Cycle Round Do you ?

[music4essex]

IN my AOD interview it transpires that if you have a cycle duty which I do
my duty is suburban , houses terraced and semi/detached

Sometimes I park outside each house take the letters with me up the path but leave bag on bike and usually all the packets that are in the side panniers.

Sometimes I walk with a couple of small bundles in a loop so bike is seen at all times.

Now my lino says you have to carry the bag at all times, if this is the case surely packets as well how do you do this as it would take so much longer and also suppose to take weight of backs shoulders,

Just curious to know what other folks do.

Essex mum

[TeeferTiger]

When I was given a golf trolley to use after my AOD and I asked what I was meant to do with the 2 bags of mail on it when I went inside to shops etc, I was told to take the bags in with me I asked that if I was going to be loading and unloading the bags every minute or so, what was the benefit in using the trolley?!

[dvbuk55]

IN my AOD interview it transpires that if you have a cycle duty which I do
my duty is suburban , houses terraced and semi/detached

Sometimes I park outside each house take the letters with me up the path but leave bag on bike and usually all the packets that are in the side panniers.

Sometimes I walk with a couple of small bundles in a loop so bike is seen at all times.

Now my lino says you have to carry the bag at all times, if this is the case surely packets as well how do you do this as it would take so much longer and also suppose to take weight of backs shoulders,

Just curious to know what other folks do.

Essex mum

A cycle was never intended as a substitute trolley but to get you to and from site, the pouch should always have been carried. How slow is it moving a bike from door to door?

Under D&M revisions either an HCT, if within a mile or park and loop if outside a mile from the depot - so a cycle really isn't in the equation any more.

[PhilthyPhil]

How long you can leave the bike for will depend on your areas risk level. From "RM Delivery Equipment Security Procedure":

SD items must not be placed in rear panniers.
Compartments / Pouch must not be overloaded preventing fastening.
Pouch weights must adhere to the weight restrictions as set out in weight solutions in the delivery toolkit.
The rear panniers are to be fastened shut when not removing mail
When left unattended the cycle must be secured to an immovable object
The cycle should also have a wheel lock which must be used when leaving the cycle unattended
Note: - Whenever left unattended there is a significant deterrent to criminal activity if the delivery officer is in line of sight

Low risk
At all times Rear panniers must be kept fastened apart from when removing mail. Primarily, panniers are to be used to replenish delivery pouches and any mail held in panniers must be transferred to a delivery pouch at the earliest opportunity.
When in immediate proximity to cycle, Flap over top of pouch to keep mail from view.
The delivery pouch may only be left on the front carrier when directly outside of a specific delivery point. At all other times the pouch must be removed and kept on the person. No SD items are to be left on an unattended cycle. The cycle must be chained to an immovable object and left for a maximum of 5 minutes.
Where the cycle is left unattended for more than 5 minutes, ALL mail, must be removed. The cycle must be chained to an immovable object e.g. This may occur where a multi level delivery point (e.g. Tower Blocks) is at the end of a delivery.
Upon completion of duty all cycles must be returned to the Delivery Office or other designated and secure storage point. Under no circumstances should cycles be left on the street overnight.

Medium risk
At all times Rear panniers must be kept fastened apart from when removing mail. Primarily, panniers are to be used to replenish delivery pouches and any mail held in panniers must be transferred to a delivery pouch at the earliest opportunity.
When in immediate proximity to cycle, Flap over top of pouch to keep mail from view.
The delivery pouch may only be left on the front carrier when directly outside of a specific delivery point. At all other times the pouch must be removed and kept on the person. No SD items are to be left on an unattended cycle. The cycle must be chained to an immovable object and left for a maximum of 5 minutes.
Where the cycle is left unattended for more than 5 minutes, ALL mail, must be removed. The cycle must be chained to an immovable object e.g. This may occur where a multi level delivery point (e.g. Tower Blocks) is at the end of a delivery. Upon completion of duty all cycles must be returned to the Delivery Office or
other designated and secure storage point. Under no circumstances should cycles be left on the street overnight.

High risk
At all times Rear panniers must be kept fastened apart from when removing mail. Primarily, panniers are to be used to replenish delivery pouches and any mail held in panniers must be transferred to a delivery pouch at the earliest opportunity
When in immediate proximity to cycle, Flap over top of pouch to keep mail from view.
The delivery pouch may only be left on the front carrier when directly outside of a specific delivery point. At all other times the pouch must be removed and kept on the person. No SD items are to be left on an unattended cycle. The cycle must be chained to an immovable object and left for a maximum of 2 minutes.
Where the cycle is left unattended for more than 2 minutes, ALL mail, must be removed. The cycle must be chained to an immovable object e.g. This may occur where a multi level delivery point (e.g. Tower Blocks) is at the end of a delivery. Upon completion of duty all cycles must be returned to the Delivery Office or otherdesignated and secure storage point. Under no circumstances should cycles be left on the street overnight.

[PhilthyPhil]

Under D&M revisions either an HCT, if within a mile or park and loop if outside a mile from the depot - so a cycle really isn't in the equation any more.

DM revisions are not necessarily all about getting rid of bikes. In some cases we have kept them (and other offices in our area). This is mainly in suburban areas where there are large detatached houses with long drives along busy main roads where it is difficult or impossible to park.

[dvbuk55]

Under D&M revisions either an HCT, if within a mile or park and loop if outside a mile from the depot - so a cycle really isn't in the equation any more.

DM revisions are not necessarily all about getting rid of bikes. In some cases we have kept them (and other offices in our area). This is mainly in suburban areas where there are large detatached houses with long drives along busy main roads where it is difficult or impossible to park.

And wheel a trolley? P&L loops originally intended to be 20 minutes have been increased to 40 minutes. A bike was ace when you had rows of terreced houses, where you cycled along the pavement, leaned against the front door whilst still mounted and poked the mail through the letter box, shoving it along the road took too much time, and riding from door to door, turning round etc, getting off the bike, putting on the stand blah blah took longer than carrying a pouch. From 52 cycles in 2005 we now have exactly none.

[Dorset Plodder]

Definately a case of, "Horses for Courses" DV. Never thought they should have made a Blanket Statement about getting rid of ALL cycles. I bet every office has duties which are better suited to a bike, and I'm sure the Planning(?) could have covered their "Large Packet " problem with a van from the "Neighbouring" duty.

I think one the biggest bonuses, with the bikes, was the ability to cover lots of "Dead" ground quickly. No mail for the next half a dozen houses...simply zoom past em! Ideal for those pain in the ass streets with houses up only one side of them! When you got to the end zoom all the way back. Christ knows what it's gonna be like trying to do that with a LWT.

[dvbuk55]

Definately a case of, "Horses for Courses" DV. Never thought they should have made a Blanket Statement about getting rid of ALL cycles. I bet every office has duties which are better suited to a bike, and I'm sure the Planning(?) could have covered their "Large Packet " problem with a van from the "Neighbouring" duty.

I think one the biggest bonuses, with the bikes, was the ability to cover lots of "Dead" ground quickly. No mail for the next half a dozen houses...simply zoom past em! Ideal for those pain in the ass streets with houses up only one side of them! When you got to the end zoom all the way back. Christ knows what it's gonna be like trying to do that with a LWT.

I think you are absolutely right DP...................getting rid of cycles was a backward step in my mind, they would have been a deal better negotiating a discount on em. Instead of which they aim is to be rid of 'em. I am sure all cycle mechanics have had difficulty in getting spares, I know I did towards the end....................they just wouldn't buy any.