Posted By N. Rigby
We are considering introducing cycles into the workplace as a means of transport from site to site.

Has anyone undertaken this process previously and if so what lessons did you learn, guidance documentation did you refer etc.(accepting risk assessments etc will be undertaken)

Any assistance is appreciated. Thank you in advance

Posted By Lilian McCartney
There was a post office case some time ago, can't remember what the name etc but belive it had to do with maintenance of the bike.

Lilian

Posted By Tarquin Farquor
Pete,

May have had a typo, I think it was 'Stark'.

Regards,

TF

Posted By Pete Longworth
When you say site to site, do you mean 2 sites separated by a public highway or 2 areas of a large site?

Posted By Paul Darby
I used to work for a very well known Defence Contractor and it is common for large sites that handle explosives to use bikes as transport as the ignition risks are a lot lower.

Your RA will be fairly simple, as you just need to treat it as any other form of work equipment. It will be implementing the control measures that cause you issues! (and controlling the cyclists!)

You will need to ensure that your staff can ride a bike and you will need to add to your training the effects of weather on riding a bike, such as increased braking and lack of adhesion. Its amazing how many people have only ever ridden in the dry and have no idea that braking distance trebles when its wet.

Like all work equipment, the bikes will need to be maintained etc etc, but the biggest issue will be preventing collision between bike vs pedestrian and bike vs vehicle.

You will definitely need to think of segregating the 3 groups as much as you can, we had a number of collisions over the years and the root cause was nearly always the cyclist not adheering to a signed or marked traffic route (or there being no traffic route). Blind corners and doors that open out onto routes that cyclists use were a big issue for us. As a little tip, be very careful of what type of surface marking you use to mark any routes out, as some become like ice to a bicycle tyre when its wet!

Its not really the RA that is the issue, its implementing and enforcing the control measures that may cause you a few more problems.

That is not to say don't start using bikes, it can be done safely.