^ Nickie at a meeting with Getir, a grocery delivery company, to encourage them to back her campaign and establish a professional cycling certificate
Nickie Aiken, Member of Parliament for the Cities of London & Westminster, is calling on food and grocery delivery companies to work with her to establish a simple but safe professional cycling certificate, ensuring their riders are safe and act responsibly whilst out on the streets.
Let Nickie know your experiences and views by completing her survey at the bottom of this page.
Her campaign is not about banning delivery cyclists, but ensuring food delivery companies understand their responsibilities and ensure their riders are safe. Delivery cyclists are an integral part of the gig economy and it’s a great way for people who want the flexibility to work when it suits them. Her campaign is about ensuring they are safe.
Unlike delivery van and HGV drivers, delivery cyclists are not required to undergo any training or even prove an understanding of the Highway Code.
As a result, Nickie has been inundated with stories and concerns from local people about the inappropriate riding a minority have caused; riding on the pavement; skipping red lights; ignoring zebra crossings, and going the wrong way up one-way streets.
Nickie has also heard from many local people about incidents where a delivery cyclist has ridden into them.
In one case, Nickie heard from a local person walking on the pavement, left shaken when they had to put their hands up to prevent themselves from being hit by a delivery cyclist riding on the pavement. Sadly, it’s a story Nickie has heard repeatedly.
Like many of those who have contacted her, Nickie has also had a near-miss with a delivery cyclist who was going the wrong way on the pavement down a one-way street.
Suitable training is already available through Bikeability, the government's national cycle training programme. Other professions such as HGV drivers, van, and car delivery drivers who also drive in urban settings, such as central London, carry out the Safer Urban Driving course provided by FORS - Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme. However, there is currently no requirement for this training to be carried out.
Nickie is working with Bikeability and Cycling UK to establish a simple but safe professional cycling certificate and encourage food delivery companies to come on board. She has met with Deliveroo and Getir, two well-known food delivery companies, and will meet with others including Uber Eats.
Nickie also plans to introduce a Private Members’ Bill to compel companies to ensure cyclists working for them understand the law.
Tell Nickie your views and experiences and spend 30 seconds completing her survey below.
Commenting, Nickie said,
“We’ve embraced the gig economy, it brings everything closer to us and gives huge flexibility to those looking for work when it suits them, but a minority of delivery cyclists are causing huge disruption and difficulties for local people.
“I’m calling on the likes of Deliveroo, Getir, Uber Eats and similar companies to work with me and cycling organisations to establish a simple but safe professional cycling certificate, ensuring their riders are safe and ride appropriately.”
