Blood Bikers Speak: Green Lights Aren’t a Silver Bullet
- Buck City Biker
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
Since our last piece on green warning lights for Blood Bikers, we’ve been talking directly to the people doing the miles. The message from the saddle has been surprising and very consistent: this isn’t what they’re asking for!
The National Association of Blood Bikes (NABB) says “the recent petition about green lights has put blood bikers back into the public spotlight, and that in itself is a positive thing.” We agree. Anything that gets more eyes on what these volunteers do is a clean win.
But NABB is also clear that slapping a light on the front of a bike isn’t a silver bullet. “Lights or colours is not a simple fix,” they say. It’s not just about being seen — it drags in questions around “training, safety, insurance, and the responsibility carried by charity trustees.”
That lines up with what riders have been telling us. Add warning lights and you change how other road users read the bike. Expectations go up, liability follows, and suddenly you’re being treated like something you’re not — without any change in legal standing to back it up.
There’s also the issue of what green lights already mean. As NABB points out, “green lights already have an established meaning,” most commonly linked to doctors on call. Blurring that line doesn’t help anyone and risks confusion where you can least afford it.
On the legal side, it looks like there's no wiggle room right now. NABB says “at government level, the position is clear: there will be no special exemptions for blood bikes.” Unless government departments decide to reopen the subject.
Blood Bikes are recognised as a valuable additional service, running alongside existing emergency provision — but not a flashing-light outfit.
Behind the scenes, NABB has been working for years on the bigger picture: recognition, exemptions, and “how blood bikes fit into national policy.” That work is ongoing, and they’ve said they welcome the team behind the petition to work with them — but only through “a joined-up, evidence-led approach.”
Why the Public Sees Green Lights as a Good Idea
When we speak to everyday road users — drivers, cyclists, non-Blood Biker riders — the reaction is overwhelmingly positive.
From the outside, green lights look like common sense. More visibility. Clearer recognition. A way to give Blood Bikers space and priority on the road. For most people, it feels like an easy win and a small thank-you for a service they respect. That goodwill is real, and it matters. But what looks like progress from the pavement can feel like added risk from the saddle.
The BCB Take
This is a tale of two sides. Everyday road users back Blood Bikers and want them more visible on the tarmac. Blood Bikers, meanwhile, are asking for governmental backing, not cosmetic fixes.
Bottom line? Keep the focus where it belongs. On the volunteers. The riders and drivers turning up in all weathers, moving critical supplies, and getting on with the job without shouting about it. And if this debate leads to better understanding and real-world support for Blood Bikers, then, as NABB puts it, “that can only be a good outcome.”
Ride safe folks.
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