Pedal power the way forward

Western Power Distribution (WPD), the electricity distribution company responsible for keeping the lights on for Birmingham’s homes and businesses, is gearing up to road closures in the city by using electric bikes to get to power cut incidents quickly.

With the closure of the A38 tunnels this month and throughout August, WPD engineers will be using two wheels instead of four to get around the city and restore power losses as fast as possible.

This strategy was introduced in response to the maintenance of the tunnel network around Birmingham City Centre last year, and proved to be a practical solution to traffic disruption.

Lee Harrison, WPD’s Birmingham City Team Manager, said: “Even when the tunnels reopened last year, we have found that during peak times, our engineers are able to arrive up to half an hour quicker by bike than by car. We expect to be using the bikes much more over the next few weeks and are confident that we can continue to deliver a high standard of service to customers.”

The company has a fleet of three electric bikes, making journeys easier and ensuring they are equipped to effectively manage the electricity network.

“The added benefit of the bikes is that they can reach the pedestrianised zones and less accessible areas like blocks of flats more easily so our service has certainly improved,” Lee added.