12:40pm Wednesday 31st March 2010
By Flora Drury
POSTMEN and woman in Worcester will no longer be delivering mail on bicycles following concerns about health and safety.
The city’s postal workers will phase out all delivery bicycles by summer 2011, replacing them with vans and pull-along motorised trolleys.
The move is part of a national drive to make the Royal Mail more efficient, by allowing larger rounds and reducing the time off sick.
It comes following concerns about road safety and the growing number of heavy “bulky” parcels requiring delivery following a surge in internet shopping – which is being blamed for postmen and women suffering bad backs.
Bicycles have already been ditched in the WR5 area of the city, which includes St Peter’s and Battenhall, although some could be retained on more rural rounds.
But the move is bound to be criticised by green campaigners and those promoting the need for less traffic.
Councillor Tom Wells, deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats on Worcestershire County Council, questioned how a van could be more efficient than a bike.
“Not only are vans more expensive to run than bikes but people who cycle are contributing towards improving our environment,” he said. “And, of course, there are the health benefits to cycling. I cannot understand it at all.”
Earlier this week the policy was described in the House of Lords as “a slap in the eye to the Government’s policy to encourage cycling”. Councillor Derek Prodger, the county council’s cabinet member for transport, took a softer view.
“The image of the local postie on his bike is very evocative and it is a shame they are dying out, however given the current economic climate we understand the need for efficiencies to be made in an effort to continue to provide the same level of service for customers,” he said. “Given the increased capacity of vans over bikes I shouldn’t think there will be a significant effect on traffic in the city.”
And the move has been welcomed by union leaders.
Brendon Allen, the postal workers union – CWU – branch secretary for Worcester, said: “For us, it is about reducing health problems and improving efficiency.”
A spokesman for CWU said: “The main reason why it’s happening is that the profile of mail has changed dramatically in recent years.
“There are many more bulky items from places such as Amazon.com and so physically it is harder.”
A spokesman for the Royal Mail said: “We will continue to use a range of vans, trolleys and bikes where appropriate but there are no plans to phase out bikes completely.”
The disused bicycles are being donated to the charity Re-Cycle, which distributes them in Africa.
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