Bad News for UK Postal Bicycle Delivery

I just ran across an article from the UK, headlining the fact that the Royal Post is eliminating its 24,000 strong fleet of postal delivery bicycles! In short the Royal Post cites "safety risks" as the reason, however on their own website they list bicycle injuries as fifth on the list behind the following four causes of postal injuries:

1. Slips, trips and falls
2. Animal attacks
3. Stepping on/striking against something
4. Lifting and handling

The bicycle fleet will be replaced with diesel delivery vehicles and trucks...... Way to go UK.

You can read the original article here:

http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/royal-mail-scrap-bicycles-for-safety-reasons-25576/?pageno=2

New BGS Y-Straps

I found a great deal in the dusty recesses of ebay's "Buy-It-Now" back room "stores"............ A new set of BGS leather Y-Straps! The straps (suspenders) were actually advertised as German Surplus with no other description. For the price, it was definitely worth getting a pair even if they were not exactly correct for my BGS bike "uniform". To make a long story short.......... big time LATE shipping and a two week transit time delay after buying them, they arrived today.

They look like they are actually nearly brand new and only on very close inspection is there any indication that they are not. I checked out the date-maker stamp to see what their actual origin was and amazingly they are stamped as BGS from 1962!!!!!!!!! A total score! I must be sending out some pretty potent vibrational energy in this whole BGS bike project :)

Now the search continues for some additional select uniform components and a new-old bike light and generator....... oh yes, and some field equipment to strap on the bike............ I think you get the idea, "A never ending project"! Half the fun is the research and treasure hunt for the cool "stuff".

Here's a picture of a few BGS officers from the same early 1960's vintage wearing pairs of Y-Straps with their field belts:

Here are my new straps:

Chetzemoka, PT"s New Ferry

Here's a sneak peak of the Washington State Ferry "Chetzemoka". This is the brand new ferry that is being finished up for the Port Townsend - Keystone ferry crossing. According to the news, the ferry is now floating and has been moved to the Everett Shipyard for the last additions, fitting out and six weeks of sea trials.

This new type of Washington Ferry will be known as the Kwa-di Tabil class. A second ferry of this class has already been started at the Todd Shipyard in Seattle and is slated for the PT-Keystone run as well..

Here are a few shots of the new ship!

Deutsche Post Dienstfahrrad

Here are a few pictures of German Postal Service delivery bikes......... Somehow I don't think you'll ever see our postal delivery folks delivering the mail on bikes like these until all the oil dries up!

I just heard the US Postal Service is petitioning Congress to do away with Saturday deliveries to save money. Hey I've got a radical idea, how about doing away with a few thousand delivery cars in every state and replace them with these cargo bikes! If the Germans can do it, I'll bet we could too!

German Dienstrad Police & Service Bikes

The research continues for the origins of my BGS bicycle. Since I can not absolutely, 100%, confirm it's history, I will continue to research any leads that may help tell the possible story of this bike. I found a great internet "stash" of great info using some odd Google searches. I found some pretty good pictures of old German Police bicycles from the 40's and 50's that match my bicycle. The police vehicle colors are the same bright green and it appears that the handlebars and cranks that were originally chromed on my bike, are chromed on the bicycles in the pictures of the border police and lands police bikes.

Another possibility for my bike!

The Zoll Politzei handeled the border crossings and the BGS handeled border defenses.............. The bicycle colors would have been the same........The Landspolizei are the Federal State Police and also would possibly have shared the same green color as well.

Zoll Polizei

Bavaria Landspolizei

Here are a few pictures of some other German service bikes (Dienstrad) that I uncovered on my continuing search:

German Customs Service 1950's
This bike is VERY similiar to mine.

German Railroad Service Bicycle
1940's or 1950's

More modern German Volunteer Fire Department Bicycle

It seems that the germans really have it figured out in the bicycle department! Wouldn't it be great to see more bicycles used by our own public service agencies!? Bicycles in public service....... they could save money and save lives (you can only gain so much weight and flab when your pedalling instead of driving)!

The Broken Spoke Grand Openning!

I just thought I'd make a little "FYI" posting for all you hip cyclists that follow this blog.........

Port Townsend's newest and in my humble opinion, best bike shop, will be holding a Grand Opening Weekend of cycling fun........... check out the flier:

April 9, 10, 11, 2010

Bike Day in PT

N8 came out for a few days this week from Seattle, and brought a Jeep load of bike frames and parts from the "junk bin" at Recycled Cycles. We did a quick pick through the pile and pulled out a few parts and a frame........ Indi picked out a new suspension frame to build up for his new "Spring Bike" and the rest of the load was sent over the The Recyclery Bike Co-Op in Uptown PT. They were thrilled to get the new stock pile..........


We also gave the BGS bike a quick run up and down the street. Fun!