Could cycling posties be a thing of the past

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/content/ ... 3A25%3A497" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Postal workers in Norwich could be kicked off their bikes in a Royal Mail drive to save cash.

The sight of the early morning postmen delivering the mail by bicycle could be a thing of the past under new proposals.

A proposed new system could see postal workers head out in vans in teams of two instead of on two wheels.

The move is said to be part of a Royal Mail bid to cut costs but has been slammed for going against green policies.

Melly Hill, Communication Workers Union representative for the Norwich area, said: “At the moment there's no agreement to the new deliveries but we have got a lot of reservations about it.

“We're really worried about the environmental situation. There will be more vehicles on the road if you take away bicycles. There's enough traffic on the roads as it is. The best way to deliver mail in Norfolk and Norwich is by bike.

“Royal Mail's excuse is that there's more packets in the mail now and you need vehicles for packet mail but vehicles are a huge cost to the environment and cost a lot more to run each year.”

He said the Norwich depot in Rowntree Way had yet to hear of the proposals officially but elsewhere in the country, such as Cambridge and Lincoln, postal workers have already been briefed on the plans.

Rupert Read, Norwich Green Party spokesman for transport, said: “These proposals are almost unbelievable. Instead of ending delivery by bike, Royal Mail should be increasing it.

“Norwich is a congested city - it would be great to see more deliveries by bike here, and fewer deliveries by van. Reduction in climate-dangerous carbon emissions depends on a united effort from all sectors of society and all enterprises. Let Royal Mail help lead the way here.”

Royal Mail bosses have not confirmed the proposals in detail but have admitted they are “reviewing” the delivery network in the city area.

A spokesman said: “We are reviewing our network to ensure we continue to deliver the mail as efficiently as possible to our customers. Any changes will be discussed with our people first but we will continue to use a range of vehicles, including vans, trolleys and bikes where appropriate.

“Customers should see no significant changes to their daily deliveries.”

As reported in the Evening News earlier this week, people living in Norwich are enjoying a quicker and more reliable postal service.

The percentage of first class letters being delivered on time in the NR postcode hit 93.6pc for the nine months to the end of December last year.

The figures represent a significant improvement on the previous year, when the percentage of on-time deliveries dropped to just 86.3pc, against a target of 91.5pc.

[DGP1]

Falling mail volumes but increasing packet volumes now does that mean we have more or less work it must mean that we have more if they want to send everybody out in vans.

[johnsouthwales]

bikes do have a place in royal mail tsk.. if only there was a bit of sense in management lol

[KREBB]

New kit on its way...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZ_qR8zC ... r_embedded" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[simjan]

Now that is giving them ideas!

[DGP1]

New kit on its way...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZ_qR8zC ... r_embedded" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

No need to worry about that we all know that RM would buy the cheapest crap they could find and it would work for one day and then never work again

[stokes11eg]

New kit on its way...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZ_qR8zC ... r_embedded" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

No need to worry about that we all know that RM would buy the cheapest crap they could find and it would work for one day and then never work again [/qu Yip, they would call it Magnum.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

New kit on its way...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZ_qR8zC ... r_embedded" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

No need to worry about that we all know that RM would buy the cheapest crap they could find and it would work for one day and then never work again

They would have some guy from ROMEC knock up a zimmer frame with all terrain tires

and anyway 7 mph sustained and 10mph burst - too slow for that lot.

[stokes11eg]

New kit on its way...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZ_qR8zC ... r_embedded" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

No need to worry about that we all know that RM would buy the cheapest crap they could find and it would work for one day and then never work again

They would have some guy from ROMEC knock up a zimmer frame with all terrain tires

and anyway 7 mph sustained and 10mph burst - too slow for that lot.

Oh, God, don't give them ideas! just imagine, they could pay the youngsters of first, and have all the oldies get their free zimmers from Social Services-think of the money they would save.