Media spotlight rider safety research
Dr Cailean Gallagher, Lecturer in the Business School’s Department of Management, features in recent coverage by The Herald and Edinburgh Live, reporting findings from research on the safety of food delivery riders in Edinburgh.
The articles report on data gathered by The Workers’ Observatory, a participatory research initiative founded by Dr Gallagher that brings together platform workers, researchers and organisers to examine working conditions in the gig economy. The work includes collaboration with partners at the University of Edinburgh.
The reporting highlights survey data collected from delivery riders over four months. Riders described a range of incidents while working, including assaults, road accidents and theft, sometimes involving the loss of bicycles used for deliveries.
The coverage also discusses a proposal supported by riders to establish a rest hub in Edinburgh city centre. The hub would provide a place where riders could take breaks, shelter from the weather, charge phones and e-bikes and access facilities such as toilets.
Dr Gallagher said:
“The whole strategy is to put data behind the experiences of working people, making it easier for people to understand and work with.”
Read more:
Food delivery riders face violence, danger and theft in Edinburgh – The Herald
Edinburgh delivery riders face attacks, crashes and thefts – Edinburgh Live.