GT
•
Glasgow City Council Officer
•
2023-11-30
• 21 comments
deliverycyclists
Proposal code:
GlasgowCommunityChoices-2023-11-19
The Go Safe Glasgow Road Safety Partnership will engage with companies that use delivery cyclists to address emerging road safety issues.
The Go Safe Glasgow Road Safety Partnership will engage with companies that use delivery cyclists to address emerging road safety issues. We will also arrange events to engage and educate riders and where necessary undertake enforcement.
Largely the problems - cycling on pavements, running red lights - are result of such deliverers being self employed, and with few employment rights. Many businesses using them should be required to provide them with pay and conditions similar to full time employees. This is a matter for legislation and trade union involvement. While Police Scotland must enforce the law and there is a case for ‘spotlight’ actions on this issue, the precarity of employment and low remuneration must be considered when sanctioning misconduct. Electric bikes which require no pedalling are a serious concern because of the greater speeds and increased mass.
Thank you for your comments, this is indeed a very difficult issue to address and will be discussed in detail at the next meeting of the Go Safe Glasgow road safety partnership. People who drive on business and fleet operators are strictly controlled with road traffic and health and safety legislation, however, this emerging delivery market has very few control measures. Whilst we look at ways to address this through engagement and education, Police Scotland will enforce where necessary, particularly where bikes have been converted to effectively turn them into powered two wheelers as opposed to electrically assisted pedal cycles
Cycling Scotland highlighted research about what may be incentivising the risky behaviours demonstrated by some delivery riders.(https://www.cycling.scot/news-and-blog/article/food-delivery-companies-need-to-resolve-safety-for-riders) The increase in food deliveries made by bike (rather than by motor vehicles) is a positive development, but delivery companies need to do more to provide adequate support and training to ensure the safety of their riders and other road users. Transport for London have recently agreed a voluntary charter with delivery companies who use motorcycle riders, which addresses exactly the same concerns and could be replicated for delivery riders on bikes.
Thank you for your comments, the Go Safe Glasgow road safety partnership has noted the work undertaken by TfL. As you mention, bicycle deliveries are a welcome alternative to vehicle deliveries, however, we do need to address the growing public concern re cycling on the pavement and adherence to the highway code.
Thank you for your comments, the Go Safe Glasgow road safety partnership is aware of this charter and initial talks have taken place with delivery companies with regards to engaging with riders. The riders aren't employed directly by the companies and some riders work for various companies, but we are making some progress.
The Delivery cyclists are an absolute menace - they pay no attention to the rules of the road for cyclists at all. They zip about heavily pedestrianised areas, go the wrong way up one-way cycle lanes all the time and are generally a huge nuisance and danger. The bikes these people are on are usually bulky, heavy electric bikes and have a travelling speed of anything up to 25-30mph. They are so dangerous to drivers, pedestrians, cyclists and themselves!
Dark clothing, at night, no reflectors, often no lights, riding withou regard for the Highway Code, riding on the pavement, riding the wrong way down the street, riding modified e-bikes which are more like e-motorcycles requiring a license and insurance; all of this can be enforced right now, so why isn't it?
Why are you wasting yet more time "consulting" when you could address problem head on immediately?
Tackling the root of the issue will take legislation to make the delivery companies (and restaurants) liable, this is out of GCC's remit but you already have tools you could employ.
Use them. Stop pretending to do something and ACTUALLY do something!
Thank you for your comments, Police Scotland are actively enforcing this issue and have confiscated bikes which have been converted so that they are no longer classed as electrically assisted pedal cycles. (EAPC). This is obviously a growing road safety concern (post pandemic) and we need to address this with enforcement, education and engagement. This will be an ongoing agenda item for the Go Safe Glasgow road safety partnership in 2024.
It is not only delivery cyclists who are anti social. In our area of Glasgow where there is heavy traffic, Non Commercial Cyclists use the pavements as a cycle lane to the detriment and fear of pedestrians. There are many senior citizens in our area. There is also a significant number of cyclists both commercial and non commercial who seem to think that pedestrian "green Man" crossings are permission for cyclists to cross. Many pedestrians in our area have been frightened or injured by these events. There needs to be a registration scheme for cyclists in the same fashion as for cars and other vehicles so that these rogue anti social cyclists can be identified and brought to justice
If cyclists are using pavements because of "heavy traffic", you would think a sensible solution would be to reduce the amount of traffic so they feel safer using the roads? Cycling on pavements is a very real problem (and I would certainly like to see a clampdown on illegal electric motorbikes) but it is emphatically not on the same level as dangerous driving. A few dozen people are killed every year in this country by drivers ON PAVEMENTS and sentencing is often light or non-existent, e.g. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-66852585. People are "frightened and injured" and also actually killed by motorists literally every day: registering them clearly hasn't worked so I have no idea why anyone thinks registration for cyclists would be effective, universally obeyed, or actually enforced. It's simply not a credible solution in any form and generally seems to be proposed by people who just don't like cyclists and want to make their lives more difficult.
Thank you for your comments. I don't think registration of bikes will ever be introduced and as you say, it would be very difficult to enforce. As part of our Transport Strategy, we do have a vision to reduce the number of car KM travelled by 30% and we are providing more and more safer segregated routes for people on bikes. We also plan to work closely with our partners and key stakeholders to develop behavioural change campaigns to encourage everyone to play their part and to look out for each other on our roads and public spaces.
Thank you for your comments, cycling on the pavement is illegal and can only be enforced by Police Scotland. The Go Safe Glasgow road safety partnership will be looking into this matter early next year to see what more can be done to promote road safety in this area. The large increase in the number of delivery cyclists is welcomed (as each one effectively replaces a car), however, we need to do more to encourage riders to adhere to the highway code.
This is a problem that requires attention NOW. The number of people who cycle is not that great for obvious reasons and the limitations on what you can realistically do with a bike. More than half of all cyclists are made up of delivery cyclists who have no conception of the highway code and whose behaviour has worsened over the past 2 years. Glasgow resembles a third world country now with cyclists going through red lights at will with no regard for their own or others safety, harassing pedestrians at crossings and moving from the road to pavements to avoid having to stop at lights. They should be pursued and punished in the same way as motorists. It should not make any difference about how precarious their job is and how much they earn. I remember a decade or so ago when the Council targeted speeding taxi drivers who also claimed that all they are trying to do is make a living.
Much less than half of all cyclists are delivery cyclists... I see car drivers running red lights almost every day on my commute and no one is 'pursuing and punishing' them.
Thank you for your comments, we all need to comply with road traffic legislation and look out for each other in our shared road space. Hopefully the new 'Go Safe Glasgow' road safety campaign will make people think about how we can all share our roads with courtesy care and mutual respect whilst protecting our most vulnerable road users.
Pleased to see references to "courtesy, care and mutual respect" - a bit more of that and our problems would be less substantial. These are hard elements of human behaviour to influence, but worthy of focus.
Thank you for your comments on this emerging road safety issue which is now evident in most cities throughout the UK. Enforcement is of course required, however, with limited police resources, we need to also consider engagement and education with riders and organisations to encourage behavioural change and compliance with the highway code.
Largely the problems - cycling on pavements, running red lights - are result of such deliverers being self employed, and with few employment rights. Many businesses using them should be required to provide them with pay and conditions similar to full time employees. This is a matter for legislation and trade union involvement. While Police Scotland must enforce the law and there is a case for ‘spotlight’ actions on this issue, the precarity of employment and low remuneration must be considered when sanctioning misconduct. Electric bikes which require no pedalling are a serious concern because of the greater speeds and increased mass.
Thank you for your comments, this is indeed a very difficult issue to address and will be discussed in detail at the next meeting of the Go Safe Glasgow road safety partnership. People who drive on business and fleet operators are strictly controlled with road traffic and health and safety legislation, however, this emerging delivery market has very few control measures. Whilst we look at ways to address this through engagement and education, Police Scotland will enforce where necessary, particularly where bikes have been converted to effectively turn them into powered two wheelers as opposed to electrically assisted pedal cycles
Cycling Scotland highlighted research about what may be incentivising the risky behaviours demonstrated by some delivery riders.(https://www.cycling.scot/news-and-blog/article/food-delivery-companies-need-to-resolve-safety-for-riders) The increase in food deliveries made by bike (rather than by motor vehicles) is a positive development, but delivery companies need to do more to provide adequate support and training to ensure the safety of their riders and other road users. Transport for London have recently agreed a voluntary charter with delivery companies who use motorcycle riders, which addresses exactly the same concerns and could be replicated for delivery riders on bikes.
Thank you for your comments, the Go Safe Glasgow road safety partnership has noted the work undertaken by TfL. As you mention, bicycle deliveries are a welcome alternative to vehicle deliveries, however, we do need to address the growing public concern re cycling on the pavement and adherence to the highway code.
It would be interesting to see how other cities are responding
Thank you for your comments, the Go Safe Glasgow road safety partnership is currently gathering information from around the UK on this matter.
Thank you for your comments, the Go Safe Glasgow road safety partnership is aware of this charter and initial talks have taken place with delivery companies with regards to engaging with riders. The riders aren't employed directly by the companies and some riders work for various companies, but we are making some progress.
This should already be taking place. Numerous bike riders on pavements and no enforcement of rules.
Thank you for your comments, Glasgow's road safety partnership will discuss this matter in the new year, including enforcement options.
The Delivery cyclists are an absolute menace - they pay no attention to the rules of the road for cyclists at all. They zip about heavily pedestrianised areas, go the wrong way up one-way cycle lanes all the time and are generally a huge nuisance and danger. The bikes these people are on are usually bulky, heavy electric bikes and have a travelling speed of anything up to 25-30mph. They are so dangerous to drivers, pedestrians, cyclists and themselves!
Dark clothing, at night, no reflectors, often no lights, riding withou regard for the Highway Code, riding on the pavement, riding the wrong way down the street, riding modified e-bikes which are more like e-motorcycles requiring a license and insurance; all of this can be enforced right now, so why isn't it?
Why are you wasting yet more time "consulting" when you could address problem head on immediately?
Tackling the root of the issue will take legislation to make the delivery companies (and restaurants) liable, this is out of GCC's remit but you already have tools you could employ.
Use them. Stop pretending to do something and ACTUALLY do something!
Thank you for your comments, Police Scotland are actively enforcing this issue and have confiscated bikes which have been converted so that they are no longer classed as electrically assisted pedal cycles. (EAPC). This is obviously a growing road safety concern (post pandemic) and we need to address this with enforcement, education and engagement. This will be an ongoing agenda item for the Go Safe Glasgow road safety partnership in 2024.
It is not only delivery cyclists who are anti social. In our area of Glasgow where there is heavy traffic, Non Commercial Cyclists use the pavements as a cycle lane to the detriment and fear of pedestrians. There are many senior citizens in our area. There is also a significant number of cyclists both commercial and non commercial who seem to think that pedestrian "green Man" crossings are permission for cyclists to cross. Many pedestrians in our area have been frightened or injured by these events. There needs to be a registration scheme for cyclists in the same fashion as for cars and other vehicles so that these rogue anti social cyclists can be identified and brought to justice
If cyclists are using pavements because of "heavy traffic", you would think a sensible solution would be to reduce the amount of traffic so they feel safer using the roads? Cycling on pavements is a very real problem (and I would certainly like to see a clampdown on illegal electric motorbikes) but it is emphatically not on the same level as dangerous driving. A few dozen people are killed every year in this country by drivers ON PAVEMENTS and sentencing is often light or non-existent, e.g. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-66852585. People are "frightened and injured" and also actually killed by motorists literally every day: registering them clearly hasn't worked so I have no idea why anyone thinks registration for cyclists would be effective, universally obeyed, or actually enforced. It's simply not a credible solution in any form and generally seems to be proposed by people who just don't like cyclists and want to make their lives more difficult.
Thank you for your comments. I don't think registration of bikes will ever be introduced and as you say, it would be very difficult to enforce. As part of our Transport Strategy, we do have a vision to reduce the number of car KM travelled by 30% and we are providing more and more safer segregated routes for people on bikes. We also plan to work closely with our partners and key stakeholders to develop behavioural change campaigns to encourage everyone to play their part and to look out for each other on our roads and public spaces.
Thank you for your comments, cycling on the pavement is illegal and can only be enforced by Police Scotland. The Go Safe Glasgow road safety partnership will be looking into this matter early next year to see what more can be done to promote road safety in this area. The large increase in the number of delivery cyclists is welcomed (as each one effectively replaces a car), however, we need to do more to encourage riders to adhere to the highway code.
This is a problem that requires attention NOW. The number of people who cycle is not that great for obvious reasons and the limitations on what you can realistically do with a bike. More than half of all cyclists are made up of delivery cyclists who have no conception of the highway code and whose behaviour has worsened over the past 2 years. Glasgow resembles a third world country now with cyclists going through red lights at will with no regard for their own or others safety, harassing pedestrians at crossings and moving from the road to pavements to avoid having to stop at lights. They should be pursued and punished in the same way as motorists. It should not make any difference about how precarious their job is and how much they earn. I remember a decade or so ago when the Council targeted speeding taxi drivers who also claimed that all they are trying to do is make a living.
Much less than half of all cyclists are delivery cyclists... I see car drivers running red lights almost every day on my commute and no one is 'pursuing and punishing' them.
Thank you for your comments, we all need to comply with road traffic legislation and look out for each other in our shared road space. Hopefully the new 'Go Safe Glasgow' road safety campaign will make people think about how we can all share our roads with courtesy care and mutual respect whilst protecting our most vulnerable road users.
Pleased to see references to "courtesy, care and mutual respect" - a bit more of that and our problems would be less substantial. These are hard elements of human behaviour to influence, but worthy of focus.
Thank you for your comments on this emerging road safety issue which is now evident in most cities throughout the UK. Enforcement is of course required, however, with limited police resources, we need to also consider engagement and education with riders and organisations to encourage behavioural change and compliance with the highway code.