CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Commuting

Alternatives to showers at work

(78 posts)
  • Started 8 years ago by paddyirish
  • Latest reply from frippery13

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  1. Mandopicker101
    Member

    Wouldn't having showers at work be useful in encouraging staff to participate in sporting activities other than cycling? What about folks who might want to go running, jogging, do other active stuff at lunchtime?

    Having facilities (i.e. a shower, lockers etc) could remove potential barriers to participation in activity. Some folks might well think cycling to work will work up a sweat. That could be a barrier to them giving up the car ('why cycle and get all sweaty when you can stay perfectly groomed...and sit in traffic...you can go to the gym to get fit').

    Much as I wish we were, we don't live in a country with an established cycling culture. Some colleagues regard me as some form of hero for cycling to work in poor weather. Covering my short commute (6 miles each way) is deemed a near-awesome feat. I've even been asked if I don't drive...

    Posted 8 years ago #

  2. minus six
    Member

    All this talk of Copenhagen and Urban Cycling reminds me..

    The best "alternative to showers at work" is a nordic model of social equality where people can actually afford to live within five miles of their workplace.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  3. chdot
    Admin

    "The problem in Edinburgh, is people from the Lothians / Fife bringing their cars into Edinburgh, not the locals driving them."

    I would agree with that (out of prejudice and 'well obviously'), but don't know if there are any recent, reliable, stats on how much (commuting) traffic starts and finishes in Edinburgh.

    The big picture problem is that there is not enough transport planning/policy that looks at the what/why enough.

    People live and work where they do because of?

    Should this be altered or facilitated?

    How much are roads/traffic the answer/inevitable?

    Plus how much are the interests of Edinburgh residents taken into account and/or should be given more importance.

    Is traffic/jams on the arterial roads the 'price' residents have to pay for a 'functioning city'.

    Etc.

    (I don't know if - or how much - these, and many other things, are taken as 'given' or 'need to be considered' by politicians and planners.)

    Posted 8 years ago #

  4. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    Copenhagen also has completely segregated cycle paths, with green lights phased for cyclists, routes based on desire lines, footrests by stopping points, bins angled to have things thrown into them while moving, and large scale bike racks all over the place.

    I think there might be a few other reasons so many people cycle in Copenhagen other than "no-one thinks we need a shower when we get to work".

    Again, effect, not cause. Put in the infrastructure, the legal enforcement, the practical little bits and bobs that make you feel loved, and frankly whether there are showers or not, and whether people want shoers or not, is incredibly teeny tiny small beer. What you will find is that more people will be cycling, because actual and perceived danger on the roads, and winding, impractical routes, without anywhere to then put your bike, puts a hell of a lot more people off.

    "You can go slowly and not sweat so don't need a shower" really doesn't work as an argument for more people to cycle, if that slow and non-sweaty pace is on a road shared with juggernauts and non-indicating BMWs, or on a cycle path that doubles the distance.

    Whereas if you put in the infrastructure then people have the choice between going fast and sweating, or slow and not sweating, and therefore have the choice over whether showers are important or not.

    Showers, the reddest of herrings.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  5. Harts Cyclery
    Member

    Exactly, WC. A red herring.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  6. Harts Cyclery
    Member

    Min, to be clear, I'm not blaming you or any other individual for the choices you make in the current environment. Why would I be? We're all in the same boat. But the debates about showers in work could be energy better spent getting employers to lobby for better cycle infrastructure and then the shower issue goes away, for the majority.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  7. chdot
    Admin

    "Showers, the reddest of herrings."

    Yes, but -

    We're in the 'where we are now' situation.

    We're (still) in the 'we need to get more people cycling to prove that people want to cycle' phase.

    We may or may not have reached the 'Scottish Government will never get it, unless something changes' impasse.

    So 'more cyclists NOW' - some will think they *need* showers.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  8. Min
    Member

    Agreed chdot. Shooting for the stars is one thing but you need build your rocket launch pad first. No-one is going to build one for you, especially in the absence of large public demand for space rockets.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  9. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    @chdot, that was actually the point I was trying to make. It's the debate about showers, and the thought that saying showers are needed is a bad thing, that's the red herring. Some people will think they need showers, ergo I think they should be provided (and asked for), while those who may be put off by showers will (99%) be put off much more by other things, that if they were sorted (infrastructure etc.) would maybe make them realise that they possibly don't have to take a shower because they can now cycle slowly and non-sweatily if they like.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  10. Harts Cyclery
    Member

    But I'd say the real launch pad will be the Roseburn-Leith Walk path, not showers at folks' work.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  11. Min
    Member

    Lucky there is a demand for cycleways already then isn't it?

    Posted 8 years ago #

  12. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    It's not a choice between one or the other, both are allowed! Makes cycling appealing to anyone who wants to cycle, whether they are fast and sweaty, or slow and fragrant!

    Posted 8 years ago #

  13. Harts Cyclery
    Member

    Both are indeed allowed. But we've already established that small employers won't be able to meet the showering demands, so what do they advocate?

    Posted 8 years ago #

  14. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    They don't. But does that mean large organisations shouldn't?

    Posted 8 years ago #

  15. deckard112
    Member

    @acsimpson apologies, completely missed your comment re sink!

    In any event we have a shower in my office and I'm the only one who uses it. A lot of my colleagues live within an easily commutable distance too.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  16. neddie
    Member

    The good thing about having showers at work is then you are using the company's electricity instead of your own!

    And it gets cleaned for you...

    Posted 8 years ago #

  17. Min
    Member

    And it gets cleaned for you...

    Speak for yourself your employer.. *boak*

    (flip flops ahoy)

    WC They don't. But does that mean large organisations shouldn't?

    Maybe they should demand all employees live less than five miles away and uphill or level with the place of employment?

    Posted 8 years ago #

  18. steveo
    Member

    Just imagine what you'd do to the property prices at Fairmilehead or Balerno!

    Posted 8 years ago #

  19. Ed1
    Member

    If people use Insignia may not need a shower in summer

    Posted 8 years ago #

  20. chdot
    Admin

    http://www.modacitylife.com/blog/summer-2016-netherlands

    Posted 8 years ago #

  21. paddyirish
    Member

    The Grauniad has obviously been following this thread

    Posted 8 years ago #

  22. Ed1
    Member

    Disciplinary meeting for smelling again this time riding an electric bike? As long as ride on the engine and don’t try and pedal faster unconvinced. Don't sweat at all even going up hill as long as on engine, Is there a scientific way to measure smell?

    Posted 7 years ago #

  23. Tulyar
    Member

    Smell is measured in units of ming & ming is logarithmic 3 ming is twice as powerful as 1 ming...

    Posted 7 years ago #

  24. Nelly
    Member

    "Is there a scientific way to measure smell?"

    Not sure if you mean BO or clothes?

    From my observations, any "smell" from people at my (ex) work was from the clothing on those who didnt change, not from people who showered at home and cycled then changed into fresh clothes.

    Other experiences may differ, natch

    Posted 7 years ago #

  25. Nelly
    Member

    Oh, a suggestion if it is your clothing - buy merino.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  26. gembo
    Member

    If you wash with soap and maybe deodorant and wear clean clothes then cycle to work switch you machine on then go and change into work clothes you won't smell. True

    Posted 7 years ago #

  27. dessert rat
    Member

    +1 Gembo. Having been in that situation frequently. Clean clothes and anti-bac wet wipes is a winning combo.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  28. Ed1
    Member

    I though with electric bike would be ok, for the last year been getting train in to work and have been fine cycling a little to the station. I think it was my clothes rather than BO but did also get asked if I had been smoking cigarettes, which I had not as quit 8 months ago so not sure what type of smell.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  29. the canuck
    Member

    I work for small companies who barely have space for toilets, let alone showers or lockers or set space to store clothing.

    On Monday, I take in a set of clothes for the week-generally a couple of tops and bottoms, one or two pair shoes, clean underwear. Sometimes there's a place where I can hang these, other times I need to make sure it's clothing that can just be folded without looking frumpy. In the evening, if a piece of clothing is starting to smell, I take it home, so by Friday my panniers are only half full.

    I cycle to work (4-6 miles) in cycle gear (not of choice, but various reasons have meant proper cycle gear works best). I pick up my clothes and wet wipes, disappear into a cubicle for 5 minutes--most of which is spent cooling down. I even use that hippy salt crystal deodorant. No smell.

    As mentioned, the smell is actually waste product from the bacteria that eat your sweat, so if you are a person with BO problems, nip into the bathroom during the day and use a bit of soap and water (or hand sanitiser) on your armpits. If you want to get really fancy, a small bottle of tea tree oil or lavender oil--wet armpit, put a drop on finger, rub it around. Helps kill other odours, and shouldn't be a very strong smell itself.

    I keep meaning to be environmentally friendly and bring a cloth/ziploc bag instead of wet wipes, but...

    Posted 7 years ago #

  30. the canuck
    Member

    It doesn't help that our culture is obsessed with cleanliness to an unhealthy point. A normal person doesn't actually need a shower with full body soap everyday. Soap is only really needed on the smelly bits, but for the rest, just a wipe down with a damp cloth is enough. (yes, a shower is lovely. just not medically necessary.)

    I've lived in places where people didn't wear deodorant, but did bathe and wear clean clothes--after about 2 days, you only notice people who aren't changing their shirts.

    Posted 7 years ago #

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