Trolleys or Bikes ...... ?

[Lincox]

Now I know where the infamous LOCAL BIKE comes from. Great piece of writing S/Fwd

[redneck]

The thing about the removal of bikes is just the complete ignorance of RM Management to a superbly economic mode of transport. Now we spend time driving here there and everywhere with the van in park and loop burning fuel and adding time to the job, which must be costing RM an absolute fortune nationwide in overtime. The loops never match up from day to day as unsurprisingly mail doesn't either, it varies with the parcels, specials etc. Everyone knows the quickest way is on your own, but this inefficient way of operating with trolleys is deemed to be 'the way forward'. I often think of this when I'm going 50/60 metres down a driveway that I used to cycle down.

The decision was born of short termism, with an investment in more capacity on the bikes rather than teamworking in vans, the 'business' would have been a lot fitter for the future. In India they carry two people weighing possibly 150 kgs total on rickshaws, our delivery areas are often locally suited to a larger capacity bike. Too far sighted for RM it seems.

[Lincox]

It would have been far cheaper to invest in electrically propelled bikes/scooters which would have also taken care of the fatigue factor

[Lateagainpostie]

Bike is the least physical method of delivery and is faster than a trolley.

Not if you use a HCT as puch drop, I use one every day, and move it only once in the delivery.
Both have the advantage of having to take less packets out, so quicker delivery all round.

[IloveMYredTROLLEY!]

Bike is the least physical method of delivery and is faster than a trolley.

Not if you use a HCT as puch drop, I use one every day, and move it only once in the delivery.
Both have the advantage of having to take less packets out, so quicker delivery all round.

You do realise that by locking up the HCT and delivering by pouch you are...
Breaking security protocol, HCT must be emptied if left locked to an immoveable object for more than 2/5/10 minutes (depending upon the risk assessment of the walk) without the HCT being seen by you
Putting weight on your shoulder, going completely against a significant point of HCT use, which follows nicely on to...
When/if you injure yourself (short or long term), how do you think managers are going to react when you tell them you are carrying heavy pouches of mail?

Your mangers will love you for cutting corners (read saving them money, in most cases), making your walk more achieveable within your contract hours, but when a security or injury issue happens they will hit you for six with the conduct code! If by following RM's SSOW for HCT means (see attachment) you cannot complete delivery within your contract hours, you have two safe options, cut-off at your contract finish time or get o/t for completing the whole walk playing by their rules.

[krussel]

Bike is the least physical method of delivery and is faster than a trolley.

Not if you use a HCT as puch drop, I use one every day, and move it only once in the delivery.
Both have the advantage of having to take less packets out, so quicker delivery all round.

I will admit to using my HTC like this and Lovetrolley is totally correct in saying it breaks the rules.

However i dont think it saves any real time in getting around quicker as you have to still dead walk the trolley to your next loop. It does mean that you can carry less in a pouch though.

When iam on leave and they put a "own car user" on my walk they knock 40-50 mins off my trolley time.

[Lincox]

If you have had a delivery methods revision, private car on delivery is breaking the bt2010 agreement and should be reported.

[dvbuk55]

If you have had a delivery methods revision, private car on delivery is breaking the bt2010 agreement and should be reported.

TBH Lincox who gives a sh*t these days, not the member, not the manager and not the union - it's not a BT2010 agreement it's a free for all.

[krussel]

If you have had a delivery methods revision, private car on delivery is breaking the bt2010 agreement and should be reported.

Oh boy dont start me on this one

We had a in house table top revision (not a full P&L) and it was stated by the Dom and the CWU rep that once introduced no cars could be used on delivery.

In fact what happened was our Dom retracted and our rep said he did not have a problem with cars so the car user’s (about ¾ of walking duties) carried on as before.

I kicked off a bit but no one backed me.

[IloveMYredTROLLEY!]

Bike is the least physical method of delivery and is faster than a trolley.

Not if you use a HCT as puch drop, I use one every day, and move it only once in the delivery.
Both have the advantage of having to take less packets out, so quicker delivery all round.

I will admit to using my HTC like this and Lovetrolley is totally correct in saying it breaks the rules.

However i dont think it saves any real time in getting around quicker as you have to still dead walk the trolley to your next loop. It does mean that you can carry less in a pouch though.

When iam on leave and they put a "own car user" on my walk they knock 40-50 mins off my trolley time.

You might be surprised how much longer it takes pushing the HCT around, I certainly was. I now know that a typically quiet Saturday and Monday have a delivery span of at least 3hrs30mins, before I knew better this was 3hrs. On a heavy attendence call day (which my walk can almost meet the 3% on just signatures alone before we even talk about oversize packets, outside Xmas pressure weeks), the delivery span difference between "fudging" and doing things by the book increases, not only through the added inertia of moving the heavier HCT along but also the added replenishment time when ensuring the HCT does not exceed 104Kg. The result? I get my intended legitimate o/t above my pathetic contract much easier, doing other's cut-offs is not a necessity, I can even safely cut-off my own walk if I choose to do so. At other times I laugh to myself while completing my walk and go past 1500 delivering last letter day after day.

[masterblaster]

In streets with doors onto the path the trolley everytime, with gaps of more than 50yds the bike, I estimate it will take 15% longer to do one of our rounds if the bike is removed. Quite simply it would waste 40mins walking at 4mph as opposed to riding at 15mph.