Cycling News

CTC launches campaign: 'Keep Posties Cycling'

CTC is hoping Moya Greene, Royal Mail's new CEO, will reverse the decision of her predecessor and keep posties on their bikes

According to a response written by former Royal Mail Chief Executive Adam Crozier to CTC Vice President and cycling politician Lord Berkeley, Royal Mail's plans to force postmen and postwomen to use trolleys and vans instead of bikes is based on its expectation of "a reduction in the number of delivery accidents".

Currently, Royal Mail staff use a fleet of 24,000 bikes, but the new measures could see that number drop to a few hundred. CTC opposes the plans and is not convinced by Royal Mail's health and safety reasons for stopping bike delivery.

CTC Campaigns Coordinator Debra Rolfe said: "Many of the postal workers who have spoken to us don't want to give up their bikes and be forced to deliver mail by trolley or van. Delivering mail by bike is good for the environment, for the health of posties and for the safety of everyone who uses the roads."

Debra is also concerned Royal Mail has not looked at the other options seriously: "To overcome the problem of the increase in the number of parcels being delivered, Royal Mail needs look at using cargo bicycles and tricycles. These are already used in the UK by courier companies like DHL, and FedEx and are the norm in other European countries.

"It is also ironic that Royal Mail says it will always consider its environmental impact and wants to develop low carbon vehicles, when at the same time it is planning to stop using the one of the greenest forms of transport."

Postman and anonymous blogger Roy Mayall said: "Bikes have been one of the main tools of the postal trade for over 100 years. There's a good reason for this. Aside from all the environmental and health benefits, a bike is a beautifully functional piece of machinery. It's a bike. It's a trolley. You can go fast. You can go slow. You can carry weight. You can use it to sort the mail. There are lots of compartments. You can park it on its stand and walk. There's an old maxim: if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Ask any postie and they'll tell you. We love our bikes."

CTC is asking everyone who would like to 'Keep Posties Cycling' to take action via CTC's website. The online form automatically generates a letter that will be delivered in one load by cargo bike to Moya Greene at Royal Mail's headquarters.

Published Friday 28 May 2010