The economy needs just-in-time deliveries

TruckerT

We are again hearing demands that the nation's delivery schedules should be turned upside down in order to save the lives of a handful of cyclists.


If, like me, you are a cyclist, then next time you go into your favourite bike shop, try asking them how they will deal with their bike deliveries taking place at 2 or 3 in the morning (and ask yourself whether you will be happy to pay the higher prices which will result)!


Large supermarkets receive many deliveries a day, spread out over 24 hours. If HGVs are restricted to night-time deliveries, then there will be a need to double the number of trucks, and the shops will have to convert some of their floor space into storage space. All of this will increase prices, and restrict the availability of products.


There was an article in the Times this morning which spelt out the percentage of cyclist fatalities which involved HGVs. It failed to point that all cyclist fatalities involve a cyclist!


It is true that many truck drivers have an attitude problem. But so do many cyclists.


TruckerT

ruggedtoast

I was behind a truck driver that was transporting a skip this morning. I was enraged as the cretin threw a banana skin out of his window onto the middle of the road. The oaf then dropped a plastic bag full of stuff onto the middle of the road a bit farther on.

I think they should only drive around at night.

Anyway there are different types of cyclists, those who cycle for sport or enjoyment, and those who cycle for economic reasons. This last group I consider to be the most suspicious.

Loughton_Monkey

I blame Bradley Wiggins.

Time, I think, for the licensing of cyclists so that all this red-light and 'cycle on the pavement' nonsense can be ironed out. There is a very clear attitude amongst a minority [I assume] of cyclists who think they are god's gift to saving the planet and thus entitled to ignore whatever rules are in place.

Try walking in Epping Forest on a Sunday, and notice a similar minority who resent people walking along the footpaths/tracks. Most of these idiots have a bell on the bike but are clearly too stupid to use them.

TruckerT

ruggedtoast wrote: »

I was behind a truck driver that was transporting a skip this morning. I was enraged as the cretin threw a banana skin out of his window onto the middle of the road. The oaf then dropped a plastic bag full of stuff onto the middle of the road a bit farther on.

I think they should only drive around at night.

Anyway there are different types of cyclists, those who cycle for sport or enjoyment, and those who cycle for economic reasons. This last group I consider to be the most suspicious.

Last week, I was walking behind a young mother who was feeding her toddler out of her bag of chips. When they had both had enough, she simply lobbed the remains onto the grass. I picked it up and dropped it into the buggy which she was pushing.


TruckerT

bugslet

Well on Trucknet, a surprising number of drivers seem to think that a ban on driving in major cities around rush hour is not too bad an idea. personally I wouldn't support a ban all through the day. Most of them find it a nightmare driving at that time of day anyway.

custardy

Loughton_Monkey wrote: »

I blame Bradley Wiggins.

Time, I think, for the licensing of cyclists so that all this red-light and 'cycle on the pavement' nonsense can be ironed out. There is a very clear attitude amongst a minority [I assume] of cyclists who think they are god's gift to saving the planet and thus entitled to ignore whatever rules are in place.

Try walking in Epping Forest on a Sunday, and notice a similar minority who resent people walking along the footpaths/tracks. Most of these idiots have a bell on the bike but are clearly too stupid to use them.

only 3 posts,not bad
So to be clear. Licensing means anyone with this licence will travel within the word of the law?

custardy

TruckerT wrote: »

We are again hearing demands that the nation's delivery schedules should be turned upside down in order to save the lives of a handful of cyclists.


If, like me, you are a cyclist, then next time you go into your favourite bike shop, try asking them how they will deal with their bike deliveries taking place at 2 or 3 in the morning (and ask yourself whether you will be happy to pay the higher prices which will result)!


Large supermarkets receive many deliveries a day, spread out over 24 hours. If HGVs are restricted to night-time deliveries, then there will be a need to double the number of trucks, and the shops will have to convert some of their floor space into storage space. All of this will increase prices, and restrict the availability of products.


There was an article in the Times this morning which spelt out the percentage of cyclist fatalities which involved HGVs. It failed to point that all cyclist fatalities involve a cyclist!


It is true that many truck drivers have an attitude problem. But so do many cyclists.


TruckerT

Hmm it failed to point out the dead cyclists were involved?
I think we can ignore the rest

CLAPTON

I used to have cause to drive in London: basically visit offices in the city and near surround.

In general my average speed was about 7 miles per hour.

A cyclist could go a faster without braking sweat.

So it would be efficient to make more road space for cyclists as it would speed up London traffic.

Now obviously it isn't possible for everyone to cycle as provision has to be made for deliveries etc etc.

To reduce accidents and to further encourage more people to cycle there needs to be greater separation between cyclists and other traffic and specific priority for cyclists at junctions where necessary.

No point blaming either motorists or cyclists; we need better provision and separation.

wotsthat

Loughton_Monkey wrote: »

I blame Bradley Wiggins.

Time, I think, for the licensing of cyclists so that all this red-light and 'cycle on the pavement' nonsense can be ironed out. There is a very clear attitude amongst a minority [I assume] of cyclists who think they are god's gift to saving the planet and thus entitled to ignore whatever rules are in place.

Try walking in Epping Forest on a Sunday, and notice a similar minority who resent people walking along the footpaths/tracks. Most of these idiots have a bell on the bike but are clearly too stupid to use them.

There's no minority - we're all like that.

There's no better feeling than coming to a set of lights on red and taking a left turn anyway. You can almost feel the seething resentment of the motorists in the queue behind. Occasionally an old codger will drive past shaking his fist and we exchange cheery waves.

I cycled to work for many years before changing jobs. I can honestly say that I can't recall a single near miss with a motorist. Now though it seems to be every time I go out, doors being opened without looking, taking a left turn directly after coming past me, turning right as I approach from the opposite direction. Volume of traffic is probably higher but driving standards are lower. I'm 6' 4" have two lights on the front (one strobe/ one continuous) and the same on the back - my luminous jacket may as well be an invisibility cloak.

I find that young women are most likely to not see me. Boy racers go too fast but at least seem to spot cyclists. The most considerate are truckers.

TruckerT

bugslet wrote: »

Well on Trucknet, a surprising number of drivers seem to think that a ban on driving in major cities around rush hour is not too bad an idea. personally I wouldn't support a ban all through the day. Most of them find it a nightmare driving at that time of day anyway.

It is indeed a nightmare driving at that time of the day (it's pretty well a nightmare driving a truck at any time of the day!).


But what will happen at cut-off time (4.30pm say). Will all these trucks be beamed up into space? Or will they just stop wherever they happen to be? And what about drivers' tacho hours? If you take out a 2-hour period morning and night, then the whole thing would become impossible. HGVs would end up being replaced by zillions of 3.5 tonners.


TruckerT

bugslet

There's a thread on the cycling board about the main threat, and it's moved onto this suggested ban. I was going to add that in, but given that I had rabbited on at length already.....:o

Trying to find somewhere to park up outside of cities can be bad enough, no chance in London. In theory, the plan will be to be out of the area by the proposed times, how it would work in practice, well lets just say I think a period of grace would be required. As for tacho hours, it's always do-able if the money is there, it would cost more money, rates would have to go up, consumers would have to absorb the price increase.

Since I run a mixed fleet, I'm happy with more vans;), not that we go into cities often anyway.