My employer, BNY Mellon is trying to put together a small event for Bike to Work Day (May 17, 2013). I feel like it would be great exposure for Flock of Cycles, Bike Pittsburgh or Free Ride if any of these orginazations could donate their time. I do believe there is a small budget for the event. This is what I received from the global coordinator:
Last year we communicated about our company's activities for Bike to Work Day which is held each May (this year, bike to work week is May 13-17, and bike to work day is May 17). We are in the process of planning activities for this week/day, and I want to re-connect with you to see if you know of any organizations in Pittsburgh that could host employee bike rides or provide on-site maintenance/demonstrations (for example, London has an organization called Dr. Bike who has worked with us in the past:
http://lcc.org.uk/pages/dr-bike-maintenance).
Unfortunately, for liability reasons, we cannot have an employee themselves conduct an organized ride or maintenance session, but I wanted to see if you know of any established organizations that I could contact.
After I suggested Flock/BikePgh/ FreeRide, they replied with:
Here are some ideas that we would like to see if Flock of Cycles could support:
1. Organize an on-site bike maintenance session for employees who would like to have their bikes tuned up. This session could be set up in the BNY Mellon Center parking garage and employees could come to either have something specific repaired on their bike or just receive a general tune up.
2. Organize a group ride for BNY Mellon employees. The contact would meet us at the office and then organize a group ride through the city. The person from the nonprofit could teach riders about safety and help first time riders feel comfortable.
Let me know if anyone has any thoughts. I just know I'm not allowed to do it because of the employee liabilitiy issue.
Thanks all!!!
smarti6
2013-02-05 13:56:29
Hi Shawn,
I also work for BNY Mellon. I'm NOT well connected either there or to the biking organizations, just got going with BNY Mellon and biking in October and other than my commute, about all I do is post here.
But I am happy to help out in any way I can, just let me know if something comes up. Will PM you my email/lync contact info.
Cheers,
Ben
byogman
2013-02-05 14:13:48
Hey Shawn - I just responded on Facebook as well (I'm Sarah Pearman, the current secretary of Flock). I'd be glad to talk to you about this, and I'll send you my contact info via Facebook. Sounds like a cool idea!
2013-02-05 14:34:56
Shawn
At BikePGH we've done some things with BNY Mellon in the past. I've met with Apple White (Sustainability Manager) and Rick Veith (Property Manager) several times. We provided Rick with a bike parking plan and I spoke to a Sustainability Committee that Apple leads. Someone from Mellon has stopped by in the past to stock up on bike maps and 101 guides too.
BikePGH leads Urban Biking Forums that would be a good fit for the programming that you mentioned. We typically don't lead rides. Feel free to email me at
lou@bikepgh.org if you think we can be helpful.
lou-f
2013-02-05 15:57:28
I have a conflict for early that morning (F5/17), which would nix leading a group TO work. However, I am available after work, to accompany anyone on a ride. If that's the day of a Flock event, I would be happy to accompany anyone from downtown to the beginning of the Flock ride. I'm diagonally across the street from you at Fifth and Grant, in the Frick Building.
stuinmccandless
2013-02-05 19:52:35
May 17th is the 3rd Friday, which is the usual date for a flock ride, so it would be pretty sweet to incorporate the two in an after-work ride.
pbeaver
2013-02-05 20:47:01
FWIW, the part about no employee maintenance clinics or rides sounds like BS to me. At Google (Pittsburgh as well as mountain view and elsewhere) employees routinely do both, and not just for BTWD. Might be worth pressing them on that point.
salty
2013-02-05 21:01:04
may 17, eh? how about we rename that bike to
into darkness day
melange396
2013-02-06 11:47:50
^^^ nerd
pbeaver
2013-02-06 13:13:36
Yup, with pride.
Looks like 8:12 candle lighting that day (and you get 18 minutes from there before there's no excuses anymore). So ~maybe~ could squeeze a movie in post (short) ride. Would be tight, but just too awesome if possible.
byogman
2013-02-06 13:29:33
Thanks all. I have connected to the right people in Bike Pgh and Flock.
smarti6
2013-02-06 13:46:29
Could probably get Free Ride involved. I'll bring it up and see what kind of involvement I can muster from the volunteer herd.
aryn
2013-02-07 11:26:41
2. Organize a group ride for BNY Mellon employees. The contact would meet us at the office and then organize a group ride through the city. The person from the nonprofit could teach riders about safety and help first time riders feel comfortable.
Exactly what Flock of Cycles does.
ndromb
2013-02-07 15:59:40
The coordinating team in NY has both BikePgh and Flock of Cycles contact information, and they are heading up the project (with my input). Either way, BikePgh doesn't lead rides, so it'll either be Bike Pgh for a program and Flock for the ride ... or Flock for all. I'm waiting to hear how they want to move forward. Thanks again for everyone's time.
smarti6
2013-02-07 16:22:32
@Salty...... I really don't know about the liability thing, but quite honestly, it's not something I care to make an issue of. Especially if they are willing to pay one of these great non-profits to do it.
smarti6
2013-02-07 16:29:54
