new bike

[mick5eye]

can any one tell me why the posties are to get the new bikes as my is ready for the scrap yard?

[brothermagrew]

can any one tell me why the posties are to get the new bikes as my is ready for the scrap yard?

I was told a new bike will be issued for a walk every seven years. However if your bike is unfit for use then you must never use it but return it to your bike doctor for fixing and RM must provide you with a SAFE spare bike whilst yours is off road.

linkinpark

You've obviously missed this one then brother. Full item with attachments can be found under the health and safety section on the CWU website.

To: All Branches

Dear Colleagues

Royal Mail Cycles - 7 Year Lifespan Extension and Replacement Policy:

This is an update report to Branches, further to LTBs 514 /06 and 201/07.

Branches will recall that an agreement was reached with Royal Mail to restore the 7 years lifespan and replacement policy on Royal Mail Cycles. That remains unchanged.

The problem with maintaining the 7 year lifespan replacement policy was caused when during the 2005 - 2006 financial year, the Cycle Replacement budget was withdrawn for the year based on an assumption that the business had in excess of 5,000 spare cycles in the system and sufficient Cycles in service to replace those becoming "time expired" without buying any replacements. Additionally the Cycle Contract Tender due that year was put on hold. As a result a major backlog of time-expired Cycles awaiting replacement built up across the UK.

The supply of new Cycles hasn't yet caught up to deal with all over 7 years old replacements. However a total of 8,500 Cycles were delivered in 2006 - 2007. A further 1,500 new cycles will be delivered before the end of the current 2007 - 2008 financial year (prior to 31 March 2008).

A national audit was conducted earlier this year to identify the correct surplus of cycles in comparison with the number being used for delivery and since then Royal Mail has been working to bring the Cycle fleet in line with current and future requirements. This has involved the purchase of a small number of new cycles plus a number of existing cycles being transferred within and between Areas to match Cycle duty requirements and a further number of Cycles held in local storage have been released into Service.

The Industrial Action delayed completion of the Cycle redeployment and replacement plan and in the meantime, Royal Mail HQ (Assets) have asked Areas to continue to retain in service Cycles that reach seven years old, providing they are assessed as roadworthy by the Cycle Mechanics.

Royal Mail do not believe that this presents a risk in the short term, provided Cycles have been appropriately maintained in line with guidelines, and are in sound mechanical working order. They conclude that there is no reason why Cycles should cease to be used immediately their 7 year anniversary is reached. As a comparison, they state that the Royal Mail Motor Vehicle Fleet have lifespans ranging between 3 to 5 years, depending upon the type and that appropriate maintenance and servicing maintains them in a sound mechanical order. As a result Royal Mail frequently run Vehicles on beyond their 3 to 5 year lifespan which does not expose the driver to any greater safety risks by retaining them beyond the initially planed and stated lifespan policy.

Royal Mail state that the Cycle Mechanics are best placed, based on their skills, knowledge and experience of the Cycles to know whether any particular Cycle is in a sound mechanical working order or not and to make the appropriate decision on whether it can be used beyond it's 7 year lifespan or not. Additionally, as an added safety precaution, advice has been issued to Areas by the Royal Mail Assets Team that when continuing to use over 7 year old Cycles, which are in good condition, they recommend that the Area should increase Safety Inspections from every 12 months to every 6 months or 3 months. Further to this, Royal Mail HQ (Assets) have emphasised that if any of the older Cycles are unfit for use and in such a poor condition as to be considered a safety risk, then those particular Cycles should be withdrawn and not returned to service.

In conclusion Royal Mail do recognise that this approach has caused difficulties in some Areas and are planning to supply 1,500 new cycles before 31 March 2008. However Royal Mail HQ (Assets) are taking a cautious approach to the numbers of cycles being purchased due to the 'Delivery Methods and Equipment Review' which they expect to impact on Cycle numbers.



The Health, Safety and Environment Department has requested that the situation be closely examined in certain Areas where specific problems have been identified to us.

[haveagojoe]

This why you can,t get bikes tnt have bought them all

[Stormproof]

I'll go back on deliverys if I can have one of these

[DGP1]

I'll go back on deliverys if I can have one of these

Those things are death traps

[k979aaa]

This why you can,t get bikes tnt have bought them all

Are yes they have our old sh*t bike's and we will all be rideing on horse's (PEGASUS)!. :cfo & :lfo

[mick5eye]

my bike is 7 year old and the line manger say as long as it gets service every 6 months it will be ok ?can royal mail do this

[TrueBlueTerrier]

my bike is 7 year old and the line manger say as long as it gets service every 6 months it will be ok ?can royal mail do this

According to Brothermagrews post above - yes they can but with provisions.

[doveston]

my bike is 7 year old and the line manger say as long as it gets service every 6 months it will be ok ?can royal mail do this

7 years old..............i hope your doing the full cycle check before you go out on delivery ;)

[k979aaa]

my bike is 7 year old and the line manger say as long as it gets service every 6 months it will be ok ?can royal mail do this

Have you tried to wrap it round your manager's brass neck?.