Postal workers face bike ban

Postal workers in Cambridge could be kicked off their bikes in a Royal Mail drive to save cash.

Postal workers in Cambridge could be kicked off their bikes in a Royal Mail drive to save cash.

Instead, many deliveries will be made by van, adding traffic to the city’s roads, angry union officials claim.

The move has been condemned by Cambridge city councillor Margaret Wright, who represents the Green Party, as “unbelievable”.

Steve Butts, Communication Workers Union representative for the Cambridge postcode area, said: “Our staff in the Cambridge delivery office have been given a briefing saying that Royal Mail wants to save money, and that one of the ways they are thinking of doing so is to switch deliveries from bikes to vans.

“If 10 postmen or postwomen are sent out on bikes, they can only carry a certain amount of mail, and sometimes have to be topped up, whereas a van with two people on board can carry a lot more.

“It is clear that this move is aimed at cutting the workforce, and possibly also closing down delivery offices.

“Quite apart from the impact on jobs, however, this doesn’t sit very well with green policies. Cambridge is the capital for cycling and we are always being told that we should have more bikes on the road and not as many cars.
“Vans might work better in some parts of Cambridge, but in many areas, bikes are by far the best way to deliver the post.”

Butts added managers had also suggested greater use of trolleys to deliver mail, but he said the trolleys were three feet wide and not suitable for manoeuvring along many of Cambridge’s narrow pavements.

Royal Mail has not confirmed the union’s claims in detail, but has admitted it is “reviewing” its delivery network in the city area.

A Royal Mail spokesman said: “We are reviewing our network to ensure we continue to deliver the mail as efficiently as possible to our customers. Any changes will be discussed with our people first but we will continue to use a range of vehicles, including vans, trolleys and bikes where appropriate.

“Customers should see no significant changes to their daily deliveries.”

Cllr Wright said: “These proposals are almost unbelievable. Instead of ending delivery by bike, Royal Mail should be taking Cambridge as an example to be followed in other congested cities. Reduction in carbon emissions depends on a united effort from all sectors of society and all enterprises. Royal Mail is failing to take its responsibility seriously in this respect. Nor can an effort to cut jobs during a recession be seen as public-spirited.”