Blog: By bike or by van we’re still here to keep you safe during the lockdown

Cadent’s North London Network Supervisor, Robert Gray.



As Londoners move into their second month of lockdown our engineers are still out and about in the capital, responding to reports of gas escapes.
Amongst them have been members of our specially trained motorcycle squad who have been using two recently acquired BMW motorcycles to respond to gas emergencies across our North London gas distribution network.
Using motorcycles is nothing new for us, our engineers first pioneered the use of motorcycles to respond to gas escapes back in the nineties and they’ve been helping us to cut through congestion and tight spaces to reach gas escapes 50 per cent faster than using conventional means.
However, the new bikes are much lighter and more manoeuvrable than the earlier bikes we were previously using, and make filtering through traffic and narrow gaps, far easier, meaning we can get to reported gas escapes both faster and safer.
The specially adapted bikes are equipped with panniers and top boxes, which enable our engineers to carry all they need to safeguard life and property, and with amber strobe lights and Cadent livery, they’re an eye-catching spectacle.
However, whether they travel by motorbike or van, our engineers are doing the same important job, helping ensure we keep people connected to safe and reliable gas supplies.
And during the coronavirus pandemic all our staff are taking extra precautions in regard to social distancing and using additional PPE (personnel protective equipment) where appropriate, to keep both the public and our frontline staff safe.
It’s important that people continue to report suspected gas escapes during the lockdown, and they can so in the knowledge that we’re following Government’s coronavirus  safety guidelines.
 

• Suspected gas escapes should be reported on 0800 111 999* (All calls are recorded and may be monitored)