Another inane situation for bicyclists. This will be sent to Rocky Anderson as a letter. If any of you have rode into the same situation you may want to write Rocky also.

porta-POTTY GATE

On May 30, 2006, a Tuesday morning, at 9:45 AM I was getting ready to bike from the East gate on the bike path that is on the south end of the airport. But first I used the porta-potty at East gate of the airport bike path. The security officer (female) saw me go into porta-potty and didn’t stop me. (I have used the porta-potty many times, and I have never been told by East Gate security officers that it could not be used.)

Some observations:

The porta-potty is on Public Land.

The porta-potty, ultimately, is paid for by the taxpayers.

No sign on the porta-potty that says it is not for public use.

The airport security officer uses the porta-potty.

Is it in the contract that the public can use porta-potties set up by contractors? If it isn’t, it should be!!!!!!

When I came out of the porta-potty, I was confronted by the security officer and a Granite Construction employee. Both stating that the porta-potty is not for public use.

I said that when you have to go you have to go. The porta-potty is on public land, and that the taxpayer paid for it which is, ultimately, the case. And that you (meaning the company) get plenty of tax breaks from the city. The Granite Construction employee took it personally and said “ Did you say I didn’t pay taxes”. That is when the security officer threatened to call airport police if I, Jim Piani, didn’t leave “in three seconds” when I wasn’t the one making a scene. I maintained exemplary demeanor during the entire episode. The Granite employee was the one getting upset, irate, and obnoxious in my opinion.

And, a Granite Construction employee was waiting at the East gate (in dark green pickup truck) when I returned, apparently to make sure I didn’t use the porta-potty. What a waste of manpower!

Does the City and Granite Construction have a problem with bikers that their personnel have to harass bicyclists.?

I think it is ridiculous that Granite Construction’s employee got so upset, irate, and obnoxious because I was using a porta-potty. One would think that he could make better use of his time by making sure the contract was carried out properly.

Think of the marketing and advertising potential by putting a sign on the porta-potty stating that it is there, also, for bicyclists’ use compliments of Granite Construction.

Salt Lake City purports to be biker friendly, it surely wasn’t in this situation.