Bike sheds at work

Hi all,

I work in a major London museum which has its own bike shed (secure) as well as racks inside the gates for anyone to use (not secure). The sheds are exclusively for staff and operate with a key. Problem is that all the keys are in use and there is a huge waiting list if you want to get one.

I've emailed the relevant departments to try and change this to a swipe card system (which every employee has and gets rid of this waiting list). This is something thats happening across the musuem as keys get lost easier than swipe cards etc etc etc. The response I've got so far is unhelpful and makes clear that the reader A. Spent 30 seconds reading my well written and thoughtful email and B. Doesn't give a s**t about anything I've said regarding this.

Therefore I'm thinking about starting some sort of petition to change this, does anyone have any advice/tips/experience for doing so?

Thanks all

FTC

How about a coded pad lock.

I used something like this once in America whilst staying in airbnb. Never even saw the owner. Was just given the code by text message on arrival.
http://www.shurlok-products.com/key-storage.htm

That's a good alternative. In my opinion I don't think they would make an exception for a coded lock when the rest of the estate is switching over to swipe access. However it's good to know such options are out there

Re bike sheds... They shoved a child under the gate where I worked passed him some bolt croppers, and he passed the bikes over the top of the gate. Proper Fagin style urchin stuff. Petition is a good thing, just use a ratter to commute as the "pile on" mentality I've had in the past meant my nice paint got shagged quickly. Ask to borrow a key and take it to a locksmith they can order blanks if its an unusual profile, then borrow again to get it cut. We got charged £60 for keys lost. The actual blanks were a fiver...

I like the anarchism there but I'd get fired pretty fast if the security found out I'd done that. Plus that would only benefit me, whereas this effort is meant for all the cyclists at work who don't have access to the sheds (the vast majority)

Does anyone have experience raising petitions and getting people involved in such community efforts?

The lock I have left a link to is a storage pad lock that could keep a spare key for those without one. It would be a good short term solution with out any major work or cost.

Do they argue that there are only so many keys in circulation because there are limited spaces? Might be worth recording them how many spaces are unoccupied over a given period?

That's a good point, I don't know how many spaces there are in relation to keys although im sure a lot of the spaces don't get used and could be used by those who cycle more.

Once you get a key you have it for your whole employment, unless you give it back yourself they only get returned when people find new jobs etc. Seems pretty unfair and a first come first serve basis with a swipe card or similar system in my opinion, would serve better.

Physical keys and coded entry are a bollocks and any employer in their right mind should be looking to ditch them ASAP. In my last place I had to help with gaining ISO270001 compliance and part of that was controlling physical access to the areas that might contain sensitive data. Not that bikes are sensitive data, but restricting physical access is the same regardless.

Keys - these get lost and for proper accountability, records need to/should be kept as to who has them. This is often why it is expensive if you lose one as the cost is an incentive to keep hold of the bugger. It is also not very secure, as people go an get other copies cut for their mates. Technically, if one is lost or someone leaves without handing theirs in, you should change the locks and issue new keys to everyone who is supposed to have one.

Coded locks - Even worse, as the privilieged few just need to tell their mate(s) the code. Or they will write the code on a slip of paper that they will undoubtedly drop just beside the lock when fumbling through their pockets for it. Depending on the device, they can be easily 'picked'. And if anyone leaves, you need to change the code, much to the annoyance of everyone else. Also, they break, all the fucking time, especially if exposed to the elements.

Swipe card access is by far the best solution, especially if it is being rolled out through the rest of the building. It uses existing (barring maybe one or two additional locks/readers) infrastructure, it can be tracked to individual users and access times which improves accountability and security (something goes missing? check CCTV and who accessed the area at what time). You can also see who uses it and when so if someone has access but doesn't use it, you can assume they don't need it and given the limited space, restrict one and allow another through the central management portal. Way easier than getting new keys cut, asking for old ones back, changing codes, thinking of a secure way to distribute the code yada yada yada.

TL;DR - swipe cards - will be easier and cheaper to manage and more secure.

Pull something together more coherent than the above as to why they should extend swipe card access to the bike storage and if they say no, ask why not. There cannot be a reasonable argument to not do it.

Agreed, that's the general consensus for security in/around the building. Just the bike shed isn't a priority area to have that installed.

Escalate through your line manager. You are trying to improve your general health and wellbeing by cycling to work, not to mention improving the carbon footprint for the wider organisation. Why are they deliberately trying to kill you? Will no one think of the baby seals!!!!

But seriously, by denying you access they are insinuating some form of discrimination and causing you (albeit mild) distress. It is your LM's job to remove this.

escalated.