The last post for bicycle deliveries in Greater Manchester ?

It appears that, if the Royal Mail gets its way, postal deliveries by bicycle may soon become a thing of the past in cities across the UK.

In a letter from Adam Crozier, chief executive of Royal Mail, to the Labour peer Lord Berkeley, secretary of the All-Parliamentary Cycling Group, the long-standing rumours that the traditional postal worker’s bike will be phased out were confirmed.

  

Crozier cited the dangers faced by cyclists on Britain's road as a prime motivation behind the decision, and also rejected calls to use cargo bicycles instead of vans to deliver letters.

The letter claimed that "it remains the case that these bicycles pose the wider safety risk associated with busy street networks, where the rider is exposed to greater risk than other vehicle risks".

The postal bikes, which are manufactured in the UK by Pashley,  can carry 32kg of mail spread between front and rear panniers and provide a sustainable, environment friendly means of making postal deliveries.

Crozier's letter also claims that Royal Mail "anticipate working with the Department of Transport to develop our low-carbon vehicle options".  Talk about trying to "reinvent the wheel" - we are left wondering what vehicle the Royal Mail will develop that will have a lower-carbon footprint than the bicycle!