Comments on: Holiday Bonus for U.K. Ikea Employees: 9,000 Free Bikes http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/12/18/ikeas-christmas-bonus-free-bikes/ Covering the New York City Streets Renaissance Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:07:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: gecko http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/12/18/ikeas-christmas-bonus-free-bikes/comment-page-1/#comment-19585 gecko Tue, 19 Dec 2006 18:18:35 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/12/18/ikeas-christmas-bonus-free-bikes/#comment-19585 It's good to know who we are doing business with and establish local policies holding them accountable, especially with the large markets of cities providing substantial leverage. It’s good to know who we are doing business with and establish local policies holding them accountable, especially with the large markets of cities providing substantial leverage.

]]> By: brent http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/12/18/ikeas-christmas-bonus-free-bikes/comment-page-1/#comment-19555 brent Tue, 19 Dec 2006 17:11:09 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/12/18/ikeas-christmas-bonus-free-bikes/#comment-19555 I'm all for cargo bikes, but (always the cynic) using them to transport Ikea furniture is like killing the headache by cutting off the head. Their entire business model is based on enormity of scale. They exploit entire regions of forest land, replant a few saplings so's they can label the packaging 'from sustainable forests', ship the raw materials thousands of miles to Asia because cheap labor more than makes up for shipping costs, again by sea then truck to a mega sized box store, at which point the consumer foots the remaining shipping cost. This is like the 3,000 mile ceasar salad; it's the 15,000 mile ugly disposable funky mod pleather couch. Do what you can to help the environment, but even a handful of conscious Brooklynites biking some stuff home will still mean Ikea is 100% unsustainable. I’m all for cargo bikes, but (always the cynic) using them to transport Ikea furniture is like killing the headache by cutting off the head. Their entire business model is based on enormity of scale. They exploit entire regions of forest land, replant a few saplings so’s they can label the packaging ‘from sustainable forests’, ship the raw materials thousands of miles to Asia because cheap labor more than makes up for shipping costs, again by sea then truck to a mega sized box store, at which point the consumer foots the remaining shipping cost. This is like the 3,000 mile ceasar salad; it’s the 15,000 mile ugly disposable funky mod pleather couch. Do what you can to help the environment, but even a handful of conscious Brooklynites biking some stuff home will still mean Ikea is 100% unsustainable.

]]> By: v http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/12/18/ikeas-christmas-bonus-free-bikes/comment-page-1/#comment-19511 v Tue, 19 Dec 2006 16:06:18 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/12/18/ikeas-christmas-bonus-free-bikes/#comment-19511 nice. ikea and the like could also partner with zipcar. need fewer parking spaces. bike or take a bus, and you can bring the sofa home. fewer parking spots, fewer people owning cars. nice. ikea and the like could also partner with zipcar. need fewer parking spaces. bike or take a bus, and you can bring the sofa home. fewer parking spots, fewer people owning cars.

]]> By: gecko http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/12/18/ikeas-christmas-bonus-free-bikes/comment-page-1/#comment-19455 gecko Tue, 19 Dec 2006 13:08:35 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/12/18/ikeas-christmas-bonus-free-bikes/#comment-19455 It seems that Red Hook with Fairway, the cruise ship dock, and the upcoming Ikea has lots of excess capacity to redesign for sensible human-scale transport. Being on the waterfront provides low-cost freight options. Much of Ikea furniture breaks down to compact packages than can be moved by hybrid human-electric transport and develop ideas and demonstrations on how freight can be moved throughout the city on a human scale that is highly efficient, convenient, and practical. Aggressive development of local urban farms would further show what can be done. The area is also perfect for geothermal retrofits as detailed in NYC DDC's at: http://www.nyc.gov/html/ddc/html/ddcgreen/geotherm.html which should be promoted a lot more. The rapid economic benefits to locals in the area would show how green can really be green and how responsible sustainable development can make a big difference. It seems that Red Hook with Fairway, the cruise ship dock, and the upcoming Ikea has lots of excess capacity to redesign for sensible human-scale transport. Being on the waterfront provides low-cost freight options. Much of Ikea furniture breaks down to compact packages than can be moved by hybrid human-electric transport and develop ideas and demonstrations on how freight can be moved throughout the city on a human scale that is highly efficient, convenient, and practical. Aggressive development of local urban farms would further show what can be done. The area is also perfect for geothermal retrofits as detailed in NYC DDC’s at: http://www.nyc.gov/html/ddc/html/ddcgreen/geotherm.html which should be promoted a lot more. The rapid economic benefits to locals in the area would show how green can really be green and how responsible sustainable development can make a big difference.

]]> By: Samantha http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/12/18/ikeas-christmas-bonus-free-bikes/comment-page-1/#comment-19273 Samantha Tue, 19 Dec 2006 04:16:56 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/12/18/ikeas-christmas-bonus-free-bikes/#comment-19273 And the Brooklyn Ikea is supposed to be hiring a big % of employees from Red Hook and the surrounding neighborhoods. That means most of them would be in biking distance, wouldn't they? And the Brooklyn Ikea is supposed to be hiring a big % of employees from Red Hook and the surrounding neighborhoods. That means most of them would be in biking distance, wouldn’t they?

]]> By: Michael http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/12/18/ikeas-christmas-bonus-free-bikes/comment-page-1/#comment-19242 Michael Tue, 19 Dec 2006 02:59:49 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/12/18/ikeas-christmas-bonus-free-bikes/#comment-19242 See entry titled "Couch" on that previously given link. My mistake. See entry titled “Couch” on that previously given link. My mistake.

]]> By: Michael http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/12/18/ikeas-christmas-bonus-free-bikes/comment-page-1/#comment-19240 Michael Tue, 19 Dec 2006 02:58:44 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/12/18/ikeas-christmas-bonus-free-bikes/#comment-19240 There is also this use for the sofa, albeit not your typical method of cargo transport. http://digave.com/videos/index.htm# There is also this use for the sofa, albeit not your typical method of cargo transport.

http://digave.com/videos/index.htm#

]]> By: crzwdjk http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/12/18/ikeas-christmas-bonus-free-bikes/comment-page-1/#comment-19229 crzwdjk Tue, 19 Dec 2006 00:52:04 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/12/18/ikeas-christmas-bonus-free-bikes/#comment-19229 No, people won't be pedaling home with a sofa. But neither can they take a bus with a sofa, and yet IKEA provides a free bus from the Port Authority to their New Jersey store, and the service is in pretty high demand. How does it work? IKEA can, for a fee, deliver your furniture for you. No, people won’t be pedaling home with a sofa. But neither can they take a bus with a sofa, and yet IKEA provides a free bus from the Port Authority to their New Jersey store, and the service is in pretty high demand. How does it work? IKEA can, for a fee, deliver your furniture for you.

]]> By: ddartley http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/12/18/ikeas-christmas-bonus-free-bikes/comment-page-1/#comment-19207 ddartley Mon, 18 Dec 2006 23:33:10 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/12/18/ikeas-christmas-bonus-free-bikes/#comment-19207 regarding sofas on bikes: good job Michael for sharing cargo bike info; the world needs to see that, but the UK Ikea story is that they gave bikes and transit subsidies to *employees,* not customers! They should definitely do something similar in Brooklyn. In fact, I'm going to tell them so right now! I encourage you all to join me. regarding sofas on bikes: good job Michael for sharing cargo bike info; the world needs to see that, but the UK Ikea story is that they gave bikes and transit subsidies to *employees,* not customers! They should definitely do something similar in Brooklyn. In fact, I’m going to tell them so right now! I encourage you all to join me.

]]> By: Michael http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/12/18/ikeas-christmas-bonus-free-bikes/comment-page-1/#comment-19204 Michael Mon, 18 Dec 2006 23:17:28 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/12/18/ikeas-christmas-bonus-free-bikes/#comment-19204 Who says people are not able to peddle home with a sofa? Take a look at ttp://www.bikesatwork.com/hauling-cargo-by-bike/hpv-cargo-capacity.html ... :-) Who says people are not able to peddle home with a sofa? Take a look at ttp://www.bikesatwork.com/hauling-cargo-by-bike/hpv-cargo-capacity.html … :-)

]]> By: david http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/12/18/ikeas-christmas-bonus-free-bikes/comment-page-1/#comment-19184 david Mon, 18 Dec 2006 21:52:42 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/12/18/ikeas-christmas-bonus-free-bikes/#comment-19184 Maybe one could pedal from Ikea to Whole Foods just a few short blocks away...."Green cred", their whole concept in the U.S. at least is based on urban sprawl. Maybe one could pedal from Ikea to Whole Foods just a few short blocks away….”Green cred”, their whole concept in the U.S. at least is based on urban sprawl.

]]> By: P http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/12/18/ikeas-christmas-bonus-free-bikes/comment-page-1/#comment-19182 P Mon, 18 Dec 2006 21:39:56 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/12/18/ikeas-christmas-bonus-free-bikes/#comment-19182 Yet probably not the 'highest and best use' of waterfront land I would guess. http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2004/10/06/nyregion/06ikea_CA0.ready.html Yet probably not the ‘highest and best use’ of waterfront land I would guess.
http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2004/10/06/nyregion/06ikea_CA0.ready.html

]]> By: Rob http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/12/18/ikeas-christmas-bonus-free-bikes/comment-page-1/#comment-19180 Rob Mon, 18 Dec 2006 21:35:40 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/12/18/ikeas-christmas-bonus-free-bikes/#comment-19180 In IKEA's defense I don't think people really are able to peddle home with a sofa. In IKEA’s defense I don’t think people really are able to peddle home with a sofa.

]]> By: P http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/12/18/ikeas-christmas-bonus-free-bikes/comment-page-1/#comment-19156 P Mon, 18 Dec 2006 20:47:11 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/12/18/ikeas-christmas-bonus-free-bikes/#comment-19156 I wonder how many thousands of folding bikes would fit in Ikea's planned waterfront parking lot in Brooklyn... I wonder how many thousands of folding bikes would fit in Ikea’s planned waterfront parking lot in Brooklyn…

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