As long as I was working for for a large company in Palo Alto, my 24-mile round trip bike commute was easy, as I could shower and change clothes at work.
Now that I am no longer working in a fixed location, but visiting companies and individuals around the peninsula, I’m finding it really tough to use my bike to go to business meetings, and have been forced to use the family car. The problem is of course that I cannot arrive hot and sweaty and in my bike clothes at those meetings, and there is really no way in many places to walk up to a reception desk and ask to use a shower. Even when a business or non-profit has showers available, they are usually in a secured area and inaccessible to visitors without an escort.
Any brilliant ideas on this problem? It would be wonderful if there could be a network of locations where cyclists could shower and change clothes, and then ride ‘slowly’ to the destination close by! Maybe bike shops could install showers and let people use them for a fee? Maybe a monthly membership that would allow cyclists to use showers at any bike shop. I know that the economics are not simple!
Ideas welcome!
mark_s
January 4, 2013 - 4:12pm
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Using a bicycle to get to business meetings
I live car free in San Jose, and like you used to do, I ride to work where I shower and get dressed. When I am visiting customers in the bay area, I usually ride slowly enough to not work up a sweat, and/or use a combination of public transit and bike. One of the things that I love about the bay area is how you can take your bike on trains and busses, which makes the practical car-free range much wider than it would be otherwise.
Erik
January 9, 2013 - 3:29pm
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Maybe a membership in a large
Maybe a membership in a large gym chain can help? Like maybe 24-hour fitness?
However, I have noticed that Lance Armstrong's bicycle shop in Austin, Mellow Johnny's, has showers and changing rooms for bicyclists and also has a cafe :-). What great service!
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