Loving the van share...

[TrueBlueTerrier]

25% would be a national figure because I have the exact number of cycle deliveries here, and it hasn't changed for years.

None. Nada. Zero.

No cycle deliveries at all.

I was referring to the national figure pre P&L.

Still nil for us - we haven't gone P&L yet

In Sep 2010 it was only 14,500 cycle deliveries - out of roughly 85,000 (my guess) http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/ ... urged.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Though this article from March of the same year says 24,000 and that its a 1/4 of the deliveries http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/r ... ons-25576/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[shuffler3]

Using a lightweight trolley is quicker than delivering with a pouch and then going back over the same ground to deliver the packets that don't fit in the pouch.

Balls!!!

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Using a lightweight trolley is quicker than delivering with a pouch and then going back over the same ground to deliver the packets that don't fit in the pouch.

Balls!!!

Tennis balls will fit in the trolley, inflated beach balls probably not.

Just shouting it though isn't debating it, nor is it very polite.

[cyclemech1]

25% would be a national figure because I have the exact number of cycle deliveries here, and it hasn't changed for years.

None. Nada. Zero.

No cycle deliveries at all.

I was referring to the national figure pre P&L.

Still nil for us - we haven't gone P&L yet

In Sep 2010 it was only 14,500 cycle deliveries - out of roughly 85,000 (my guess) http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/ ... urged.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Though this article from March of the same year says 24,000 and that its a 1/4 of the deliveries http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/r ... ons-25576/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I'm assuming that your office is in some remote area of the UK? In that case of course bikes aren't the answer.

But I still think that, for town deliveries, bikes are the quickest, cheapest and easiest option.

I'm also thinking of submitting a FOI request to RM asking how many cycles they had in 2008 and how many duties nationally were considered to be cycle deliveries, as I am sure that, when I used to go on the RM intranet when I was a cycle mechanic to enter details of our bikes, the fleet was a lot more than 14000/24000.

[fishtank]

I'm also thinking of submitting a FOI request to RM asking how many cycles they had in 2008 and how many duties nationally were considered to be cycle deliveries, as I am sure that, when I used to go on the RM intranet when I was a cycle mechanic to enter details of our bikes, the fleet was a lot more than 14000/24000.

Crozier himself stated 24,000 in a letter to Lord Berkeley in Feb 2010 which was repeated in the House of Lords so it's a reasonably reliable source.

http://www.theyworkforyou.com/lords/?gi ... 29a.1186.9" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[TrueBlueTerrier]

I'm assuming that your office is in some remote area of the UK? In that case of course bikes aren't the answer.

But I still think that, for town deliveries, bikes are the quickest, cheapest and easiest option.

I'm also thinking of submitting a FOI request to RM asking how many cycles they had in 2008 and how many duties nationally were considered to be cycle deliveries, as I am sure that, when I used to go on the RM intranet when I was a cycle mechanic to enter details of our bikes, the fleet was a lot more than 14000/24000.

Remote - No smack bang in the middle of the UK - or within 20 miles of it anyway.

Also we are mainly town deliveries area apart from some very rural deliveries. Huddersfield is the 10th Largest town in the UK according to the 2001 census and we have approx 230 duties in the Main office and about 50 in outlying areas.

The biggest argument against bikes is simply the terrain. Here is an example. https://www.google.co.uk/maps/preview#! ... 13.1&fid=5" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; town centre is just 1 mile away from here.

I think to be honest apart from the South East, East Anglia and Essex most of the rest of the UK is too hilly for bikes - especially Wales Scotland and Most of England North of South Yorkshire.

[k979aaa]

What is Royal Mails plan after all delivery offices have this revision method all the money would have gone on the van's PDA's fuel RFL and insurance cost's so what happens after all the equipment's end of life. I cannot believe this business model is a sustainable and viable one and if I was in Dragons Den I would have serious doubt's about any investment of my money in this business.

[taurus88]

Royal Mail has gone off the rails with the 'one size fits all' approach to deliveries. They've tried to fit one answer to a series of questions when the truth is, to maximise efficiency, all manner of delivery methods were and are appropriate, including cycle deliveries. In many instances, cycle deliveries are the most efficient. There are also circumstances in which a trolley is the most efficient - I have been on certain types of walk where this is true. Likewise, this applies to vans, HCTs, etc.

[OnAFlyer]

25% would be a national figure because I have the exact number of cycle deliveries here, and it hasn't changed for years.

None. Nada. Zero.

No cycle deliveries at all.

None in my office either, and never has been. I've never seen a cycle delivery in my city full stop, it always makes me chuckle when I see one elsewhere in the country as it looks so old fashioned!

[Zootsuit]

This type of thread seems to start quite often when an office has just gone through a revision. I've seen two offices in the first days after revision and they were both the same. Most people going over, thinking it wasn't possible, cursing the stupid system. Eventually they both made it work though, it does get easier, just not using the correct methods!
In my office we don't use trolleys. Every walk I would say (apart from a couple that go straight out from the office) and there are over 100 driving duties, has been modified to shorten the loops to make carrying a bag feasible. Bigger packets are delivered as we go round and the loops for driver and partner have eventually been evened out (as opposed to smaller ones for the driver to allow parcel delivery). Smaller parcels are carried just like they used to be, the van is used more like a mobile bag drop.
This is how our guys have made it work to get round in anything like the alloted time. It's not the way we are supposed to do it but no-one thinks it works the way we are supposed to do it. The DOM has apparently been told we should be using 'the methods' but he and the managers let us carry on because they know (or think they know) that making us do it the 'proper' way will result in a nightmare. If an audit on use of the mandatory methods were to be carried out on how we are working we'd be hooped, or the DOM would be I guess! Be interesting if someone has an issue with injury related to carrying a bag.
Amazing how us guys get suspended or even fired for bending the rules (several recently for doorstepping) but the management can blatantly ignore a whole office not working the way it should be!

[Sidley]

So drop them in it. Seems they apply the rules all too readily when it suits them, I'm sure they'd screw anyone who fell foul of these unagreed procedures.

[mailmonkey]

It's not the way we are supposed to do it but no-one thinks it works the way we are supposed to do it. The DOM has apparently been told we should be using 'the methods' but he and the managers let us carry on because they know (or think they know) that making us do it the 'proper' way will result in a nightmare. If an audit on use of the mandatory methods were to be carried out on how we are working we'd be hooped, or the DOM would be I guess! Be interesting if someone has an issue with injury related to carrying a bag.

same, i've worked in 3 offices post revision, and not one of them has had any success using the methods and routes stipulated by the revision.

[fishtank]

not one of them has had any success using the methods and routes stipulated by the revision.

I think you would need to define success.
Ours was not a success in as much as the duties could not be achieved using the methods and could without but the majority stuck with it and 5 duties had to be reinstated.
That was a success.

Making it work without the methods would have been a...failure.

[motherhubbard]

Unpopular as it may seem I think an awful lot of posties up and down the land are full of s**t.

The opposition to trolleys appears to be based not on their speed or efficiency but on a desire to appear less girly.
Time and time again we hear "packets are through the roof, yet apparently they can all fit in a pouch and nobody needs to use a trolley.
Some appear to think there is a direct relation between how big the pouch is on their back and the perceived size of their penis.

[fishtank]

The opposition to trolleys appears to be based not on their speed or efficiency but on a desire to appear less girly.

Shouldn't that be womanly?

Some appear to think there is a direct relation between how big the pouch is on their back and the perceived size of their penis.

I can categorically state that there is no correlation between the size of my pouch and the size of my penis,perceived or otherwise.
I do have a big shoes though and you know what that means....