eBay and internet retail forcing posties off bikes?

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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CWU: ‘A lot of people have a rose-tinted view of bicycles, but this is the 21st Century’

The Royal Mail has said that the rise in online retail – and the resultant heavier mail bags – led it to plan to phase out mail deliveries by bicycle, reported the BBC.

BikeBiz reported that Devon County Council was taking a lead on fighting the Royal Mail’s decision in April. The unpopular decision was made due to ‘safety concerns’.

The Royal Mail responded to the council, apparently shifting focus from safety worries to practicalities, pointing to the changing nature of postal deliveries.

A spokesperson said: "Whilst we recognise that bicycles are a sustainable and safe mode of travel for many people, we see their usefulness out on delivery as increasingly limited.

"The mix of mail in a delivery bag is changing and we are delivering fewer and fewer letters as people move to e-mail and text. However, small parcels and bulky letters are growing as people move to on-line retailing. As our people carry heavier mail bags we have to consider the safety and practicality of using cycles.

"The new vans which we are now introducing in place of bicycles are smaller and more fuel efficient than the older larger vans."

The Communication Workers Union also backed the Royal Mail’s point of view. A spokesperson said: "A lot of people have a rose-tinted view of bicycles, but this is the 21st Century.

"People are not just sending postcards and bills, they're ordering heavy items online or buying bulky packages from E-bay.

"This issue has even led to many postal workers using their own vehicles to deliver post, which we do not support at all."

[not me]

and the resultant heavier mail bags

but,but,but mail is down
how can the bags be heavier?

[DGP1]

and the resultant heavier mail bags

but,but,but mail is down
how can the bags be heavier?

My thoughts exactly

[not me]

Nice to see the CWU agreeing with RM though...

[dblad]

Beats me why they keep blaming email and text for the decline, most emails are generated from online sales a business that is helping RM through parcels and packets, and most texts are people who know each other and would normally wait and see them in person than send a letter, just excuses.

[not me]

Beats me why they keep blaming email and text for the decline, most emails are generated from online sales a business that is helping RM through parcels and packets, and most texts are people who know each other and would normally wait and see them in person than send a letter, just excuses.

exactly,anything i send via email is unlikely to be sent by letter or its backed up by a letter
my recent Stage 3 is a great example
everything via SD with emails to back up what has been sent

[Big Daz]

and the resultant heavier mail bags

but,but,but mail is down
how can the bags be heavier?

Packets and parcels

[DGP1]

and the resultant heavier mail bags

but,but,but mail is down
how can the bags be heavier?

Packets and parcels

Cataloges, magazines, DSA letters

[not me]

and the resultant heavier mail bags

but,but,but mail is down
how can the bags be heavier?

Packets and parcels

why would that result in heavier bags?
given RM has the bag weights matrix and letters are constantly falling in volume?
or could it be that it suits RM to say mail is heavier here as they are phasing out bikes anyway?

[Straight4ward]

CWU: ‘A lot of people have a rose-tinted view of bicycles

Yeah that would be me, and why? - - - well because they bloody work!

Think bike.jpg

[Lounge Lizard]

and mail has also got heavier since Royal Mail increased the basic weight step for inland items from 60g to 100g four years ago. so businesses have increased the bumff they send by 40g instead of decreasing it by 10g if 50g had been the new limit.

[heapsy]

and the resultant heavier mail bags

but,but,but mail is down
how can the bags be heavier?

My thoughts exactly

Me too! They keep banging on about falling mail volumes. It IS true that the type of mail has changed. There are far more catalogues and brochures now. Packets have also increased, probably quadrupled since I started. This is obviously down to the internet. Strange really, I can still clearly remember them saying in my office, about 20 years ago, that it would kill Royal Mail off.