Photography: Andrew Rogers

Change doesn’t generally happen overnight, nor is it best attempted alone. But what matters is that it does happen. And who better to serve as an example than the dedicated employees at the San Francisco Federal Building? After two years of perseverance and patience, they achieved a victorious gain of secure bike parking for their new supposed “green” workplace.

The federal status of the San Francisco Federal Building made it exempt from City laws requiring employers to provide secure bike parking for employees. A survey taken prior to the move indicated that secure bike parking was a real need for some agencies. “Employees were accustomed to having secure, indoor bicycle parking, and they hoped that this would continue with the move to the new building – especially considering security issues in the neighborhood,” said Cara Morkert, a Department of Labor employee. Without secure bike parking at the new federal building, bike commuters’ theft concerns became realities.

Cara Morkert in the hard-won secure bicycle parking area at the SF federal building.

“Bikes and bike parts were stolen on a regular basis and it wasn’t long before a group of bicyclists gathered to voice their concerns,” Morkert said.

Before change can take place, the need for change must be made known. Employees took their bike parking concerns to the heads of their agencies, who in turn addressed the issue in monthly Tenants Council Meetings with the building management agency. The first step had been taken and an uphill climb would follow; luckily, San Francisco bicyclists are familiar with climbing up hills.

The tenants contacted the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition (SFBC) who gave them technical information regarding bike parking and attended meetings to support pitches to management. The first key challenge was the building management’s desire to keep the architect’s vision intact – meaning no structure that would take away from the overall look and feel of the building could be built on the premises. Allowing employees to bring their bikes into the building and converting a parking space in the already limited garage into a secure cage locker were also ruled out by management.

The second obstacle was a little more conceptual – getting management to understand that a “green” building without any bike parking was an oxymoron. Support from the SFBC at events like Earth Day was very important. The combined effort of the SFBC and the tenants to promote Bike to Work Day was successful in growing the bike community within the building and demonstrating the considerable need for secure bike parking. “The San Francisco Bike Coalition is a phenomenal organization,” said Morkert. “I know the bicycle-wielding employees of the San Francisco Federal Building are forever grateful for the services they provided to us.”

As it turns out, an existing space under an emergency exit stairwell proved to be easily converted into secure bicycle parking. Thanks to two years of never backing down, San Francisco Federal Building tenants can bike-commute to work with peace of mind. The location is accessible from the street and allows employees to enter locker rooms and the inside of the building. Employees are granted access to the facility using their coded building ID badge. Over 65 people have requested access to the facility so far, Morkert said.

“The old adage ‘the squeaky wheel gets the grease’ held very true for San Francisco Federal Building’s bike parking victory,” said Morkert. “Don’t give up. It is worth the fight.”

For more information on getting secure bike parking at your workplace, visit sfbike.org/parking