BMW R1200RT/R1250RT Forum

Now I've got a bit of time in my hands I've been toying with the idea of volunteering with my local Blood Bikes group. Is anyone here a current BB rider or has been in the recent past. If so, can you (without naming names) spill the beans. The good, the bad and the ugly, plus any tips, pointers or advice please.

EDIT I'm already IAM and soon hope to be a National Observer so while I know my riding has to be assessed, I also know (hope) it's well above the bar anyway.

I applied to the local blood bikes. Was told there was a waiting list and must have some advanced riding training before they were interested.

Each group seems to have different rules.

I was in Kent Blood Bikes for quite a few years, and although I have an advanced rider qualification, it wasn't a requirement (at least not when I joined) - but you did have to pass a ride where they followed you round a route for about an hour.

In Kent, you could ride your own bike on runs and volunteer for whatever days/nights you were available, or ride the marked bikes where you kept them at home and were available for a week at a time.

I currently ride for SWBB. I normally do two days a month, if I wanted to do more it would be no problem as it’s usually the same people filling the gaps. As Devon is a big county it’s split into four areas, I’m in the east, with two riders on call. We seem to get the jobs with long rides, I was on call two weeks ago and I was out for five hours, month before six hours. I’m regularly going out of the county.
To me they seem to have taken on more work and struggle to cover at times. They have WhatsApp groups for each area, I can’t see what the other areas are doing so don’t know how busy they are. Jobs are allocated on WhatsApp, the controller won’t call you, bad system if you ask me, but they muddle through and make it work.
I have also been in Derbyshire Blood Bikes, completely different, more riders on call, the controller would call you, it seemed to work more efficiently.

It would appear to be down to the individual groups how they operate. SWBB is doing a good job, feedback from the NHS shows this, but they just need to tweak a few things.

I've sent a message to Dave C, asking him to join the discussion. He's been a BB rider for sometime, so will be along shortly with some great advice I'm sure.

I’ve ridden for the Blood Bikes for 8 years in May, NWBB-LL ( North Lancs Blood Bikes Lancs & Lakes ) and really enjoyed it, I probably don’t do as many shifts these days, but I still do the two a month that they ask.
Like Owl says each group seems to have different rules, you can ride for our group on your own bike, and can claim fuel expenses, once you’ve completed an assessment ride, basically just to make sure you’re safe enough.
If you got an advanced certification you can ride the liveried bikes, in our case mainly RT1250’s and a couple of the new 1300’s.
We seem to be a big group that stretches from Barrow in Furness in Cumbria to Colne in Lancashire, and split into 5 areas, and like others have said we go out of area sometimes , Leeds-Manchester-Liverpool can be quite regular as well of more local hospital runs.
We run via the controller, who will ring once a job comes in, on pick up we text back, with the location and time, and the same when we get to where we are taking it.
Then basically head back home, are to a coffee stop, and text the controller that we are safe.

Personally I do it to give a bit back, I’m an ex cancer patient that enjoys riding bikes
Only downside I suppose is winter, but I use their bikes, so
not to bad, but they have to be fuelled and washed ready for the next shift.

If you’ve more time, I’d say get in touch and see what they have to say.

Any questions please ask, and I’ll try to answer

I doff my cap to all of you blood bikers,well done gentleman(and ladies I'm sure)

In Lincolnshire there is currently a waiting list to become a blood biker. I put my name down last October and haven't got to the top of the list yet.

I notice some areas seem to be short of volunteers. Luck of the draw, I suppose.

Wouldn't be good for me then. I don't do WhatsApp, Facebook, etc. Don't even like texts. My daily phone is a Nokia 3210. Had it for years, battery lasts months without charging. Never goes wrong. I have a smartphone but hate the thing. To me a phone is for making and receiving calls. As you can tell, I'm very old school

Doctor T wrote: Thu Apr 09, 2026 12:42 pm I have a smartphone but hate the thing. To me a phone is for making and receiving calls. As you can tell, I'm very old school

You're not the only one, to me they are still essentially a mobile phone, but with add ons. Yes, I do find being able to use the internet to check something out when I'm out & about or some of the features like calanders, maps or always having a camera (abeit one with limits) on my smart phone useful, but social media, chat groups, even this forum, I just don't use them on my phone. AND even considering it's a phone, if I'm busy, sod you, what I'm doing is more important to me, leave a message!