Rank: Forum user 
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Hi All
I know that its Friday, but I have been asked a serious question by a colleague and I'm a bit stumped here.
The scenario is he wants to use BJ's bikes to get people to work in areas of London that might be subject to transport disruption during The Olympics.
This would be a last resort, some of his East London clients have asked for a BCP type document that explains how he would ensure a continued service.
So, is the Co. responsible for providing training i.e. pre-use checks of bikes and Highway Code, bike safety etc?
Is the Co. responsible for providing safety helmets, hi viz, etc?
Does a risk assessment need to be carried out on commuting to work?
I have a feeling that it would be done to the individual user if this goes ahead, however I always ask what if?
He is seriously considering hiring these bikes, can anyone help me with some advice on this please?
Many thanks
DHM
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Rank: Super forum user 
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I'd think that as this is part of the company business continuity plan and sounds to me like something that will be imposed rather than an option for employees, then it would be down to the employer to provide suitable work equipment. To my mind that would include a suitable bicycle, information, instruction and dare I say it training....yes there may well be people who haven't cycled for a long while.
Risk assessment would identify requirement for PPE, helmet, cycling gloves, Hi-Vis, etc.
If the company are simply hiring in a number of bicycles and giving the employees an option which they didn't have to take advantage of, that may make a difference; it is after all the employees responsibility to get themselves to the place of work.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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As incredible as it might sound, there are people that can't ride a bike. And there are an awful lot that couldn't ride one well enough to get through London safely.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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If the employer is imposing this on it's employees to use this method of transport then the normal ra, information, instruction, training, ppe etc will need to be considered as part of the risk assessment.
The BCP is a document of why and how the company can function during any disruption and how the situation will be managed/by whom
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Safety Smurf wrote:As incredible as it might sound, there are people that can't ride a bike. And there are an awful lot that couldn't ride one well enough to get through London safely. Or fit enough...
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Sounds like a reasonable risk management approach by the E London Company to what will be a logistical nightmare during the Olympics. However, the question may be a standard one asked of all their suppliers, whilst in reality, the service your colleague provides may not be time-critical.
Glad I live "up north" and I sadly only got local footie tickets anyway!
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Rank: Forum user 
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[tongue in cheek mode ON]
As someone who attempts to be a regular Boris Bike user, I'd say the main safety consideration is going to be stress, trying to find a working terminal, or get the regular user keys to actually work.
[tongue in cheek mode OFF]
On a serious note, if this is intended for moving people between sites during their working day then it needs to be treated as any otherworkplace transport would be - and yes, that's going to include RA, PPE, training etc. And as others have said, cycling in London IS pretty scary at the best of times.
If you do end up using cycles to guarantee attendance during the Olympics, I'd suggest hiring in some "ordinary" bikes, rather than assuming there's always going to be a Boris Bike available when you need one.
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Rank: Super forum user
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We all seem to agree, but could I ask what a "Borris Bike" actually is?
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Rank: Super forum user
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Sorry, scrub that, I should have Googled first.
Transport for London cycle hire scheme, etc.
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Rank: New forum user
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Paul,
Today being Friday, may I suggest that hiring in some "ordinary" bicycles to thread through London's traffic might not be as safe as you might think.
When I was a nipper, the "ordinary" bicycle was still the proper name for what, even then, was called a "penny farthing".
This might, however, be an idea for IOSH to explore in order to counteract any perceived unadventurous image.
Have a great weekend.
Wellgate
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Rank: Forum user
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I hope to heaven none of our staff visiting London for client meetings etc. ever get on a bike there. Would you think it would be safe to walk along in the road, or to walk along a bus lane? Of course not, so how can it be safe if on two wheels instead of on two feet? Bikes and heavy urban traffic don't mix, surely they are only acceptable to us from the safety point of view on cycle-only paths.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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I am an occasional user of Boris Bikes and really enjoy the flexibility that the pick up/drop off system allows, especially like this afternoon when I enjoyed what was left of the sun whilst commuting across central London to a main railway terminal (then a safer but cramped journey home!).
As a business continuity measure, it's fraught with problems. As has been said before, finding a bike (esp in warm/dry weather) and finding an empty docking point ain't always easy.
Helmets are not supplied by the hirer, neither is wet weather clothing. Lastly, this bikes have a very low centre of gravity (like a small fold up bike) and do not operated like a larger frame mountain bike (like I am used to). It does makes a difference and I do find the bikes much more 'wobbly' (excuse the tecchy term).
The though of allowing 'more experienced' staff to use them who last cycled when they were 9, does scare me a bit!!
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