Posties in a spin over bicycle ban

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/s/2073 ... icycle_ban" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Posties on bicycles could find support in Reading even though Royal Mail has told them to get off their bikes.

New Whitley councillor Rachel Eden is calling on the full council on Tuesday night to express its regrets at the move which will see cycling postal workers disappear in Reading and nationwide.

She is asking the council to support postal workers, trade unionists and the Cycle Touring Club (CTC) who are all calling on the new chief executive at Royal Mail, Moya Greene, to reverse the decision.

Cllr Eden’s motion says: “Both Reading Borough Council and Royal Mail are committed to minimising the impact on the environment of delivering public services and the great contribution that the use of sustainable transport can make to this.”

She wants the council to back her by instructing chief executive Michael Coughlin to write to Ms Green and send her a copy of the CTC’s ‘Keep Posties Cycling’ campaign.

CTC is urging the public to join its campaign by writing to the national cyclists’ organisation and it will deliver all the letters to Royal Mail – by cargo bike.

The plan to scrap postie bikes was announced by Ms Green’s predecessor Adam Crozier because of safety concerns, “the changing nature of postal deliveries” and the growth of internet retail.

Making the announcement in December, last year, he said Royal Mail would be spending £120 million on about 2,400 electric-powered trolleys and 24,000 lightweight trolleys to help postmen and women with their rounds.

He added: “It will help take the weight off our people’s backs — although it will mean, of course, that fewer of them will be using bikes.”

External relations manager at Royal Mail, Susan Dakin, said: “Our commitment to reducing our carbon footprint is core to the changes we seek to make in the way we collect, sort and deliver mail.

“We have already reduced the carbon footprint of our overall network by 12 per cent since 2004/05 and we will continue to target stretching annual reductions.

“We recognise that bicycles are a sustainable mode of travel for many people, but in designing a delivery operation that responds to the changing needs of our customers and the health and safety of our people out on delivery, we need to adopt a different approach for the future.”

[Lincox]

Not directly connected to this, but can Royal Mail legally insist that cycle helmets are worn, even though this is not a legal necessity in the UK. With the recent hot weather wearing a cycle helmet is pretty much unbearable and does nothing to protect the face and eyes from the full glare of the sun, whereas a cap/sunhat does offer some protection. As a sufferer of skin cancer and very aware of the need to protect my eyes in particular, I object to being forced to wear a helmet that may provide protection against accident, but in my case creates a bigger danger to my health, especially as there is no legal need to wear one. Can any one with any legal contacts let me know how I would stand if I was disciplined for failure to co-operate with an instruction to wear a cycle helmet by Royal mail.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Yes

http://www.cwu.org/assets/_files/docume ... elmets.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - RM/CWU agreement on Cycle Helmets.

Paragraph 5 - Compulsory Wear.

[Pat Ostman]

Although religion will intervene

[Lincox]

Thanks Teebs.

However there are a lot of paragraphs in there that seem to imply that this is not a straight forward case of comply or else and leads me to believe that if taken to an industrial tribunal, the law of the land must be taken into account.

Another line says (Ask if there are any personal circunstances that may be influencing them not to comply with the safety standards). All we are getting is wear them or else?

And if it is safe for a Seikh not to wear his helmet on the grounds of religion, then this makes a total farce of Royal Mails Safety Standards and must be questionable at law.

[postmanplod]

Wearing a cycle helmet comes under H&S at work act therefore is mandatory as it is PPE, your manager has to use cycle helmet agreement to disicpline you though, which is very long winded
However not wearing a cycle helmet because you are a sikh is covered by religious excemption (same as motorcycle helmets)

[Pat Ostman]

So the moral of the story is become a Sikh mate

[whisperlite6]

So the moral of the story is become a Sikh mate

Or become a Jedi?
The Helmet debate has just flared up in our office again as a postie scratched his head (apparently due to lack of helmet) after falling off his bike when his chain fell off.
"Googling" Religious Headwear with regards to the Cycle Helmet debate I found some interesting adverts/ articles etc.
Please note that I'm not here to diss anybody's religion!!! Or their beliefs - live and let live!!!!

However, a Jedi was chucked out of Tesco for wearing his Hood and refusing to remove it as removal of the hood would contravene with his religious attire when in Public. :)