BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

« Back to Archive
64

Frustration with Pitt's bogus bike policy

I work at Pitt and have been commuting to my Oakland office for about 4 months now from the Northside. One of the reasons I originally decided to start biking to work is that I have my own office where I could safely park my bike. I work in a building that has a security guard 24/7, but, until yesterday, have never been questioned about my bike when coming or going.


For whatever reason, there was a guard there that is usually in a different location and he told me that bikes are not permitted in University buildings. I explained to him that I work there, have my own office where I park the bike, and have been doing so for months. He had me call up to one of the building managers who said that I can bring it in today, but need to follow up with permission from my department facilities manager (which I did).


Long story short: one facilities management jack-off on a power trip in the building insists that I can't park my bike in my office because it is against the University traffic and parking ordinance which states:


"Bicycles shall not be parked or stored in any location other than areas designed for bicycle parking, including in any University building, including stairwells, hallways, and balconies" (from section 3-13: http://www.pts.pitt.edu/parking/documents/ParkingOrdinance.pdf)


He also contacted the freaking head of my department to insist I be reprimanded for parking my bike illegally for months and cc'ed the facilities Chief so that he could be notified of this terrible deed.


I was furious that this bogus policy that is clearly not meant to apply the current situation and one moron could limit my ability to park my bike safely. There are some bike racks around my building, but they are very often full. My boss told me that he thinks this is ridiculous, but he couldn't fight it b/c it's a "University policy". Funny part is that today, I decided to chance it and walked right up to my office again with no problem. I fear that if I make a big stink about this it may only cause more strict enforcement of the policy.


Has anyone else had a similar experience? Any suggestions? This is a policy that needs to allow for exceptions because as written, it says no bikes in any buildings, period. The University should be supporting bike commuters and not discouraging them... especially given the traffic and parking problems in Oakland.


iheartmybike
2010-06-09 03:23:30

Are your skills in demand elsewhere?


lyle
2010-06-09 03:28:42

I wonder if you could have your office declared an area designed for bicycle parking?


University policies don't just create themselves. I can see that it's meant to keep students in line and must have seemed like a good idea to somebody (in my freshman dorm, far from here, I recall there were some guys who used to get drunk and hang bikes from the fire sprinklers on the ceiling. Damage Ensued.) The question is who has the power to change the policy and, as some people colorfully say, whether this is the hill you want to die on (obviously your boss is totally uninterested in dying on it.) If they are not willing to allow parking in offices (clearly NOT inhabited by drunk students) then they need to ante up and provide decent secure parking for you in my opinion. So if I made policies you'd be set.


sprite
2010-06-09 04:11:25

The policy needs changed. There probably are places on campus where the current policy makes some sense, but as a blanket policy, it's too broad.


stuinmccandless
2010-06-09 04:20:46

I've seen people bring bikes into BST3. Which building are you in?


dwillen
2010-06-09 04:56:24

Make a sign "Designated Bicycle Parking Area", with an arrow. Hang it in your office.


In the event they find that unconvincing, you might try contacting the Assistant Director for Parking, and explaining that due to your great desire to comply with Pitt's fine rules, you need to get part of your office designated as a bike parking area.


Failing that, maybe find someone at Pitt with some authority who's generally supportive of bikes (HR? Someone in a health-related department? Is UPMC closely connected enough to Pitt for them to have some pull?) who could be an advocate for actually changing the document you linked to, replacing the blanket prohibition with rules that authorize in-building bike parking with appropriate permission.


steven
2010-06-09 05:45:54

I had a friend that worked in the /< shaped building, and somebody ran into the bike rack and messed up a bunch of bikes, including the friend's bike. Pretty lame outdated policy. Maybe try and get a bunch of Pitt employees together to make a fuss about it, find out who made the rule, who can change the rule.


Some people are just pricks and only follow the rule, however asinine it may be. Probably like the facility manager who is having a power trip over you bringing your bike inside.


Get ready to climb the hill of bureaucracy if you want to change it. Alternatively, if you want to make less money, but join a more bike friendly employer, feel free to join CCAC :P You can bring your bike in, our use a bike rack and nobody will screw with it


sgtjonson
2010-06-09 06:22:11

My office doesn't have bike racks. Closest ones are all the way over by PNC Park. I park my bike in a hallway next to all the piled-up office trash (old monitors, boxes of old documents, etc) I'm a little scared I won't be told about trash day & it'll get tossed while I'm working unawares...


noah-mustion
2010-06-09 10:16:12

This is really absurd, plain and simple. What i find to be even worse though is that in my time at pitt as a student, which was just a few years ago, I knew a few other students with really nice road bikes that they would never dare leave locked up at night on campus. They put their bikes in their dorm rooms all the time and never had any problems whatsoever. Sounds to me like some jerk just decided to start picking on you.


rick
2010-06-09 10:18:27

I was a TA for the Civil Environmental Engineering department for about two years and I commuted to Oakland from the Southside. I had a small office in either the lab on the 9th floor or tucked away in the basement. I always brought my bike with me, I even brought it up the elevators when I taught on the nineth floor. Students who visited me, sometimes were cramped for space if it was winter time because of all my winter cycling stuff. No one complained whatsover. Even the department head shot me a compliment for commuting by bike. (We are "Environmental" engineers). My advice is to not make a big stink about it, nothing will come of it. Take your bike in another entrance if that particular guard is there.


mildsnbleu
2010-06-09 12:10:30

My GF is on the faculty at Pitt and sits on a couple of committees. I asked her about it, hoping she's was on one that would be able to help.


Unfortunately, she doesn't but she said that if you are on the faculty, bring it up to the Faculty Senate. If you're a student, grad student or post-doc bring it up with those organizations.


Having been up at the dental school a number of times, it seems like the bike racks are always pretty packed... so having people with offices store them there seems like a good thing to me... means Pitt spends less on racks and rack maintenance...


myddrin
2010-06-09 14:25:40

The official response I got last September from facilities management when I asked about more rack space in front of my building or parking my bike in one of the VAST EMPTY spaces within the building:


We have to treat this the same way P&T do cars. No one is guaranteed a parking spot outside their building with an automobile. The same goes for bikes. We only have so much space to park bicycles and putting them inside the building is NOT an option. There are other options-- there should be plenty of available space at Trees, the Field House, Petersen, Salk, Victoria, or Lothrup. If those spaces are all taken we can investigate putting additional racks at one of those facilities. However, I am sure if someone really wants to investigate this, they could easily find numerous empty rack space at one of these facilities. Let me know how this works out.



Note that many of those locations are very far away from my building, up very big hills.


In other words, F-off cyclist. Just do what you can IHeartMyBike, go in the back way, park it outside when the dick security guard is there and bring it inside the rest of the time. If you ask facilities, you are going to get answers like this. The university, however green they make themselves out to be, is not very bike friendly.


dwillen
2010-06-09 14:44:03



dwillen
2010-06-09 15:02:27

What building do you work in? I've seen Profs take bikes in the elevators to their offices in both Posvar Hall and the Cathedral quite frequently.


raphael
2010-06-09 15:04:43

I also like how that picture looks like the university seal from like 1968


raphael
2010-06-09 15:05:20

The sign is outside the west entrance to Victoria, it looks very old.


dwillen
2010-06-09 15:08:58

There is a vast difference between a "bike" and

"bike parts" ... if they want to be jerks about it,

lock your front wheel to a rack and take your "bike

parts" upstairs.


steevo
2010-06-09 15:11:22

One time I got shit from the custodial staff because road slush melted and got on the floor. I think having bikes inside the buildings would be an added inconvenience to the facility people, so if you ask them, obviously it isn't in their best interest to allow bikes inside.


Telling remark: "We only have so much space to park bicycles and putting them inside the building is NOT an option."


Why is anything NOT an option? Like will the building implode or something if you bring a bike in?


This sounds like high school bullshit like "you can't wear a hat in the building"


sgtjonson
2010-06-09 15:30:28

What's their skateboard policy? What's their Segway policy? Can you carry your in-line skates into the building? Do you have to lock all those outside, too?


How about a unicycle? My unk and I were inseparable at Geneseo State. Hell, I'd even ride it up and down elevators and along hallways. Winter, too. In classes, I found it fit nicely behind most doorways.


stuinmccandless
2010-06-09 15:36:53

maybe they're just jealous that they pay $$$ per gallon just to sit on the parkway for an hour to get to work...


raphael
2010-06-09 15:55:04

This is more of pitt's bull-$hit. Institutions of higher learning are supposed to be progressive, forward-thinking, open-minded, etc. Apparently some folks there aren't and instead point to antiquated regulations and policies from decades ago.


I face the same no-bikes-inside-the-building issue where I work -- The owner did, however, indicate that I can park in a garage a block away that they also own. It's an acceptable compromise, I guess, but it seems silly since my employer doesn't care where I park my bike -- just that I show up !!


surly-jason
2010-06-09 15:59:42

It's silly when there is a place to store the bike that doesn't impact other people. We all wear shoes in and out of building all the time and they track in the same puddles, slush etc that a bike does.


rsprake
2010-06-09 16:05:11

It's my experience that a large majority of the people who work in "facilities" live in the distant suburbs, like westmoreland county distant, and think nothing of driving 1 , 1-1/2 hours to work, and their biggest fear is of paying city taxes. Seems like the university of PITTSBURGH ought to have a policy about that.


edmonds59
2010-06-09 16:09:22

I think sprite's point is a good one--at some point in time, something happened that precipitated this policy, and it probably made sense at the time. Given that Pitt has to deal with thousands of students and faculty, the policies likely address the lowest common denominator, which sucks for most reasonable people.


When I worked on Smithfield Street, my employer allowed several of us to bring our bikes into the office. At some point, building management intervened and didn't like us dragging our wet, slushy bikes on the elevators (which was kinda reasonable, I think). We all talked, and it was decided that we could keep our bikes in the basement of the building (which was behind a locked door). Everyone was happy.


Seems like the best approach would be get interested parties to sit down and figure out a better policy.


bjanaszek
2010-06-09 16:09:26

The reason I asked where you work is because there are some really sweet bike lock container-ish-things over bey Posvar and David Lawrence Hall. I am not sure how you get one, but I saw someone use it yesterday and I was very impressed.

http://www.pts.pitt.edu/Commuting/downloads/bike_map&brochure.pdf (look for the Bike Lockers Icon)


raphael
2010-06-09 16:17:52

I use a bike locker. They are $40/semester ($120/yr) and mostly vacant from what the P&T lady told me when I went in to renew it a couple weeks ago. Seems like they could lower that cost a little, and get more people using them. It is about a kilometer from the building I work in (not ideal).


dwillen
2010-06-09 16:42:05

The blanket rule is possibly also due lawyers for the school telling them they need the policy?


I think that your time would be better suited following the gaurd with a camera on his rounds, catching him violating a policy himself, and then just walking up and reminding him that you saw it.


spakbros
2010-06-09 16:42:58

I think a better idea would be to bring the guard some coffee and a muffin and make nice :)


dwillen
2010-06-09 16:45:36

+1 dwillen. Honey, vinegar...


reddan
2010-06-09 16:46:48

Mix the two for a nice salad dressing. (if you also have some oil, fresh cilantro and garlic, salt and pepper.)


bikefind
2010-06-09 17:06:08

+10 on steevo's suggestion. these people love following the rule to the letter... let them have it.


unixd0rk
2010-06-09 19:09:56

We have to treat this the same way P&T do cars.


I'm sorry, could someone explain where the "have to" comes from? I don't get that part. But even if they do "have to" treat cars the same way, I don't think any of us would have a problem with permitting employees to bring their cars into the office too.


"Employees may bring their vehicles into their workspace upon written approval from their direct supervisor."


lyle
2010-06-09 19:53:46

If someone finds an effective contact at Pitt I'll be happy to write a letter - I'm an alum and wouldn't mind threatening to withhold my meager annual donation to make a point.


When I worked at LRDC, I parked my bike in my office along with a bunch of my coworkers (one of whom dwillen knows :). but, we had a back entrance to take our bikes in outside the eye of any security - i think even then there was a blanket "no bikes" policy. It's was ridiculous then and even more so now.


salty
2010-06-10 04:50:49

Someone recently posted about a bike that was stolen from Pitt that sounded like it was locked up in one of the designated parking locations. Everyone who has had a bike stolen needs to send the parking office a letter indicating that Pitt needs to a. pay for a replacement bike, b. provide better security at their designated parking locations, or c. provide conditional permission for personnel to bring their bikes into offices or non-common workspaces.

Which option costs Pitt 0 dollars?


edmonds59
2010-06-10 11:36:15

FWIW, I brought my bike into my office when I worked at Pitt. I never saw the building security guard on the way in though.


I'd just try to avoid the guard on the way in. I personally doubt that you'll get the policy changed University wide, Pitt loves its red tape.


If you see him only rarely you could also try saying that you forgot your lock and you'll bring it tomorrow.


robbie
2010-06-10 12:34:07

I'd be seriously tempted to argue with the guard:


"I'm bringing my bike in with me whether you like it or not, and if you keep it out, you keep me out, and will have to take it up with my boss why I couldn't come in to work."


Might be a good idea to talk to your boss about this first to make sure he's on board with it.


Being forced to lock your bike to a rack in a high bike-theft area like the Pitt campus is like being forced to lock your 2nd set of car keys in the ignition. What's a pane of glass or a mere lock to someone intent on theft?


Like the Anne Feeney song goes, "A rotten law stays on the books til folks with guts defy it." [full lyrics & clip, video]


Time to defy the rules.


stuinmccandless
2010-06-10 15:12:10

When I worked at Pitt 1995 to 1999, I used to bring my bike up the elevator to my office in atheltics, which then was in the stadium. No one ever said anything.

My current employer lets us bring bikes in and park in the unused portion at the bottom of a stairwell. Sometimes there are 4 of us parked there.

I think finding someone else in the building (with tenure?) to go to bat for you would help.

You could always bring us their environmental image, one less full car parking space, etc.


helen-s
2010-06-10 17:26:17

The maintenance workers in POSVAR HALL are really anal. I've never had a problem with working in my office after hours until I got to Pitt.


Also, there is bike boxes outside of Posvar. I would use one of those if I were you.


piratesws2014
2010-06-11 02:25:51

FYI, I talked to a friend of mine who is a faculty member at Pitt, and she said she fought this battle 7-8 years ago and got nowhere with changing the policy.


Unless times have changed, I doubt you'll have better luck.


robbie
2010-06-11 03:03:41

Thank you all for the comments and advice. The potential to change anything is looking bleak, but it's good to know that support is out there.


dwillen: My building IS bst3. I wonder if you have seen me bringing my bike in. I am friends with one of the evening security guards who told me there are at least 2 other people that do the same thing.


Just as an update, I have started bringing my bike into the building as before with no problems although I have been bringing my lock everyday just in case. The regular guard is back now and I am hoping that the facilities guy forgot about the whole thing and started doing his actual job. If stopped again, I am tempted to do as StuInMcCandless suggested, but I doubt my boss would "be on board" which is half of the reason that I am disappointed about the whole thing. He is not actually in the same building as I am so he has no idea that I am still bringing the bike in and I doubt he cares, but he has indicated that there's a load of Pitt BS that you just get used to over the years and deal with. So sad.


iheartmybike
2010-06-11 14:20:02

IHeartMyBike, I probably have seen you carry your bike in. I don't have room in my shared office space, or I'd do the same. I almost always have a lock with me in my panniers though. Feel free to call me if you want to borrow a U-Lock for the day. I'll private message you my number.


dwillen
2010-06-11 14:31:50

I was again told that I shouldn't bring my bike in yesterday... this time by the regular morning guard. Apparently word of the previous incident got back to him.


Clearly this isn't something that is going to blow over in my building. I have attempted to ask the parking office for an exception to the sacred policy since I transport fragile glass slides in my saddle bag for work, but (surprise, surprise) they are not responding to my messages.


So you know what: starting tomorrow, I am going to do what steevo suggested. I'll lock my front wheel outside and carry my bike up to my office. They actually go to the trouble to define a bicycle in their policy:


"Bicycle" means every device propelled by human power upon which any person may ride, and supported by either two tandem wheels or three wheels, one of which is sixteen inches or more in diameter.


Without the front wheel, the item does not fall under this definition. This will sort of suck because I'm a woman with admittedly weak arms and a heavy bike. Also my front wheel is not a quick release, but it will be worth it. Don't f@#k with me Pitt. I'll let y'all know how this goes.


iheartmybike
2010-06-16 15:20:21

What about parking your bike in Forbes Tower Garage or The port authority garage across the street near Meyran & Sennot?


Both have bike racks, and Forbes tower does have a security guard desk near the garage entrance (not that I know how well they watch it, but I park my bike here frequently)


benzo
2010-06-16 15:33:06

go pick up a qr skewer from freeride..


netviln
2010-06-16 15:40:31

In light of this thread, it was a bit funny and a bit sad to come across this news article in the University Times promoting Pitt's support of bike commuting (in collaboration with BikePGH's car-free Fridays, by the way):


Biking to work buys you breakfast June 18


Parking and Transportation Services thinks that they support bicycle commuting:


"that [alternative transportation] message aligns with PT&S’s longstanding support for commuting alternatives. “It’s a natural fit for us,” said PT&S director Kevin Sheehy."


abrenner
2010-06-16 15:51:23

The parking people don't respond to any messages, ever. I don't know if they have the capability of responding to web mail. You have to go in there and talk to them. The ladies always seemed pretty nice to me, but of course I'm always going in there to pay them money.


dwillen
2010-06-16 17:27:39

Well, now you have the name of a human being who is on record, who should now be required to stand behind it.


edmonds59
2010-06-16 17:39:29

A QR skwer won't be enough if she has solid axles.


But don't underestimate the comedy value of un-bolting a nutted axle just so you can lock it up. I have a gigantic crescent wrench that I can loan you for some added spectacle. I also recommend making loud "unscrewing*" noises when you do that.


(*I'm not sure what those are, but use your imagination.)


lyle
2010-06-16 17:43:04

I've been following this interesting thread ... What's the latest?


surly-jason
2010-06-17 19:40:00


When I saw a nutted axle locked to the rack, I knew there was a different security guard before I even walked inside. Bummer IHeartMyBike :(


Did he give you any trouble bringing your bike parts in?


dwillen
2010-06-18 12:56:20

That's usually a very sad photo, but in this case, it's beautiful!


lyle
2010-06-18 16:20:01

It made me smile. I pictured it being unbolted in front of the front door with many "unscrewing" noises.


I really hope hauling the bike parts didn't turn out to be some big argument with the guard. He seemed agitated when I came in and wanted a closer look at my ID badge (normally I don't even take it out). Probably didn't help I was wearing a shirt with a big ass bike on the front, carrying my panniers. Dude probably just hates bikes.


dwillen
2010-06-18 16:24:35

I love that when I went to post on here dwillen had already taken a pic of the front wheel! Was thinking of doing it myself, but had to be at an early meeting and I was worried that I may be delayed at security.


I actually have several updates to share with you. In attempts to play nice, I made a request to the Assistant Director for Parking to allow me to bring my bicycle in due to the fact that I transport fragile and often heavy items for work (this is true). She did respond and notified me of the bike rack locations, said they are working on getting more racks, but was likely not able to grant the exception because bicycles represent a safety hazard in stairwells and elevators. I commented that I did not agree with that, but I would be happy to use the freight elevator when transporting the bicycle. Just got the final 'no' yesterday (a decision apparently made by Facilities, Env. Health & Safety, the Office of Research AND my building management)because bicycles represent an obstruction to safe pedestrian passage indoors. I never responded to that, but I informed my boss about my plans to a) remove the front wheel which allows me to bring in my 'bike parts' and 2) bring this to the Faculty Senate for review... to which he responded "you go girl!" (you can not appreciate how amazingly funny this response is unless you know how proper the man is at all times. amazing).


So that is the plan for now. I have not yet been given trouble bringing in the bike parts, but I'm sure eventually word will get back to the facilities jerk and he will try to find a reason to cite me on this. I am keeping a copy of the ordinance open to the definition page with the bike at all times just in case.


Also, I am inquiring about the proper procedure to address an issue to the Faculty Senate. I may be in search of a large number of Pitt employee signatures to support this in the near future, so keep a lookout!


iheartmybike
2010-06-18 17:53:11

you do go girl!


tabby
2010-06-18 18:04:01

I know half a dozen cyclists just on my floor. I'm sure all my coworkers and bosses would sign just to support me. I contemplated a petition last year, but with the response I got it didn't seem worth the effort at the time. I bet we could stand outside at Oakland's July bike-free-friday event and get a ton of Pitt signatures.


dwillen
2010-06-18 18:16:08

Maybe you guys just need to get fives pieces of cardboard the size of your bike, then put the pieces around your bike and over the top and whola! the bike is no more of a hazard than a box.


sgtjonson
2010-06-18 19:23:15

It is funny. The guy that delivers packages in our building has this cart that is almost as wide as the hallway, and then he stacks boxes on it that go over the edges. There is literally no room to walk down the hallway next to the cart. You have to wait in a doorway for him to pass. I'm not suggesting he deliver the boxes any other way, only that their argument that bikes congest hallways is total bullshit.


dwillen
2010-06-18 19:28:26

If challenged, don't say "this is bike parts", just say "this is not a bike". Don't even admit that what you have is RELATED to a bike. It's not a bike. Here, look at the rules. The rules say, right here, that a bicycle has two wheels. This only has one, therefore, it's not a bike. I don't make the rules, I just follow them. If you don't like the rules, mister, then you need to get the rules changed.


lyle
2010-06-18 19:57:15

have stu visit you at work and unicycle around the halls. thats not a bike either!


cburch
2010-06-18 22:45:27

I love you guys. Thank you for helping me be able to laugh about this. In the end, this bureaucratic nonsense it's all a game and I'll be happy to play as long as I can before admitting defeat.


Excellent advice, Lyle. I will not use the "B word" to describe the item in question when bringing it in.


Never mentioned this before, but I work at the Cancer Center in Shadyside one day a week and was told that bicycles were not permitted in my building there a couple months ago as well. At the time, I believed that this was because this was also a building for patients, but this may also be a UPMC policy. I got around this by talking to the guys at the loading dock there who said they's be happy to help in any way. I just enter the building that way which has worked out quite well. This is not possible in BST3 because of the security there.


Dwillen, great to hear that you have supporters on this. My plan is to go to the University Senate on this issue since it is the only means I know of. I sent a message to one of the committee heads last week, but received no response so I am going to email the president today. I created an online petition via google docs because I thought that that would be the easiest way to get a large number of signatures, but I would like to see what is the best suggested procedure before I officially get the ball rolling.


I know that Pitt wants to be able to have control of the situation, so I am thinking of suggesting something similar to CMU's policy: "use of any indoor area for bicycle parking may be restricted when, in the best judgment of the person(s) responsible for the area, movement of the bicycle to that area or storage therein interferes with the routine activities normally conducted in that area".


iheartmybike
2010-06-19 19:13:30

Can you try a foldie? Heck, if you can take them on regular buses, you should be able to stash it under your desk. Fact is, you could probably carry it right past the guard without him even noticing it.


EDIT: And why should he? It's luggage. Maybe wrap a big Macy's bag around it.


Also, unicycle lessons available upon request.


stuinmccandless
2010-06-19 21:59:25

Iheartmybike, I met your husband a few hours ago. He came in my store just as dwillen was leaving.


Needless to say, it made my day pretty unique.


ndromb
2010-06-19 22:32:52

Yea, two cyclists standing around in an auto store chatting and a guy with a pedal pittsburgh shirt walks in. Small world :)


dwillen
2010-06-19 23:01:44