Comments on: In Historic Vote, City Council Passes Bicycle Access Bill

By: Nate

Nate — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 12:04:57 +0000

I’m in the exact same situation as Erin: In my office building, there is a freight elevator which gets shut off at 4:45pm. After 4:45, if you want to use the freight elevator, tough luck. There is a huge back room area near the freight entrance which sits open and empty. This bill solves none of the bicycle storage problems of this large Manhattan office building.

By: BicyclesOnly

BicyclesOnly — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 17:31:33 +0000

JK is right on about this being the starting point in a series of building-by-building struggles, as well as the starting point for a series of legislative initiatives that hopefully will culminate in a requirement that commercial tenants allow their employees bicycle access and storage.

What can folks do now? Two thoughts:

1) You get nothing unless the commercial tenant you work for requests a bbuilding access plan. You stand a much better chance of convincing your employer to sponsor a request for a plan if you have your “ducks in a row” first. Don’t raise this with your employer prematurely!. Begin talking with co-workers who bike about what a plan for your building should look like, anticipate the likely concerns of your employer, and look for guidance on how to make a successful proposal from TA and others in the coming weeks.

2) Freight elevator access is another key issue. Once a building operator with a freight elevator gets a request for a bicycle access plan, freight elevator access may mysteriously dry up. Tomorrow, when you first get in to work and when you leave, take a peek and see if the freight elevator is in operation. Do this a few times over the next few weeks, and keep a written log of what you see.

By: JK

JK — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 16:51:01 +0000

Per comments #7 and #8, this new law isn’t perfect. Pragmatic compromises had to be made to get it past the real estate lobby. But both practically and symbolically it’s extremely important. It gives employers much more leverage when negotiating with building management over bike access. It also publicly validates the principal that it’s reasonable to expect to bring your bike into a workplace. Though far more modest, it’s a bit like the federal civil rights act of 1964. That didn’t bring a sudden halt to racial discrimination, but it gave advocates a powerful tool to work with. Likewise, this new law is best seen as a powerful tool, not an end in itself. It will take many small struggles to get bikes into workplaces, and probably new laws which take into account those struggles before bike commuters make it to the parking promised land.

By: GeorgeZ

GeorgeZ — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 15:45:15 +0000

Anyone know if this applies to, or excludes for that matter, Historic/Landmark Buildings? Work in the Woolworth building…

Thnx

By: HAHA

HAHA — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 15:08:42 +0000

This is precisely why I have a folding bike. I’ve been taking my 26″ wheeled Montague Paratrooper to work for the last 2 years. My building has a pretty strict no-bikes policy. I just tuck the bike into a non-descript bag and tell them it’s a tuba. I readily await the day that I can carry it in and unfold it in front of them! Tuba this!

By: JST

JST — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 14:29:54 +0000

So the bill’s text is that a “tenant or subtenant” may request access. The “tenant or subtenant” is usually the company that has leased office space – and not an individual employee of that company. Does this mean an employee of that tenant-entity cannot request access as an individual? Or put another way – must the request for access come from an authorized representative of the tenant-entity?

By: Erin

Erin — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 14:22:35 +0000

I’m terribly disappointed. This bill really misses the mark. Bicycle storage is arguably far more crucial than access to the freight elevator. Instead of buildings needing to state why the freight elevator cannot be utilized for carrying bikes, as is the course of action a building’s management must take if it does not want to allow bicycles upstairs, it should have been written into the law that building management must explain why there is no available storage (eg. why the basement, backroom, etc., if existing, is off-limits). It should be implied also that access to the storage rooms shall be by freight elevator if necessary, with parking bikes in individual offices as a last resort.

In my office building, there is a freight elevator which gets shut off at 4:45pm. After 4:45, if you want to use the freight elevator, tough luck. There is a huge back room area near the freight entrance which sits open and empty. This bill solves none of the bicycle storage problems of this large Manhattan office building.

By: DV

DV — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 01:21:05 +0000

The bill certainly encourages public – private partnerships to create something like a bike station / bike parking / commuter lockers, etc. As if this is really the ultimate take away. Awesome

The rest of the bill is kinda funny; if you work in a building with a freight elevator, provided the landlord doesn’t come up with a great list of exceptions to not allow bikes in the building, you’ll now be allowed to bring the bike in the building. Where to actually park your trusty steed is another matter all together.

The creation of a bike parking task force is a good idea too… A bicyclist holding a Real Estate license might make for a great candidate.

By: Sarah Goodyear

Sarah Goodyear — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 23:12:38 +0000

@John B,
It takes effect in 120 days.

By: Folder

Folder — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 22:08:54 +0000

Councilman Erik Martin Dilan of Brooklyn (District 37: Bushwick, Cypress Hills, East New York, Ocean Hill, Brownsville, and Wyckoff Heights) is the only person voted against the bill.

By: John B

John B — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 22:06:02 +0000

When does this go into effect? I haven’t been able to find that anywhere.

By: Ben Fried

Ben Fried — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 21:57:59 +0000

Here's the text of the final bill.

By: Brian

Brian — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 21:46:49 +0000

Where can I get a copy of the actual bill?