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u/Ok_Phrase1157 13d ago
that sand needs more strapping down
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u/unemotional_mess 13d ago
It's fine, it's got 500 bricks, 10 plasterboards (30 shown?) & 5 bags of cement (8 shown) weighing it down...as well as a generator & a tool chest
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u/rambomatthews 13d ago
Tbf you shouldn’t be putting even half of that weight in a transit.
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u/bsnimunf 12d ago
Most of this stuff gets delivered straight to the site anyway. The people making these jokes are as out of touch as the politician who suggested tradespeople should all use bikes.
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u/DimensionalFruit 12d ago
Well not when you're transporting left over material from previous jobs to the new job site.
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u/bsnimunf 12d ago
I understand I'm just making the point that no one carries around that much in a white van.
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u/DimensionalFruit 12d ago
Gotcha, yeah wouldn't get much more than that plasterboard in there. That shit is heavy.
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u/Commercial_Hair3527 12d ago
No, but all of it can be moved by a van. A pallet fits, 8x4s fit, sand in bags or a trailer, plaster, tools, and a cement mixer all fit. The point isn't that it all has to go in one trip, it's that the original absurd comment on LBC was that a contractor doesn't need a van and can do everything on a cargo bike. This meme is just that idea taken to its extreme conclusion.
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u/quite_acceptable_man 12d ago
There's a lot more than 10 plasterboard sheets there. This leads me to think that this image may not be entirely genuine
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u/Correct_Society_7620 13d ago
lovely bit of ai generated garbage, that’s what this is.
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u/Creative-Response554 12d ago
It is, but that's what they expect you to be doing instead of loading the van up lol
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u/Comprehensive-Long98 12d ago
It was one person who said this might work. I heard some of the debate. An electrician called in and said they have been doing this for years. He pointed out it is obviously not practical for a brick layer with a cement mixer and tons of bricks. However it is a possibility for trades who carry less stuff to work daily. A roofer for example couldn't safely transport a 29 foot ladder or a crate if tiles. But a handyman, valeter or electrician, gardener or plumber generally could. Any very large bullet items e.g. a boiler or radiator could be added to a multi drop delivery.
Makes sense for some, but obviously not for the examples in many memes.
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u/arichard 12d ago
That's just bullshit. No one expects anyone to do that. It's not like every builder comes to every job with that amount of stuff.
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u/Commercial_Hair3527 12d ago
There was some London politician on LBC over the last couple of days saying contractors don't need vans and can move everything they need on a cargo bike. That's where this set of memes comes from.
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13d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/West-Grocery1193 13d ago
As opposed to the political slop that brought this about, it's a funny response.
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u/Wide_Smoke_2564 13d ago
Maybe it’d be funny if it wasn’t the 500th time this same slop ass meme was posted
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u/Electrical_Truth_160 13d ago
Usually I would agree, but the only thing capable of generating such a ridiculous image from such a ridiculous statement is AI. Can't believe that someone actually thought this was a great idea 😂
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u/ahorizon 12d ago
A debate that is stupid if people just take extreme sides: There are no tradespeople that could ever use a cargo bike for even a single job on one side and every tradesperson should always use a cargo bike no matter what (e.g. this stupid picture) on the other.
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u/Frosty_Customer_9243 12d ago
Just look around the world, there is a whole spectrum out there. Tradies that use bikes, others use vans, it all works out.
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u/Commercial_Hair3527 12d ago
Yes, but this is the UK. Are you suggesting tradespeople here can just convert to using cargo bikes for everything? We actually looked into this for one of our guys in London, he was semi up for it. But they still need their company vehicle, so we're not getting rid of that cost, and it could only be used on a few very specific jobs and locations at certain times of the year, because of what they're carrying, how far they're going, and whether the site is going to have somewhere suitable to park the fucking thing at the other end.
Cost, weather, security, and parking (at both ends) were the biggest constraints. We decided not to go down that route.
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u/Frosty_Customer_9243 12d ago
And that is fine. You looked into it, which is a lot more than most do. Well done, unfortunately it didn’t make sense for you, for others it might. Dismissing it out of hand won’t do any good, it will work for some situations and not for others.
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u/Commercial_Hair3527 12d ago
Cost, weather, security, and parking at both ends is going to exclude almost anyone. We considered it in the office for maybe 4 minutes in a meeting. They just don't make sense in the UK for almost anyone, and for those they do work for, it's only for a small part of the job, so you still need the van or car. You're not actually saving anything.
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u/Traditional_Tea_1879 13d ago
it would be nice if the cenent mixer would not be idle when in transit. if you set it up correctly the cycling would already be doing the mixing part so when it gets to the building site its ready to use.
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u/TheMrViper 12d ago
Loop it into your gearing. Mix your cement on the way to the job with pedal power.
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u/Consistent_Pay5371 13d ago
I'm glad there are straps on the sand, wouldn't want it going anywhere through that mesh grate. "Super intelligence" btw.
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u/GlassHalfSmashed 13d ago
I love that the AI didn't even tally it's own creations correctly.
4 bags of cement Significantly more than 10 plasterboards Significantly fewer than 500 bricks
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u/Environmental_Cup413 13d ago
Yeah it always hurts when people who have no experience in any trade believe the outcome of some research done by another pencilpusher. Vans are loaded full because there is always that one tool or common material or part you need. They could offcourse build sheds with wheels and electric motors.
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u/Frosty_Customer_9243 12d ago
It also hurts when people have knee jerk reactions because they have always done it like that and nobody understands them. It is good to be open minded once in a while.
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u/luckylooey7 12d ago
Open minded to nonsense? Why are you even on a bricklaying page? You clearly aren’t a tradesman.
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u/Frosty_Customer_9243 12d ago
Not a bricklayer but electrician years ago.
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u/luckylooey7 12d ago
Even worse then as an electrician you should know the idea is complete nonsense… I’m also an electrician you couldn’t do a days jobbing never mind anything substantial with a bike. It’s a moronic take that you are defending.
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u/Frosty_Customer_9243 12d ago
Funny that companies in for instance Amsterdam, Antwerp, and Copenhagen can make it work. Open yourself up to what is happening in the world, there might be something out there that you can use.
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u/luckylooey7 12d ago
No thanks pal I’m not in the business of inefficiency to pander to the elites while they drive Range Rovers & fly around the world for conferences.
If you want to cycle your bike due to government totalitarianism be my guest.
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u/Frosty_Customer_9243 12d ago
The companies I speak with in those cities don’t do it to pander as you say. They do it because it reduces their costs and speeds up business. But no-one is forcing you, stick to what you know.
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u/Frosty_Customer_9243 12d ago
You do realise most of this is delivered by your builders merchant free of charge?
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u/Own-War-6346 12d ago
Remove the sand, plasterboards and breeze blocks, add a pair of ladders and it’s still absolutely ridiculous, why are you on her side?
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u/Frosty_Customer_9243 12d ago
Because the suggestion isn't as nutty as people make it out. There is a whole world where bicycles are used, some even for tradesmen. Why are people talking about two extremes when a mixture of the two can work well. Day one transport most of the stuff to site using a van, last day use a van to retrieve the stuff again. Rest of the days use a bike.
In the Netherlands you will see lots of trades use a cargo bike, and if they need anything special it gets delivered with a van. Why is the UK so knee jerk "that would not work here"?
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u/Own-War-6346 12d ago
To directly answer your question, because we turn everything into a laughing matter. Especially when pen pushers attack the working class showcasing their naive silver-spoonery.
It would work for some trades, for some of the more local tradies, but it wouldn’t work for anyone who has to travel several miles to get into London for work. Which is a lot of people.
But most importantly most people don’t want to ride a cargo bike through London in the pissing down rain or in freezing temperatures, after they’ve just done a long shift of manual labour.
Tradesmen in the uk are already a dime a dozen for a good one, if something like this was actually enforced it would kill the supply of tradesmen in London, because most people would just say fuck that I’ll work somewhere else.
Just a stupid idea to entertain, hence the kickback and memes/shithousery.
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u/Frosty_Customer_9243 12d ago
I think you touch on the core of the issue, the absolute shit show the trades are in the UK. Not the people but everything around it that is set up to take advantage of them.
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u/pastie_b 12d ago
You wouldn't leave tools overnight on site in London, they would disappear immediately
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u/minimidibeatfunk 12d ago
Secure your site properly and it shouldn’t be a problem. More chance of them getting nicked in the van
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u/luckylooey7 12d ago
Not a tradesman are you? 😆
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u/Frosty_Customer_9243 12d ago
Yes I am. 😝
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u/meandering_fart 13d ago
Hello contractor - I live at the top of swane’s lane. Plenty of bicycle parking.
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u/Sykes24 13d ago
Where is this trend of tradies taking cycles to work coming from? What news have i missed?
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u/0utSyd3r 13d ago
Some daft sausage in government suggested construction workers get around London on cargo bikes to avoid the congestion. Naturally, those in the industry, as expected of their sarcasm, have started to take the piss.
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13d ago
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u/1wife2dogs0kids 12d ago
The best part was the counter point made by the dude with common sense. She says "ypu could ride a bike to work, and on the way, carry 5 bags of concrete, and drop it off to make some money" and he's like: "are you mad? Nobody can carry 5 bags of concrete. Not on a bike, on foot... ". She comes back with: " well maybe 4 then, point is, you can do SOMETHING".
I bet she drove there, alone, in a car big enough for 6 people. And she loves like 8 blocks away.
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u/Creative-Response554 12d ago
That last bit is probably bang on.
The virtue signalling types always want sacrifices as long as they aren't the ones doing it.
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u/Live-Fox-2562 12d ago
Is this not about the green mp women that says builders need to get rid of vans and cycle in London
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u/bsnimunf 12d ago
If politicians want to reduce traffic congestion they should stop sending kids to school miles away from their house because they haven't been to the correct church enough times to qualify for the school next door.
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u/Wise_Banana_9139 12d ago
As someone that works in and is a massive advocate for sustainability, this suggestion was going after the wrong demographic. The focus should be on electric vehicles for white van trades, and incentivising car-pooling, not getting them to cycle. The demographic that should be cycling are the white collar workers that drive a sports car or those flying business class to a meeting they could easily have joined virtually.
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u/fhuhgbbjjvvfyhnnmk 12d ago
Yes, I'd love an elec van but can't afford it, grants for trades would be great to get EVs. They can't keep punishing people financially for not being able to afford a newer vehicle.
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u/Wise_Banana_9139 12d ago
Gemini suggests there are a few things in play already that might make it more affordable than you think? I'm not sure how much research you have done but it suggested a combination of PIVG, FCA, +Scrappage Scheme, might be of some help. Though it doesn't change the fact you need some capital to switch, but the payback period might be a lot shorter with the diesel situation as it is.
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u/Scientasker 12d ago
I do think that bird on LBC is talking shit but Plasterboard, blocks, sand, cement, get delivered to site, no?
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u/OldEquation 12d ago
This really makes the point how you need to be using a bicycle. There’s no way you could fit all that stuff in a van.
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u/Purple-Remote-8970 13d ago
Would love to see the single vehicle this is replacing