Model of a Modern Royal Mail

[Roy Mayall]

The Royal Mail have scrapped all the bikes in Milton Keynes and replaced them with vans. Vans are obviously much more modern than bikes. They are also more expensive. Not only do they cost several thousand pounds to buy, they cost several hundred pounds a year to tax and insure. As one postal worker said, ‘you could have bought a new bike for the cost of the insurance, which would have lasted ten years.’

Read more here: http://www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2011/01/19/ro ... oyal-mail/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[clashcityrocker]

These arguments about bikes being less polluting are spurious at best.
You can't fit a whole round on your bikes so you still have to have the vans to deliver the drop bags and the packets.
Using bikes isn't any less polluting.
And what's with the -"you can't read the address as you walk along?"

[fishtank]

The Royal Mail have scrapped all the bikes in Milton Keynes and replaced them with vans.

I don't like to knock Roy...at least he is passionate in his beliefs but to be fair that should really read...

The Royal Mail have scrapped all the bikes in Milton Keynes and replaced them with trolleys.

The van is only a means to convey the two delivery officers between the start of loop points in much the same way that vans were used to convey extra bags to drop off points for the extra bags that each bike needs.
Bikes may have been less polluting in the days where you could get everything in one or two bags but not now...

[Roy Mayall]

And what's with the -"you can't read the address as you walk along?"

You can't read the address as you're walking along because you are pulling a trolley. And don't say you don't do it clash, cos I'm sure you do.

[Roy Mayall]

The Royal Mail have scrapped all the bikes in Milton Keynes and replaced them with trolleys.

Ok I accept this. But walking is still slower and more tiring than riding. In our area they are also closing down the delivery offices, which means we'll be travelling to and from the nearby city a good ten miles away, and that IS more polluting than bikes.

[cyclemech1]

[quote="clashcityrocker"]These arguments about bikes being less polluting are spurious at best.
You can't fit a whole round on your bikes so you still have to have the vans to deliver the drop bags and the packets.
Using bikes isn't any less polluting.

Yes, but ONE VAN delivering the large packets and the second bags for about 15 -20 people if they all used bikes, not TEN VANS stopping and starting in loops which is more pollution because the engine doesn't get a chance to reach optimum operating temperture.
Using bikes must mean less pollution (and cheaper as well).

[jessicarabbit]

Roy - We P&L and I feel much more confortable pushing the LWT rather than pulling it. Try it - you might like it.

[clashcityrocker]

Yes, but ONE VAN delivering the large packets and the second bags for about 15 -20 people

We have one van to 5 walks. And not everywhere is appropriate for bike use.
Do you do the collections by bike as well?

[Roy Mayall]

Roy - We P&L and I feel much more confortable pushing the LWT rather than pulling it. Try it - you might like it.

We're not doing P&L yet. I've got the information from various people in various offices who are using it, most of which are in complete chaos. My point is that bikes are much more efficient, less tiring, cheaper, and altogether more "modern".

[Roy Mayall]

We have one van to 5 walks. And not everywhere is appropriate for bike use.
Do you do the collections by bike as well?

And not everywhere is appropriate for van use either, but what we have with the imposition of P&L nationally is the preferential use of vans where bikes would be more appropriate. It's a one size fits all model, and it's failing nationally, as everyone knows.

[Roy Mayall]

Check this out: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/ ... cklog.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

And we all know the stories from Dundee East and Kenilworth. P&L is a failure. I might even suggest it is designed to fail, in order to sell the idea of privatisation to a sceptical public. Look what a basket case the Royal Mail has become, and then sell it off to a private company to "repair".

[comeracing]

The Royal Mail have scrapped all the bikes in Milton Keynes and replaced them with vans.

I don't like to knock Roy...at least he is passionate in his beliefs but to be fair that should really read...

The Royal Mail have scrapped all the bikes in Milton Keynes and replaced them with trolleys.

The van is only a means to convey the two delivery officers between the start of loop points in much the same way that vans were used to convey extra bags to drop off points for the extra bags that each bike needs.
Bikes may have been less polluting in the days where you could get everything in one or two bags but not now...

our manager says the mail volumes are dropping ,what u talking about

[cyclemech1]

Yes, but ONE VAN delivering the large packets and the second bags for about 15 -20 people

We have one van to 5 walks. And not everywhere is appropriate for bike use.
Do you do the collections by bike as well?

Collections are done by the same van later in the day after the driver has delivered packets and second bags. I don't know about your office but mine has most of the walks starting within 3 miles of the office. Most of these P&L vans will only be used for deliveries and then the rest of the time will be parked up at the office. The point I was making was that the worst possible thing you can do to an engine (and causes the most pollution) is to start it up, only drive a short while then turn it off again, then start it, move it again etc etc.
Some people will always be against bikes (usually the ones who use their own cars) but those of us that use bikes every day will be sorry to see them go.

[heston]

bit of an academic argument folks,when the end state arrives,privatisation followed by the dutch model,dont get bogged down with irrelevant thoughts,the games up ,new owners for there investment require profits to keep the shareholders happy,if that means,a part time delivery force on 2 hour walks,with the mail dropped off at there home then so be it,park and loop,bikes,its a short term fix.........

[Roy Mayall]

bit of an academic argument folks,when the end state arrives,privatisation followed by the dutch model,dont get bogged down with irrelevant thoughts,the games up ,new owners for there investment require profits to keep the shareholders happy,if that means,a part time delivery force on 2 hour walks,with the mail dropped off at there home then so be it,park and loop,bikes,its a short term fix.........

Don't mean we shouldn't fight it every step of the way though does it?