RMs decision to scrap bicycles for workers harmed deliveries

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Royal Mail's decision to scrap bicycles for postal workers 'has harmed deliveries in Cambridge' claims postman

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The Royal Mail’s decision to scrap bicycles for postal workers has harmed deliveries in Cambridge, according to a frustrated city postman.

Last year the company announced it was planning to phase out its well-known Pashley Mailstar bikes, with all deliveries to be made with vans and trollies.

The final bikes were removed from the Cambridge delivery office two weeks ago.

However one local postman, who did not want to be named, has hit out at the move, claiming he cannot complete his round as quickly on foot.

He said: “From my experience bikes are the best tool we have for getting the job done quickly.

“The replacement trollies mean these walks are not being completed, and are having to be taken out again at a later stage.”

He also claimed pushing the ‘high capacity trollies’ was having an impact on his health.

He said: “The trollies also mean physically our bodies are going to suffer, as there is much more lifting as you push trollies up kerbs.

“Cambridge is geared up for bikes, but there was no communication about it, no-one came to us to ask, they just said no bikes all over.

“At long driveways or gaps between houses they are asking us to drive up and push the trolley.

“Now managers are having to go out to finish deliveries, as there is no facility for someone on a bike.

“Talking to fellow postmen today they just can’t understand why the tools they use have been 
discarded without ever talking to us.”

The Royal Mail said the changes were part of a £2bn modernisation plan, which had been approved by postal unions.

Spokeswoman Felicity MacFarlane said: “This is part of one of the biggest transformations undertaken in UK industry and enables us to respond to changes within the postal market.

“As we deliver fewer letters but more parcels than we did in the past, we have been progressively replacing bicycles and mailbags with trolleys and vans.

This move, which has been supported by the union, enables us to take the weight off the shoulders of our staff and therefore deliver mail more securely and safely.”

[dvbuk55]

He should consider himself lucky to have kept them so long ours went 4 years ago - oh round about the time the 2010 modernisation kicked in.

[Lounge Lizard]

"according to a frustrated city postman"
Thankfully the frustrated Cambridge postman hasn't got into big trouble like the frustrated Blacon postman in the Tesco car park.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

"according to a frustrated city postman"
Thankfully the frustrated Cambridge postman hasn't got into big trouble like the frustrated Blacon postman in the Tesco car park.

[dvbuk55]

"according to a frustrated city postman"
Thankfully the frustrated Cambridge postman hasn't got into big trouble like the frustrated Blacon postman in the Tesco car park.

Mind it would be harder to pull off the same stunt on a bike I would imagine

[Bernardson]

Although I sympathise with him. Where has he been for the last few years? Everyone was aware this was happening .
He has soon found out the HCT's are bad for his health it took me about two years before I suffered. Glad to say I'm now solo in a van.
Reading a bit between the lines seems that Cambridge may be a soft office as he indicates getting done early, no P&M then!
Welcome to Royal Mail 2014.

[Lounge Lizard]

"according to a frustrated city postman"
Thankfully the frustrated Cambridge postman hasn't got into big trouble like the frustrated Blacon postman in the Tesco car park.

Mind it would be harder to pull off the same stunt on a bike I would imagine

Now there's a challenge.

[dvbuk55]

"according to a frustrated city postman"
Thankfully the frustrated Cambridge postman hasn't got into big trouble like the frustrated Blacon postman in the Tesco car park.

Mind it would be harder to pull off the same stunt on a bike I would imagine

Now there's a challenge.

I'm thinking LIDL or ALDI, it would have to be sort of downmarket I would think

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Not too upmarket for you, I hope

[dvbuk55]

Not too upmarket for you, I hope

Hey do I come across as that cheap?

[Lounge Lizard]

Is there any truth in the rumours that bicycles will be making a comeback because of all the problems with trolleys ?

[cyclemech1]

Is there any truth in the rumours that bicycles will be making a comeback because of all the problems with trolleys ?

Don't see how they can now, after both RM and CWU said that bikes were, in effect, 'too dangerous' to use.

Mind you, I wouldn't mind coming back, part time, to maintain them if they did!

[dvbuk55]

Is there any truth in the rumours that bicycles will be making a comeback because of all the problems with trolleys ?

Don't see how they can now, after both RM and CWU said that bikes were, in effect, 'too dangerous' to use.

Mind you, I wouldn't mind coming back, part time, to maintain them if they did!

Well not only has the bikes gone but our workshop went as well - it's now a storeroom for British Gas.

[cyclemech1]

Is there any truth in the rumours that bicycles will be making a comeback because of all the problems with trolleys ?

Don't see how they can now, after both RM and CWU said that bikes were, in effect, 'too dangerous' to use.

Mind you, I wouldn't mind coming back, part time, to maintain them if they did!

Well not only has the bikes gone but our workshop went as well - it's now a storeroom for British Gas.

My old workshop is now an overflow store for parcels!(Apparently, the DOM can 'lose' quite a few parcels in there for some time).

[heapsy]

I'd like to know who the postmen/women will be suing, RM or the union? It's only a matter of time before people are pensioned off due to this ridiculous decision to remove bikes. Nobody will be able to do the job for long and the CWU are largely to blame, as usual.