Keep posties cycling, Royal Mail urged

[POSTMAN]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/ ... urged.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A campaign has been started to keep postmen delivering letters by bike, and to reverse a decision by the Royal Mail to phase out cycle deliveries

The Royal Mail has admitted that over time it will stop using the 14,500 bicycles it currently uses in favour of vans, arguing that the average postbag has got considerably heavier in recent years. The growth of internet shopping means that postmen now have to carry more parcels and packages than before and many have to return to the depot more than once during their deliveries to collect another bag.

However, CTC a group that campaigns for cycling in Britain, has teamed up with Lord Berkeley, Julian Huppert MP and Meg Hillier MP from the All Party Parliamentary Cycling Group in an attempt to change the Royal Mail's decision, which was made by the former chief executive Adam Crozier.


It plans to deliver hundreds of letters of protest to the company on Wednesday morning to Moya Greene, Royal Mail's new chief executive.

Lord Berkeley said: “Adam Crozier made a decision and now I want to know if Moya Greene is looking at all the facts before implementing this ridiculous policy, which will damage the health of thousands of postal workers and increase both carbon emissions and congestion.”

CTC said that though postal workers have to cope with heavier bags, Royal Mail had failed to undertake a full review into the health and safety implications for other road users from switching from bikes to vans.

Max Lambert, a postman, said: “I’ve been delivering mail by post for over 20 years. I love cycling – it is the quickest way of delivering post, as you don’t have to push or carry the mail. If they stop us using our red bikes there will be a Royal Mail van in every traffic jam on every street. It won’t improve the delivery of our mail, just slow us and everyone else down.”

CTC said that Royal Mail should adopt "freight bicycles" commonly used in Denmark, some of which are part-electric. These bikes, often with substantial trailers attached to the front wheel, are also used by some delivery companies in Britain.

A Royal Mail spokesman said: "Royal Mail is making a number of changes in delivery methods as part of a £2 billion modernisation of its entire operation, and it is certainly not a straightforward switch to vans for those postmen and women who currently use bicycles.

"We are not getting rid of all bicycles and they will remain part of our delivery operation, with decisions taken locally."

[POSTMAN]

"We are not getting rid of all bicycles and they will remain part of our delivery operation, with decisions taken locally."

[Night Tonic]

Not what the CWU is saying though

http://www.hellmail.co.uk/postalnews/te ... 8&zoneid=3" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

In response to a leisure cycling organisation – the Cycle Touring Club (CTC) – protest this morning (Wednesday) against removal of Royal Mail cycles on delivery, the Communication Workers Union which represents thousands of postal workers, said it fully supported the change.

The decision to scale back the use of cycles on delivery was taken two years ago as part of ongoing efforts to modernise deliveries, respond to the changing profile of mail which is increasingly made up of bulky parcels from internet shopping, and improve health and safety. Over the past 15 years, 13 cycle delivery postmen and women have been killed at work and thousands more injured as the result of road traffic accidents.

CWU spokesperson, said: “Cycles are one small part of a major modernisation programme in Royal Mail, and while we respect the CTC as an issue-based membership organisation, they are misrepresenting the facts on this matter.

“This isn’t leisure cycling, it’s cycling for work, and considerations are very different when people cycle as part of their job. Postal workers can’t pick and choose where they go on their cycle like leisure cyclists or people commuting and changes in road and traffic conditions have made cycles no longer suitable on many routes. For every postman and woman that loves their cycle there’s one that hates them.

“We fully support the changes for improved efficiency, safety and environmental performance. What most people don’t know is that thousands of postal workers every week use their own private cars on delivery. This not only raises problems of insurance and safety but is an invisible major contributor of emissions. The new vehicles being brought in have high environmental performance, will eliminate the use of private vehicles and will be fully audited in Royal Mail’s carbon footprint.

“Most important is the modernisation of the industry. Today’s protest by CTC used ancient cycles and old postal uniforms. We’re fighting for a modern Royal Mail. You have to let go of some of the sentimentality surrounding traditional views of an industry spanning hundreds of years if you want it to have a successful future.”

Royal Mail is not eliminating cycles altogether and a fleet of around 1,000 will remain. Those cycles will be more carefully matched to the delivery rounds they are used on and CWU is helping to identify appropriate routes.

The CTC said it opposed any moves by Royal Mail to stop cycle deliveries, and instead would like to see cargo bikes and tricycles used to deliver larger weights of post. It recently condemned the CWU for not taking a stand on the issue.

© Hellmail.co.uk - The Global Postal News Site

[POSTMAN]

Ok,has anyone actually asked those who cycle what they think?

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.cwu.org/news/archive/cwu-sup ... hange.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

CWU supports Royal Mail cycle change

8th September 2010

In response to a leisure cycling organisation - the Cycle Touring Club (CTC) - protest this morning (Wednesday) against removal of Royal Mail cycles on delivery, CWU explains and supports the changes.

The decision to scale back the use of cycles on delivery was taken two years ago as part of ongoing efforts to modernise deliveries, respond to the changing profile of mail which is increasingly made up of bulky parcels from internet shopping, and improve health and safety. Over the past 15 years, 13 cycle delivery postmen and women have been killed at work and thousands more injured as the result of road traffic accidents.

CWU spokesperson, said: "Cycles are one small part of a major modernisation programme in Royal Mail, and while we respect the CTC as an issue-based membership organisation, they are misrepresenting the facts on this matter.

"This isn't leisure cycling, it's cycling for work, and considerations are very different when people cycle as part of their job. Postal workers can't pick and choose where they go on their cycle like leisure cyclists or people commuting and changes in road and traffic conditions have made cycles no longer suitable on many routes. For every postman and woman that loves their cycle there's one that hates them.

"We fully support the changes for improved efficiency, safety and environmental performance. What most people don't know is that thousands of postal workers every week use their own private cars on delivery. This not only raises problems of insurance and safety but is an invisible major contributor of emissions. The new vehicles being brought in have high environmental performance, will eliminate the use of private vehicles and will be fully audited in Royal Mail's carbon footprint.

"Most important is the modernisation of the industry. Today's protest by CTC used ancient cycles and old postal uniforms. We're fighting for a modern Royal Mail. You have to let go of some of the sentimentality surrounding traditional views of an industry spanning hundreds of years if you want it to have a successful future."

Royal Mail is not eliminating cycles altogether and a fleet of around 1,000 will remain. Those cycles will be more carefully matched to the delivery rounds they are used on and CWU is helping to identify appropriate routes.

Additional information on the move away from cycles:

* There is a limited load carrying capacity with cycles and it's common for overloading to occur, affecting cycle stability. This also limits the effectiveness of this form of transport for mail as packet and parcel traffic increases.
* Poor compliance, particularly in hot weather with postal workers not wearing their cycle helmets and high visibility jackets is a problem.
* Jointly Royal Mail and the CWU are committed to reducing the environmental impact of our delivery, collection and trunking fleets through new technology and environmentally friendly vehicles, procuring the most environmentally advanced vehicles with green technology, offering improved fuel efficiency, better tyres and lower CO2 emissions. Royal Mail is continuing to trial and develop environmentally friendly vehicles which are our future e.g. alternative fuel, hybrid or electric powered vehicles.
* As part of the reduction in cycle numbers, we will see the elimination of nearly 30,000 private cars used on delivery daily.

[Straight4ward]

Over the past 15 years, 13 cycle delivery postmen and women have been killed at work and thousands more injured as the result of road traffic accidents.

During the same period how many postman have been killed or injured while driving for Royal Mail?

[Straight4ward]

Another thought:

This is as good an illustration as you can get as to how out of touch with its membership the CWU hierarchy have become.

Taking decisions on our behalf presumably 'for the greater good' without ever canvassing opinion. Either the members' opinions were considered unimportant or were not trusted to reach the 'right' decision. Pretty disheartening, really.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Another thought:

This is as good an illustration as you can get as to how out of touch with its membership the CWU hierarchy have become.

Taking decisions on our behalf presumably 'for the greater good' without ever canvassing opinion. Either the members' opinions were considered unimportant or were not trusted to reach the 'right' decision. Pretty disheartening, really.

They backed themselves into a corner on this issue though, as acceptance of the 2010 deal and its "Modernisation" plans meant in reality that bikes were always going to go as CDVs and trolley deliveries were phased in.

[Night Tonic]

If CWU objected to it, they'd be seen as opposing modernisation then. You can't have it both ways. Besides, you got more chance getting killed on a bike than in a van.

[POSTMAN]

So,are we saying/thinking the CWU will go along with what makes them looks good and not the bad guy at the expense of what members want?

[woofwoof]

arguing that the average postbag has got considerably heavier in recent years. The growth of internet shopping means that postmen now have to carry more parcels and packages

but the volume of mail is down

[Night Tonic]

So,are we saying/thinking the CWU will go along with what makes them looks good and not the bad guy at the expense of what members want?

Who says members want it?

[POSTMAN]

So,are we saying/thinking the CWU will go along with what makes them looks good and not the bad guy at the expense of what members want?

Who says members want it?

Ttbf we don't know.

[mr deeds]

leave me and my fe*king bike alone :mfo

[Night Tonic]

Theres one