Bridgwater postmen ordered off their bikes

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.thisisthewestcountry.co.uk/n ... eir_bikes/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Bridgwater postmen claim bosses are forcing them to give up their bicycles and deliver mail in vans instead.

Royal Mail confirmed it was moving from bikes to vans to ‘take the weight off staff’s backs’ and ‘reduce cycling accidents’ among its staff – but denied bikes were being phased out in Bridgwater completely.

But angry posties in the town delivered warnings of job cuts and environmental problems.

Phil Greenslade, a Communication Workers Union representative at Bridgwater’s sorting office, told the Mercury: “They said we have to stop delivering mail on bikes and use vans instead.

“I think it is bad news – it’s hardly good for the environment is it?

“They have reasoned it by suggesting it is for health and safety purposes but I think they are just saying that. We could lose jobs over this.”

Royal Mail confirmed it was looking to switch to vans and trolleys but said it was not getting rid of bikes altogether in the town.

A spokesman said: “Royal Mail is making a number of changes in delivery methods as part of a £2bn modernisation of its entire operation.

“In making these changes we remain absolutely committed to becoming a greener organisation, and all the improvements we are making will help us in our aim of achieving a 34% reduction in carbon emissions by 2015.”

[dvbuk55]

Be interesting to see how they intend to reduce the carbon emission by 34% in 5 years whilst increasing the van fleets by about the same percentage

[bexhil palace]

I still don't get it.
When i use my bike, i don't have weight on my shoulder.

[dvbuk55]

I still don't get it.
When i use my bike, i don't have weight on my shoulder.

Well in order to cut down on the methane emissions you'd have to stop eating beans bex

[DGP1]

I still don't get it.
When i use my bike, i don't have weight on my shoulder.

Well in order to cut down on the methane emissions you'd have to stop eating beans bex

I thought that was go faster gas

[dvbuk55]

I still don't get it.
When i use my bike, i don't have weight on my shoulder.

Well in order to cut down on the methane emissions you'd have to stop eating beans bex

I thought nthat was go faster gas

No it's more like Zyklon B if you happen to be behind him.

[mark_e]

Two Things:

I don't drive (or have a driving licence)

A lot of rounds cover a large area and it would take a lot longer with a trolley (especially on light days when theres a lot of gaps between one address and the next)

[Lincox]

Bexhil, you have got it in one. Bicycles no weight on the shoulder apart from loading them. Trolleys or Bag Carrying, extreme stress on the whole skeleture Frame. Bicycles can be pushed even in Snow. Try dragging a trolley through Snow. This has nothing to do with health and safety, it is down to job cuts because by using a van, two men will do all the packets, specials, tracked etc, so RM can do away with a van run. ie 2 men doing the work of 3. The fact that these two will now be having to work their pants off and drag around trolleys is placing them at great health and safety risks, and this great union of ours that is supposed to be working for us and is paid by us, is supporting RM all the way on this one.

[bexhil palace]

Bexhil, you have got it in one. Bicycles no weight on the shoulder apart from loading them. Trolleys or Bag Carrying, extreme stress on the whole skeleture Frame. Bicycles can be pushed even in Snow. Try dragging a trolley through Snow. This has nothing to do with health and safety, it is down to job cuts because by using a van, two men will do all the packets, specials, tracked etc, so RM can do away with a van run. ie 2 men doing the work of 3. The fact that these two will now be having to work their pants off and drag around trolleys is placing them at great health and safety risks, and this great union of ours that is supposed to be working for us and is paid by us, is supporting RM all the way on this one.

Totally agree,but RM have been very clever by putting forward a H&S stance on this.
How would it look if the CWU went against RM? Straight away RM would accuse the CWU of not caring about their members welfare.All we can do is go along with it, and fiddle while Rome burns, as it surely will.

[Lincox]

They are not caring about their members welfare by accepting the use of CDVs and trolleys. They could have put up a justifiable defence when taking into account the number of times a driver will need to get out of his vehicle on busy roads, how he will be left bending over the back of the van (no jokes please) trying to sort mail on busy roads. The undoubted wear and tear on the lower back, shoulders arms and legs pulling or pushing a loaded trolley along. Increased legwork in having to walk all of the delivery, particularly in the winter months, and the heat of the summer. There is an unquestionable amount of health and safety risk associated with this new delivery method and should have been challenged rigorously by our union. If they put as much work in as they do when privatisation raises it,s ugly head and their jobs are at risk, then I think we would still be using our bikes.

[axeman]

the co2 emmisions are offset by the purchase of 'credits' it's yet another way to say you are greener but it's a cost royal failare willing to pay after all we live in a 'bullshit' world

[chunk]

RM are selling this to the media as bikes being replaced with vans.
makes it sound like money is being spent.
it is! but only on trolleys. vans will be be made available by sharing existing vans.

[CTCUK]

CTC has a campaign to Keep Posties Cycling!

http://www.ctc.org.uk/royalmail" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Please take action by writing to Royal Mail’s new chief executive, Moya Greene. Fill out the form, which will automatically generate a letter. Then you can edit, print and send it to CTC’s National Office. CTC will collect the letters and deliver them in one load by cargo bike to Royal Mail’s headquarters.

It's not too late to get active and create some attention in the media. Take part in CTC's campaign - by sending a letter and/or submitting your story as a cycling postman or woman, see: http://www.ctc.org.uk/royalmail" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[dvbuk55]

Can't quite see RM changing its policy of HCTs and CDVs when it took 5 months to come to agreement on modernisation with someone delivering a protest on a bike, I could be wrong....................................... In any case cycles aren't going to disappear overnight if ever, like cars on delivery there will be cases where they will be allowed.

I don't know what CTCUK is but they must be under the misapprehension that RM is full of dedicated cyclists on delivery.

When I took over as a cycle mechanic we had 52 or 54 cycles, I forget which, we now have 11 of which only 6 are in daily use and the reasons why:

a. RM has NOT replaced any cycles for years - the last I remember is about 6 years ago
b. People coming in to the delivery function use their car.

[Lincox]

Been advised this week that any use of private car on deliveries will be immediate dismissal, including taking first bag out to first delivery point.