Friday Bicycle Caption Contest: Post A Letter via Guildford Edition
Yes I know it’s Wednesday. But there’s something wrong with this picture from Guildford:
Under it’s new Chief Executive, Moya Green, Royal Mail is still actively planning to scrap its 24,000 delivery bikes. Apparently "these bicycles pose the wider safety risk associated with busy street networks, where the rider is exposed to greater risk than other vehicle users." But bike accidents are only fifth on the list of injuries that posties suffer , behind slips, trips & falls; animal attacks; stepping on / striking against something; lifting & handling. And of course, in removing the dangers of riding a bike, the posties are also being stripped of the other positive health benefits - benefits which even once the risks of an accident are factored in still lead to an overall 2 years longer life, with the health & fitness of someone ten years younger. Doubtless the Post Office’s calculations also took account of the fact that people who regularly ride a bike take fewer days off sick , and that they’re less prone to stress -related disorders.
Rather than leaving a caption for our picture this week, why not write in person to Royal Mail & protest your opposition to this madness. You can do so via the CTC’s Keep Posties Cycling campaign .
They even have a letter template for you to use - customise it with stuff like your personal experience of how efficient post-by-bike is, print it out, and post to the CTC (who’s head office also just happens to be in Guildford), and they’ll add it to the pile that they’re going to deliver by cargo bike to the Royal Mail’s new Chief Executive, Moya Green.
Ironic that Royal Mail van drivers are some of the worst on our roads, isn’t it…
I confess to not being unsure about this campaign because I don’t know what the posties think? I mean, I’m OK, I CHOOSE to cycle to work in all weathers but at the end of that ride I get paid well to sit at a nice warm/cool (delete according to season) desk all day. But I bet being a postie in bad weather is a scummy job. Do they WANT bikes?