The UK’s three biggest food delivery companies have signed up to a new charter aimed at making the streets of Greater Manchester safer for all who use them.
Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats have all signed the new ‘Greater Manchester Food Delivery Charter’ alongside the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), Transport for Greater Manchester, the police and fire service.
It aims to create an industry standard for couriers who use bikes – including electrically-assisted pedal cycles (EAPCs) and e-bikes – to deliver food safely across Greater Manchester without endangering themselves or others.
Developed in collaboration with the food delivery companies and GMCA, the charter positively reinforces how couriers should ride safely and legally – on roadworthy bikes – at all times, with delivery schedules that are realistic and do not incentivise them to break the law. Under the charter, couriers are also encouraged to report collisions involving injury to the police to help identify hotspots and reduce incidents.
Food delivery couriers offer vital support to Greater Manchester’s hospitality sector, enabling local businesses to connect with more customers through quick deliveries on meals, grocery and retail items.
The number of food delivery couriers working across Greater Manchester has significantly increased as the industry and the population have grown. It is anticipated that 100,000 people will live in the city centre by 2026, highlighting the need for food delivery companies and Greater Manchester to work together as the demand for these types of services inevitably grows.
Meanwhile, Greater Manchester is committed to becoming a safer, healthier and more sustainable city region, with its Vision Zero strategy targeting zero deaths or life-changing injuries involving road traffic in GM by 2040.
The Food Delivery Charter will play an important role in achieving this, specifying the legal requirements and regulatory expectations of cyclist couriers and fostering better collaboration between the companies and public sector in Greater Manchester.
Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said: “Thousands of deliveries are made across Greater Manchester every day and many couriers ride safely and responsibly on our streets.
“By signing up today, Deliveroo, Uber Eats and Just Eat are showing us they are as serious as we are about making our streets safe for everyone– including the couriers themselves and pedestrians – and I am looking forward to us working together on this.
”Collaborating with the three major delivery companies is a massive step forward, and we’ll regularly be getting around the table to tackle any issues that emerge.”
