You can cycle how far!!!???

[david1701]

because I live in the country and see them very irregularly I get ridiculously nervous on escalators, lifts are ok (and preffered option if I have more than one rolling case of kit) but stairs ftw

 

[mcshroom]

I was going to wind you up about Cornwall being backward then, but I can't remember the last time I saw an escalator either

 

[david1701]

hahahaha we have them in cities (well ok the only cities I go to are in Devon but I assume there are some in Truro) its a rural thing I think I mean how many towns have a shop big enough to warrant a nasty big expensive to run escalator

 

[661-Pete]

Sometimes escalators are put to good use:

 

[Fiona N]

Feels great turning them down, don't it?

Yeh, especially if it's raining

 

[Flying_Monkey]

It's not so much distance that people around here think is crazy, they just seem to imagine that cycling is incredibly dangerous, particularly when it's dark. And this is even though they will freely admit I am very visible. The Ministry of Transport people who work on the ferry are particularly convinced that cycling is dangerous...

 

[Amanda P]

This usually means you may need to do business milage and be ready , able and insured to do so. You might be able tto do it by bike, depends what you need to take with you, hoe far, how often etc.

I can sometimes use my own car for work, and claim the mileage for it. But they won't let me claim the 7 miles of driving it to work, so that I can use it, and the 7 miles back again afterwards.

"Because you'd have driven to work anyway".

Why is there this quite unwarranted assumption that I'd drive to work, just because I own a car?

 

[Amanda P]

Mrs Uncle Phil had a contract in Norway a couple of years ago, so we cycled there. Quite a long trip to work, around 1000 miles.

Even now when we mention it, people's jaws drop. They can't even imagine driving there, let alone cycling.

"Norway? You're joking. You can't cycle there, you have to fly.... don't you?"

 

[661-Pete]

I can sometimes use my own car for work, and claim the mileage for it. But they won't let me claim the 7 miles of driving it to work, so that I can use it, and the 7 miles back again afterwards.

"Because you'd have driven to work anyway".

Why is there this quite unwarranted assumption that I'd drive to work, just because I own a car?

You should ask them to provide a hire car, delivered to your home address, all at the employer's expense. That way you're not out of pocket.

But, in terms of taxability, they're probably right. Paying for your travel to and from your normal workplace, by any means, counts as a taxable perk, unlike payment of expenses for travel to somewhere other than your normal workplace.

 

[Calum]

I worked near enough full time during my gap year. It was a 5 mile ride each way with only a few small hills. That feeling of jumping on the bike at 5pm on a friday afternoon in the summer and meeting my Dad in the pub garden for a few beers was amazing!! I really really miss it.

 

[cookiemonster]

Mrs Uncle Phil had a contract in Norway a couple of years ago, so we cycled there. Quite a long trip to work, around 1000 miles.

Even now when we mention it, people's jaws drop. They can't even imagine driving there, let alone cycling.

"Norway? You're joking. You can't cycle there, you have to fly.... don't you?"

Shouldn't that be Auntie Phil?

 

[cookiemonster]

Update - I didn't get the job because I will cycle there and not drive.

Reed Employment, the people who were handling this, have also essentially told me not to use their service again

 

[ComedyPilot]

Mrs Uncle Phil had a contract in Norway a couple of years ago, so we cycled there. Quite a long trip to work, around 1000 miles.

Even now when we mention it, people's jaws drop. They can't even imagine driving there, let alone cycling.

"Norway? You're joking. You can't cycle there, you have to fly.... don't you?"

 

[Moodyman]

Update - I didn't get the job because I will cycle there and not drive.

Reed Employment, the people who were handling this, have also essentially told me not to use their service again

That is ridiculous. Really sorry to hear that Cookiemonster

When I first started commuting by bike, it was kinda flattering that people thought I was superhuman. But then I realised that I was viewed as a little eccentric so I've been avoiding telling people how I commute.

On a site of 3000 employees, only my line manager and a handful of my immediate colleagues know.

 

[661-Pete]

Update - I didn't get the job because I will cycle there and not drive.

Reed Employment, the people who were handling this, have also essentially told me not to use their service again

That is appalling! Definitely grounds for a complaint. Especially about Reed....
Can you provide more details?