Cycling in work car parks

[diapason]

Years ago, when I was in the civil service there was no provision for bike parking, and we were expected to leave our bikes in the lower car park area - very isolated, dark, and a thieves paradise. UNTIL, the day when some little scrote nicked the CO's bike - he started taking his new bike inside the building and we all followed his example. The H&S mob threw a wobbly about bikes in corridors but the Union dug their heels in and demanded a secure bike park. Stalemate, which lasted until well after I left.

 

[apollo179]

Years ago, when I was in the civil service there was no provision for bike parking, and we were expected to leave our bikes in the lower car park area - very isolated, dark, and a thieves paradise. UNTIL, the day when some little scrote nicked the CO's bike - he started taking his new bike inside the building and we all followed his example. The H&S mob threw a wobbly about bikes in corridors but the Union dug their heels in and demanded a secure bike park. Stalemate, which lasted until well after I left.

Moral of the story ? steal the co's bike .

 

[Little yellow Brompton]

Hi, this is my first post so apologies if this is the wrong place or if this topic has been covered before!

I cycle to work. It's the CS I work for. They've been very good offering bikes to buy over time, supplying a 'wet room' and a shiny new
bike shed.

However, recently we've been banned from cycling in the car park. We have to 'dismount' and walk across the car park for 'our own safety'.

The few (very few) cyclists think this is pretty unfair but due to the fact there are so few of us our complaints are ignored.

If we're caught cycling in the car park we end up being banned from using it!

This seems very unfair and prejudiced against cyclists when I'd have thought that cyclists should be encouraged.

I just wondered if anyone here had any experience of this!

 

[Little yellow Brompton]

Hi, this is my first post so apologies if this is the wrong place or if this topic has been covered before!

I cycle to work. It's the CS I work for. They've been very good offering bikes to buy over time, supplying a 'wet room' and a shiny new
bike shed.

However, recently we've been banned from cycling in the car park. We have to 'dismount' and walk across the car park for 'our own safety'.

The few (very few) cyclists think this is pretty unfair but due to the fact there are so few of us our complaints are ignored.

If we're caught cycling in the car park we end up being banned from using it!

This seems very unfair and prejudiced against cyclists when I'd have thought that cyclists should be encouraged.

I just wondered if anyone here had any experience of this!

If this is a H&S issue and you want to challenge it then do it from the H&S angle , not from the "unfair " one

Ask to see the initial risk assesment and then the control actions taken.

The 1st rule of H&S is "remove the threat" the threat here is the cars....
The 2nd is " change the working practices" so make the car dirvers look out for the cyclists /pedestrians
we will skip the steps about guards etc...

the very last step is "ban the activity"


it's never a good idea to jump a straight to "ban..." especially if you can't back it up with a reasoned RA.

 

[Dan B]

It's a daft rule, but take it on the chin and be thankful for the facilities you have. My company doesn't let me park in the car park, so I have to ride an old tank and leave it in the street.

Hey, if I drove a tank I reckon I'd park it anywhere I felt like. :-)

 

[Lucretzia]

Thanks very much for all the responses.

The few cyclists that work at my place have muttered about it but I think that that's all we'll be doing.

Those who are in the know suggest that cyclists 'weave dangerously' between cars etc., but I've yet to see such activity. But of course rules are rules.

Just irks me that's all!

We have had a colleague knocked over when a car reversed into her as she walked across the car park from her car. Nothing serious. But it does beg the question, is anybody 100% safe in a car park?

Thanks again

 

[byegad]

Accept the decision and campaign for cars to be pushed in the car park. You already have an example of an accident due to them being driven, albeit in reverse!

 

[Herzog]

The whole situation sounds a little ridiculous; couldn't you offer to sign a disclaimer of some sort (i,e., I will not sue if some @rsehole runs me over).

 

[Domeo]

Point out that you rode into work on the road and like the highway drivers are required to be vigilant and careful.

 

[Scoosh]

We have had a colleague knocked over when a car reversed into her as she walked across the car park from her car. Nothing serious. But it does beg the question, is anybody 100% safe in a car park?

Thanks again

An (US) oilfield service company I used to work for halved their Vehicle Accident rate

by simply requiring all employees to reverse into their parking spaces so, at the end of a tiring day, fading light, mind on other things etc, they are driving out forwards.

I usually do this in any car-park even today.

 

[Black Sheep]

Is it possible to find out the reasoning behind the decision

not the risk assessment, and make it known that you're just curious as if there is a reason behind it you're less likely to feel hard done by.

 

[Paulus]

It does seem a H+S rule too far, but what about motorcycles? Are these allowed to be ridden in the car park, and do they have a separate parking area or bike shed?