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27.03.2014
Latvijas Pasts has bought 200 new and modern bikes whose design and functions are tailored specifically for carrying mail in all kinds of weather. Bikes, which have been recognized as a reliable method of transport for the delivery of mail and which are used in other European post offices, will now become a daily tool for Latvian postal carriers serving the detached private house districts in cities and in rural areas. Keeping in mind the safety of its employees and vehicles, Latvijas Pasts has registered the bikes at the Road Traffic Safety Directorate (CSDD). The CSDD data shows that this has been the biggest number of bikes registered at a time by one legal entity so far.
About 200 postal carriers of Latvijas Pasts deliver mail and print media by bike on a daily basis. They mainly serve detached private house districts in cities and in rural areas. In areas where the customers' mailboxes are located near one another, the bike is the most efficient means for delivery of mail, and this delivery model is used by post offices in Estonia, Denmark, Germany and elsewhere around the world. The need for buying new and modern bikes arose because the ones purchased in 2004 and 2006 were worn out due to intensive use and were unable to provide full comfort for the postal carriers and ensure the necessary delivery functions.
Arnis Salnājs, Chairman of the Board at Latvijas Pasts, points out: "A postal carrier who delivers mail by bike travels about 12 km on average per day. Therefore, when purchasing the new bikes, we specifically made sure that they were convenient and safe for the carriers, as well as practical for transporting of the mail. Postal carriers were also involved in the process of selection of the bikes: over a prolonged period of time they tried a number of models offered by various producers in their daily work and they recognized the purchased bicycles as the most comfortable."
The new bikes are equipped with 3-speed gear shifters, horns, lights on the front and rear, reflective elements on the rear and in the spokes of both wheels, as well as roomy baskets to carry mail. Following the safe traffic rules, Latvijas Pasts has provided the carriers who ride the bikes with special helmets. According to the applicable regulations, a postman who uses a bike for work must hold a valid driver's license.
All 200 bikes have been registered at the CSDD, thereby increasing the company's (the bike owner's) security against a possible vehicle theft. According to the data provided by the CSDD, Latvijas Pasts as a legal entity has so far registered the largest number of bicycles in the state register of vehicles and their drivers.
Andris Lukstiņš, Chairman of the Board at the CSDD, says: "There is a new trend that appeared last year: an increasing number of legal entities have registered their bicycles at the CSDD, and Latvijas Pasts should be mentioned as the leader in this respect. Registration of a bike means that the owner can at least partially protect their property from pickers and stealers. We have observed the following trend: if a thief has to choose which bike to steal - the one a registration sticker on or the one without, they will go for the second option. This means that the registration sticker serves as an additional safeguard against theft." All 200 new bikes owned by Latvijas Pasts carry registration stickers.
The manufacturer of the bikes is the Slovenian company KRPAN, and one of the lines of its activities is production of bicycles for postal service providers. The post offices in Estonia, Hungary, Croatia and Slovenia use bicycles of a similar design and structure.
Post carriers of Latvijas Pasts deliver mail by bike, by car or on foot, depending on the population density in the area and the amount of mail. In 2013 and 2014, in order to improve the working conditions of its employees, Latvijas Pasts purchased uniforms and work shoes for postal carriers, couriers, car drivers, as well as workshop and technical staff. In the near future, it is planned to purchase uniforms for postal car drivers and employees who process express mail.
The photos of the new bikes can be viewed here.
About SJSC Latvijas Pasts
Latvijas Pasts ensures the widest availability of postal services throughout Latvia by maintaining more than 600 post offices. The primary function of the company is provision of the universal postal service; Latvijas Pasts also provides commercial transport, express mail, payment, press subscription, retail and philatelic services. Latvijas Pasts is a wholly State-owned company with more than 4,200 employees
Additional information:
Agija Tērauda
Public Relations Specialist
Phone: +371 67608506
E-mail: agija.terauda@pasts.lv
twitter.com/latvijas_pasts; facebook.com/latvijas.pasts
Public Relation Department, CSDD
Phone: 67025730
E-mail: office@csdd.gov.lv
www.csdd.lv; @csdd_lv