikers, need to swipe our ID cards before entering the garage).
Most people don't even bother locking their bikes -- that shows how much they are safe here!
Posted by: Beach Bum | July 14, 2008 at 10:59 AM
I just moved to the DC area from Tulsa (where I rode by bike a few times) but now I can walk to work. I haven't ridden my bike but I had a coworker that does. I love to see bikes in the workplace! I almost bought my wife a Milano as well. Nice.
Posted by: Mike P | July 12, 2008 at 12:52 AM
Oh, and I work out in the prarie, haven't locked my bike at work in 1.5 years.
Posted by: evan | July 11, 2008 at 05:25 PM
Just me, but I'm 33% of my office!
Posted by: evan | July 11, 2008 at 05:24 PM
It is! I love it. When I was looking I required fenders, step-through frame, and being upright. I named her Bianca, and she rides beautifully.
I saw someone else with the same bike from afar on the Metro the other day, and I nearly fell over myself getting home to make sure she wasn't stolen. I may be a wee bit paranoid.
Posted by: Melissa Esposito | July 11, 2008 at 01:41 PM
Oooh! Is that a Bianchi Milano. Those are sweet. I saw two bikes in the bar Finn MacCool's last night - lack of street parking.
Posted by: washcycle | July 11, 2008 at 01:35 PM
So, I just sent a text message and had to use the word biking...it came up as the third option - first ailing, then bikini, and then biking. That will be the day when biking is used so frequently in text messages that it will pop up first.
Posted by: Kimberley Hodgson | July 10, 2008 at 04:57 PM
I like to think having them in our cubes makes us participants in the nascent revolution.
Posted by: Melissa Esposito | July 10, 2008 at 04:41 PM
Think about how many people have stopped by to talk about our bikes...what a conversation piece. And, oh so inspiring! Maybe it's better to have the bikes in our cubes afterall...
Beach bum, is bike parking separate from vehicular parking? There should be a locked room that only those who work or live in the building get access to...just like the shower/gym facility.
Posted by: Kimberley Hodgson | July 10, 2008 at 04:25 PM
Kim, let's be honest: NOTHING really compares to my ride. ;)
But yours is holding its own pretty well -- and it gets you where you want to go, right?
And I agree; I feel much more connected to my neighborhood by walking and biking through it, and I notice so much more interesting details in other neighborhoods than I would if I were only in a vehicle.
Beach Bum, that's awesome that so many people bike at your office! We have underground parking here, too, but it's a public garage, and I just would kick myself if something was taken off of her when I could have brought her upstairs. I had a bike stolen in high school, and it's not an experience I want to repeat. If we had something with either an attendant next to it or a camera (with signs advertising it), I might feel better about it. As is, it doesn't take up too much room, and it certainly is more interesting than the gray cube wall!
Posted by: Melissa Esposito | July 10, 2008 at 01:24 PM
Where I work, over 100 people commute by bike. However, we do have safe underground parking at the garage for the bikes, lockers and showers.
Posted by: Beach Bum | July 10, 2008 at 12:43 PM
I guess my red "hotrock" specialized mountain bike doesn't really compare to your stylish ride...but it has been all over the streets of Boston, NYC, Blacksburg and now Alexandria, Arlington and DC. I may not have access to a car, but I've seen and experienced so much more on my various commutes, recreational rides, and explorative excursions.
Posted by: Kimberley Hodgson | July 10, 2008 at 11:35 AM