Fuming...

[PBancroft]

My work have been relatively keen to encourage more people to cycle to work. As part of a redevelopment of their buildings, they've installed new showers, which they've recently opened up. Plenty of lockers too... pity they haven't released any of the keys to them yet.

Oh, and the showers flood (every cubicle is a "wet room" - which leaves nowhere to keep your stuff) but the drains are at the top of the slope, not the bottom... All this will be resolved, I'm sure, as I raised an issue with the facilities team.

So I ride in this morning, and find that my fluffy white towel I left behind yesterday has been used by someone else, which means I can't have a shower. Furthermore, it is now covered in make-up. Grr.

I raise this as a reason why the lockers should be released for staff to start using. I get rebuffed with the (not unexpected) response that nothing should be left behind at the end of the work day. So we're expected to carry our suits, shirts, shoes, towels etc. in every day on bikes? Whoop.

Late in the afternoon, a message comes round telling us that the usual cycle parking will be inaccessible next week. There will be cycle storage in a different complex or out on the street, well away from the changing facilities. I'm sure people who were away from their desks at the end of the day or took a long weekend will love that when they come in on Monday.

And then just to round it off, my call about the non-draining wet room? Oh, it's been "resolved" apparently. No reason given, just "resolved."

Grrr....

 

[akaAndrew]

Cut 'em some slack... at least you've got showers. There are many many people who'd love to have what you've got. And lockers! Cripes, your employers must be doing well!

I'd be encouraging and complimenting your employers rather than complaining. There are always teething problems in any new installation, and it sounds like they moved pretty quickly to sort the drainage one out, so chill out and remember how fortunate you are!

 

[PBancroft]

Cut 'em some slack... at least you've got showers. There are many many people who'd love to have what you've got. And lockers! Cripes, your employers must be doing well!

I'd be encouraging and complimenting your employers rather than complaining. There are always teething problems in any new installation, and it sounds like they moved pretty quickly to sort the drainage one out, so chill out and remember how fortunate you are!

Lockers we can't use (no definable reason, they just aren't letting people use them yet) and the drainage isn't fixed. They've closed the call, but it still floods.

 

[akaAndrew]

I stand by what I said - give them time and be supportive.

 

[thomas]

I wouldn't mind some showers which flood

 

[PBancroft]

I wouldn't mind some showers which flood

Bear in mind when I also say its a wet room that floods - that leaves you with nothing but a duck board in order to keep your clothes dry. I should probably be clear that it floods above the height of the duck board.

OK, maybe I'm overreacting - the day didn't start well to find that someone had nicked my towel.

 

[tdr1nka]

You are right to be annoyed, what's the point of having facilities if they don't function in the way they were intended?

 

[skudupnorth]

Oh you lucky,lucky........ Showers eh ! I work in a new building that they forgot to build showers in for anyone who might dare to ride to work....mind you i work for a Porsche dealer so cycling goes against the grain a tad !

 

[hackbike 666]

I didn't have cycling facilites or showers for twenty years.It's a tough life.

So we always had these purges from the managers when they got bored but then again some idiots just parking their bikes anywhere didn't help.

 

[PBancroft]

I didn't have cycling facilites or showers for twenty years.It's a tough life.

So we always had these purges from the managers when they got bored but then again some idiots just parking their bikes anywhere didn't help.

That's kinda the point... I wouldn't mind not having them to a degree, but its the claim that they have them, and publicly saying they support cycling and other means of travelling to work apart from driving but not actually following it through.

 

[Glow worm]

Hi Kiapath,
I'm lucky to have showers and a locker where I work as well as adequate cycle parking. Maybe the flooding thing is just a teething problem which will get sorted soon. In our shower room there's just one tiny radiator to dry your towel on and it's first come first served, and I never know whether it's a no no to move someone's towel once it's dry to put mine on or not. Anyway, if I was you, I'd be more worried about the bloke wearing make up in your shower room!
Cheers,
Giles

 

[akaAndrew]

its the claim that they have them, and publicly saying they support cycling and other means of travelling to work apart from driving but not actually following it through.

To be fair, that's not really true though is it? They ARE following it through. There are showers and lockers... you just can't use them yet! I can understand your frustration, I really can, (and I'd be pissed off if someone used my towel too, but that's not your bosses fault) but it's not like they keep saying they'll provide them and then don't.

I tried long and hard to get showers were I worked and kept getting stone walled. No definite yes or no, just excuses and lip service. It sounds to me like your employers are pretty darn good in honesty.

 

[PBancroft]

Hi Kiapath,
I'm lucky to have showers and a locker where I work as well as adequate cycle parking. Maybe the flooding thing is just a teething problem which will get sorted soon. In our shower room there's just one tiny radiator to dry your towel on and it's first come first served, and I never know whether it's a no no to move someone's towel once it's dry to put mine on or not. Anyway, if I was you, I'd be more worried about the bloke wearing make up in your shower room!
Cheers,
Giles

Hi Glow worm,

No radiators, and its a unisex changing room - so you can't get changed outside of the flooded wet room.

 

[PBancroft]

I tried long and hard to get showers were I worked and kept getting stone walled. No definite yes or no, just excuses and lip service. It sounds to me like your employers are pretty darn good in honesty.

Actually I think its a case of the hearts being in the right place, but being instigated and designed by people that won't use it.

 

[2Loose]

You need to buy some of those plastic stick-on hooks and 'accidentally' provide some shirt hanging facilities!