Revised Cycle Policy

[brothermagrew]

LTB No. 044 /10 Ref C2 Date: 15 January 2010

To: Postal Branches & RML ASRs & ADRs.

Dear Colleagues
Cycle & Associated issues-Report & Progress (No 8).

Revised Cycle Policy.
Royal Mail have provided the attached Revised Cycle Policy following the independent testing of cycle frames by Milbrook Proving Ground LTD. The policy has been revised with CWU involvement by the CWU Walk Design Group.

The SSoW for cycles will also be reviewed in line with the revised Cycle Policy, and will be circulated in due course, supported by the relevant WTL & L material.
Any issues regarding this LTB should be raised with the relevant dept.

Royal Mail Delivery Cycle National Policy.doc

[DemonPostie]

It doesn't mention anything about the racing slick tyres all the bikes in my office have, or the frames made out of cast iron, lead, and granite, the panniers made out of tissue paper (usually wet), the bearing made out of cheese, the gear shifter made out of marzipan, the brake pads made out of greased pig fat, or the saddles made out of AIDS.

-me

[fishtank]

It doesn't mention anything about the racing slick tyres all the bikes in my office have, or the frames made out of cast iron, lead, and granite, the panniers made out of tissue paper (usually wet), the bearing made out of cheese, the gear shifter made out of marzipan, the brake pads made out of greased pig fat, or the saddles made out of AIDS.

-me

If they were made of cast iron and lead at least they would be worth something as the're all destined for the scrapheap anyway in favour of park&loopy.

[DGP1]

I love the bit about bikes being serviced every year when we send our bikes to be fixed they never come back there must be some sort of RM Triangle

[muckyboots]

It doesn't mention anything about the racing slick tyres all the bikes in my office have, or the frames made out of cast iron, lead, and granite, the panniers made out of tissue paper (usually wet), the bearing made out of cheese, the gear shifter made out of marzipan, the brake pads made out of greased pig fat, or the saddles made out of AIDS.

-me

well, at least you could eat some of it

[cyclemech1]

We were 'done' by the local H&S a couple of years ago and, as a result, I was trained up to be the cycle mech for our office.
We have 50 bikes but only about 20 are used on a regular basis for delivery (all the rest use their cars!)
I concentrate on the regular riders bikes for obvious reasons but still have to keep all the other bikes serviced in accordance with the regs.
I have my own full time walk so can only do bikes either in the afternoon or on my day off so it gives me a bit of o/t.
Some of the local offices don't have a mech and they sometimes ask me to have a look at one of theirs that needs fixing. Quite frankly, I'm horrified at the state of some of the bikes that people use to do their deliveries on. I had one the other week that had SIX broken spokes in the rear wheel and it was still being used!!
I refuse to touch any of these if they have no service records and if I let one go out of my workshop that I have 'touched' I would leave myself open to all kinds of problems.
Anyway, the DOM reckons I'm being awkward so now he 'loans' my bikes to these offices and it takes months to get them back (if at all).
I take pride in keeping our bikes roadworthy and, providing I'm notified by the rider, nobody is riding a defective bike, they all have panniers fitted and serviced regularly
I do feel for people that use bikes but are ashamed to be seen on them!
It will be a real shame if most bikes disappear under park & loop.

[Lincox]

Most of us use bikes at our depot. Have never seen this revised national cycle policy. The only time a bike goes in is when there is a problem. No annual maintenance. Mines been in countless times for new undercarriage (ie frame stand). When will they recognise that these stands have no chance of taking the weight of a bike and full bag and panniers crammed with parcels and wet gear. The only thing we keep getting nagged for is cycle helmets. What about knee and elbow pads for when the f...ing thing keeps falling over. As for park and loop. doomed to failure. No postie works at the same pace. This job will always be better off kept as a single round designated to one postie, and in many cases best serviced from a cycle fit for purpose, designed to meet the extra pkts etc that we carry, which will mean strengthening the cycle stand, probably by adding front bogie wheels to the bag carrier, which TNT are already supplying to their delivery walks. Royal Mail have failed once again by trying to create a modern delivery service by supplying CDVs and trolleys, and imposing double/triple walks on to a pair of postmen, which they say takes the weight off the shoulders. They have spent millions on these CDVs which together with fuel costs will destroy their attempts to lower their carbon footprint. Posties will suffer even more stress to their legs, ankles and feet, and I would say there will be more back problems from getting equipment and mail in and out of these vans, and bending down to get the mail out of pouches attached to golf trolleys.
Perhaps TBT could organise a poll to see who would prefer park and loop as against retaining use of Cycles modified to cope with the increase in packets. The result would be interesting.

[fishtank]

I understand your point lincox but you have to understand only 25% of deliveries are done using a bike.
Personally.I have never seen a postie on a bike in my life.(apart from on t.v.).
So it is as alien to me as park&loop is to you.
I do however agree that park&loop is doomed to failure but i would imagine that HCTs will probably be the future.
Bikes have far to many inherent H&S issues for this "no win no fee" world we live in now.

[brothermagrew]

Have never seen this revised national cycle policy

You and thousands of others but it has only just been published in the relevant LTB.

[Lincox]

Hi Fishtank
I agree that HCTs are going to be more used in the cities on flat walks, but I cannot see how they are going to replace cycles on country walks and where the walk is a distance from the DO or Sub. I assume that is why RM is intent on the Park and Loop.

[Richie89]

I have asked my DOM a number of times for a bike for one of the walks, we dont have any at our office.

His usual reply is 'Well no one else has asked to use one.'

Yeah, because everyone else uses their bloody cars!

[Lincox]

Have used car in the past, but wont do now. Personally I find it more tiring to work from a car as you are on your feet all the time. The only advantage is at the end of round you havent got a treck back to the depot. Bike for me all the time. Cannot see Park and Loop anything but a lot more stress on my aching limbs.

[music4essex]

We use cycles in our office,

they did bring in HCts 3 yrs agao but most of us prefer the bikes

Some use there own cars more fool them
was also told by our dim that we are not going to be doing park and loop as all our walks and van duties are within 3 miles of the office, but they are trying to do later starts for WSM
Essex mum

[fishtank]

We use cycles in our office,

they did bring in HCts 3 yrs agao but most of us prefer the bikes

Some use there own cars more fool them
was also told by our dim that we are not going to be doing park and loop as all our walks and van duties are within 3 miles of the office, but they are trying to do later starts for WSM
Essex mum

I don't want to burst your DIM's bubble but he/she is wrong.

Under the new delivery method there will be NO cycle duties.
Duties under ONE mile from the delivery office will be HCT or powered HCT.
All other duties will be park&loop.
Rurals will remain unchanged.