Greater Manchester leaders and food delivery companies sign new charter for safer roads

The UK’s three biggest food delivery companies, Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats, have signed up to a new Greater Manchester Food Delivery Charter aimed at ensuring safer roads in the city-region.

The Charter, co-signed by Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), Transport for Greater Manchester, the police and fire service, aims to create an industry standard for couriers who use bikes, electrically-assisted pedal bikes, and e-bikes for food delivery. Developed in collaboration with the food delivery companies and GMCA, the charter positively reinforces how couriers should ride safely and legally, and ensures realistic delivery schedules do not incentivise riders to break the law. The charter also encourages couriers to report collisions to help identify accident hotspots.

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.” 

There will also be regular ‘days of action’, presenting an opportunity for food delivery companies and Greater Manchester agencies to see what is being done on the ground to ensure the personal safety of couriers and the public. The first is due to take place in May.

These will include input from couriers on their experience while riding on Greater Manchester’s roads, as well as increased communication and guidance from the food delivery companies to couriers about expectations. The days of actions will also see the companies come together for progress meetings with the public sector to discuss any opportunities and issues.

Claire Pointon, Just Eat Managing Director UK and Ireland, said:

“Just Eat is committed to supporting the high streets and communities in which we operate. We firmly believe courier safety is at the heart of a well-regulated rapid delivery sector. We support the introduction of the Charter and look forward to working with the Mayor and Transport for Greater Manchester to achieve our shared goal of improved road safety for all.”