Global executives on - Riding to work !

[papparazzzi]

Do u ride to work ?

 

There have been some prejudices in society with people riding motorbikes and most people do not look at bikers as nice folks just touring a place on a motorbike. There have been biker gangs with tattoos and a rash social life which have inspired a lot of movies etc. However despite all that there are many who prefer to ride to work! So will this affect you as a professional in your career if you ride to work?

 

I have had the opportunity to interact with some leading top-notch global executives who ride to work and have shared their feedback on my blog -

 

http://www.planetbt.com/royalenfield/ridetowork/ridetowork.htm

 

Please let me know ur opinion

 

Cheers !

 

BT

[Nicholai]

Nope. No issues about riding to work at all. In fact, riding saves my career! Haha! I am always mobile even in a traffic congestion, thus, able to reach my destination faster than being a cager in that situation. To heck what the general naive, petty, local community think! I ride therefore I am!!

 

Semper Fi

Nic

[contrarian]

I don't see any problems. There are a lot of us who ride to work at One Raffles Quay.

[Refugee]

Golden Shoe carpark... if you arrive for work at 9.30am.. i think you have to park to like level 7...

 

After a while, you'll get used to it and dun bother to explain.

 

In the first place, theres no need to explain to anyone your choice of transport.

[RedGixxer688]

I'm not the an executive type but I do ride to work. I guess people ride to work its for convinience reasons especially knowing how "packed" the traffic will be during peak hours. And also, compared to cars, its more cheaper.

[Bad_Man]

I also ride to work in Raffles Place area...dont think it affects me as a professional.

[SV650]

I have yet to come across any prejudice or heard about it on bikers. In fact, being on a bike helps me to start up a conversation with my clients as they usually find it a refreshing change. And it does wonder for my clients to remember me as the guy who is on the bike.

 

papparazzzi, care to share some prejudices that you have come across or experience that your fellow biker friends have come across?

[papparazzzi]

Yes. There my pal who's a biker. Unfortunately his boss feels bikers are hooligans and does feel that they rash ride and zip between cars putting car drivers at risk. My pal is afraid his pay hike appraisal may be more favourable to sweet babies who come in AC cars

 

Cheers anyways,

 

 

Papparazzzi

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have yet to come across any prejudice or heard about it on bikers. In fact, being on a bike helps me to start up a conversation with my clients as they usually find it a refreshing change. And it does wonder for my clients to remember me as the guy who is on the bike.

 

papparazzzi, care to share some prejudices that you have come across or experience that your fellow biker friends have come across?

[SV650]

I guess this might happen at the begining of the job. But after working for a while, the results should speaks for itself. My boss had didn't like the idea of me riding for fear of the "not so good" image as my job requires me to see my clients and their management team. But after a couple of months, I've got positive feedbacks from my clients on my work and my boss didn't really mind me on a bike.

 

I can understand your pal's situation. Some ppl may have negative opinions about bikers, especially over company's image. If your pal's boss is strongly against it and there is no way to convince his/her boss, then I guess he/she gotto do something to keep the job or get ready to find another job.

[Nicholai]

Yes. There my pal who's a biker. Unfortunately his boss feels bikers are hooligans and does feel that they rash ride and zip between cars putting car drivers at risk. My pal is afraid his pay hike appraisal may be more favourable to sweet babies who come in AC cars

 

Cheers anyways,

 

 

Papparazzzi

 

Hmm, my sympathy to your friend having such a narrow-minded boss. I assume he/she needs to travel the roads for his/her work but that does not render his/her boss to assume what kind of motorist or employee he/she is judging from the vehicle he/she uses. It definitely does not mean the lesser the number of wheels on the vehicle the worse the owner is as a motorist and employee.

 

*sigh* It really saddens and irritates me that people in this country have that low opinion towards motorcyclists. Earthly material possessions are the first things someone judges another's well being. Now, his/her annual increment depends on the vehicle he/she owns not on personal performance. A very sad story indeed.

 

Semper Fi

Nic

Edited January 28, 2009 by Nicholai

[RedGixxer688]

Hmm .... if that is the case, the company should put a requirement notice in the application form also. "Only drivers" allowed. Sigh .... such blatant discrimination. Wonder if your friend get praised when he comes early and his other colleagues are late due to heavy traffic?

[SV650]

One of my buddies was asked by his boss to get a car shortly after he joined the company. Reason by his boss was for company's image.

 

After he has purchased the car, then he realized that the primary intention of his boss request was that with the additional financial commitment, one would think twice about changing the job.

[danchen]

I ride with my office wear every morning and place my helmet into my rear box once I've reached my workplace. Only complain is that I can't use hair gel, and I've got to comb my hair before i walk into the office.

If the job requires a car for the image/to ferry customers around, then ask your company to sponsor your car purchase.

 

The mentality that bikers are gangsters/hooligans/young punks/speed junkies is so naive...

 

unfortunately, you can't decide or change the general population's habitual stereotyping - seems to have been born from watching too much movies and from over-protective mothers trying to stop their kids from getting a bike.

 

However, it is your actions and work which can change (for better/worse) what people around you think of you.

Edited January 28, 2009 by danchen

[papparazzzi]

Rightly said !

 

BT

 

 

I guess this might happen at the begining of the job. But after working for a while, the results should speaks for itself. My boss had didn't like the idea of me riding for fear of the "not so good" image as my job requires me to see my clients and their management team. But after a couple of months, I've got positive feedbacks from my clients on my work and my boss didn't really mind me on a bike.

 

I can understand your pal's situation. Some ppl may have negative opinions about bikers, especially over company's image. If your pal's boss is strongly against it and there is no way to convince his/her boss, then I guess he/she gotto do something to keep the job or get ready to find another job.

[vespaboy]

errr.. riding bike = hooligan meh? then all those management chaps who buy and ride their harleys around in the weekend must be big time hooligans lah! I guess it doesn't help that a few bikers who intentionally squeeze in a dangerous manner on the roads.

 

Perhaps the "boss" is from the era where there were a lot of bikers riding the 125 bikes with exhaust removed and the back seat tilted upwards and had permed hair and a big comb sticking out from the back pocket. Those times are gone oredi... times have changed!!!

[taurus83]

haha, seems to me that rather quite a lot of bosses prefer their staffs to drive than ride.. To me, if my bosses want to control my mode of transportation, then provide me with their favour choice of transportation.. Sad to hear that some bosses are like this, but for my case, my bosses don't care how i make my way to work as long as i perform and make money for myself and for company, i deserve my pay... Seriously speaking, if you do have bosses who behave in such way, why not you try talking to them that is my mode of transport more important or making money for company more important? For example; you are a rider and making 10000+ per month revenue for your company, would bosses tell you to change to driving and earn lesser for company or would they tell you to work harder and earn more for company...

[huairen]

i am quite happy to be able to get to work and home so much faster on a bike.

even my manager is asking my collegue when he's going to get a bike.

[ramen71]

Ride or drive to work still our choice,my boss doesn't look down on bike

but he insist that amount we use to spend on bike can purchase a small

or medium car,i convinced him that driving a car is not as great as riding a bike.Bike are in my blood. They make up the very essence of who I am. I was truly born to ride. It's give u motivation,energy to work in the cool morning.

[belgarathc]

Thing I don't like about riding to work is the potential sweat and smell. Sometimes it gets hot. Good thing is the convenience and excuse for having messy hair.

[Dafanshu]

not riding daily to city hall as the erp really sums up to like 6 bucks a day. 120 bucks a month for just passing by the gantry

[Dafanshu]

second question, what kind of bags are you carrying when you ride to work?

[Guest NPNT]

Actually... whats the big deal abt all these "executives"?

 

I mean.. nowadays even ITE or O-lvl holders can get title of executives mah.. so... wads so executive abt riding to work???

 

Its just a job.

[BLACK COMET]

second question, what kind of bags are you carrying when you ride to work?

 

Unless ur bike got a big box, I feel the best bags are still those backpack style. There's alot of style of bags arround.

 

I'm a IT professional, thus my bag is always a laptop bag. However, being vain, u will never see me using those old fashion looking Targus laptop backpack.

 

IF u want a laptop backpack, do check out this brand call mobilegear in South east asia(?) in funan. The price are reasonable. For 80+ buck u can get a stylo, tough and functional laptop back pack. Or u can pay 180+ for the unqiue alienware backpack.

 

I was initial riding with a normal sling laptop bag. To prevent swinging while riding, I have to adjust it to the shortest possible length and thus make u look stupid. Even the sling is at the shortest length, it still hinders ur riding.

 

In summary, for riding, a backpack style of bag is still the best way to go.

[minorsage]

Will you still ride to work if your company gives you an extra $1200 transport allowance?

 

and a petrol fuel charge card of $500 limit?

 

All these "benefits" are given only if you drive to work.

 

If you ride, you are on your own.

[BLACK COMET]

Will you still ride to work if your company gives you an extra $1200 transport allowance?

 

and a petrol fuel charge card of $500 limit?

 

All these "benefits" are given only if you drive to work.

 

If you ride, you are on your own.

 

Lolz, Drive. Cos with that amount, u can get a free car.