An Post ‘Re-Cycles’ Delivery Bikes for Frontline Staff in Homeless Charities
An Post frontline staff are donating their delivery bikes to frontline workers in homeless charities for use in the course of their daily work. The purpose-built work bikes will help frontline support workers navigate through the cities and towns and carry supplies between various locations such as hostels and homeless shelters.
An Post staff who previously used a bike on their delivery routes are being equipped with the latest electric trucks, vans and trikes, better suited to carrying ever increasing volumes of parcels and packages. The company is also phasing out its diesel vans.
The first batch of refurbished bikes were presented to Dublin Simon and The Capuchin Centre yesterday (Thursday) and more will be delivered to more Irish charities supporting people who are homeless or living in temporary accommodation including Good Shepherd in Cork, COPE in Galway, Focus Ireland and Peter McVerry Trust in the coming weeks and months.
Fr. Sean Donohoe, Co-Director of the Capuchin Day Centre, said: “In these difficult times more people are requiring our services. The bikes donated by An Post for our staff and volunteers will certainly help them to deliver and collect additional supplies at a faster pace across the city centre. We provide food parcels for up to 1,400 people so these work bikes will come in very handy. We appreciate any support that helps with what we do here.”
Sam McGuinness, CEO of Dublin Simon Community said: ‘’By donating bicycles to people in our services, An Post has demonstrated once again their creativity and dedication to ensuring that no member of our community feels disconnected. Throughout our partnership, An Post have applied their expertise and technology to give lifelines to those whom homelessness has pushed to the very margins of society. We thank An Post for their ongoing generosity and commitment to our community of care.’’
Debbie Byrne, Managing Director of An Post Retail, said “We are delighted to continue our support for the hardworking frontline workers providing essential services to people who are homeless or living in temporary accommodation across the country. We’ll ‘re-cycle’ hundreds of top quality bikes for use by homeless charity staff as we continue to expand our fleet of zero emission electric trucks, vans and trikes in cities and towns.”
As Dublin Postman Conor Farrelly handed over his beloved Pashley Pronto he said: “These are hard-working, sturdy bikes, well used to all terrains and all weathers. We’re delighted to spruce them up and hand them over to the frontline staff in homeless support charities across the country. There’s plenty of road miles left in them yet and it’s good to know they’ll be put to good use.
The top-notch Pashley Pronto bike has been the work-horse of An Post’s fleet for many years and can carry up to 40kg in total, 20kg on both the front and rear. It was built to endure the strains of consistent heavy use.
An Post deliveries in Dublin city centre are all made by zero emission electric vehicles and the cities of Cork, Waterford, Limerick, Kilkenny and Galway will all have emission-free deliveries by the end of this year, as will numerous larger towns and suburbs nationwide.
