Discussions to change road traffic legislation, which will enable blood bikers freely use bus lanes to bypass traffic congestion and reduce collection and delivery times for vital medical and blood supplies, are ongoing. A spokesperson for Blood Bike Medical Transport has told ‘Emergency Services Ireland’ that it is “a work in progress’, after formal approval was granted, in principle, by the Department of Transport in October 2025, with full legislative changes and stakeholder consultation needed to change the regulations.
Ireland’s Blood Bike groups use vehicles to rapidly transport medical and clinical items to and from hospitals and other healthcare facilities around the country. This voluntary service reduces demand on alternative transport methods such as ambulances or private operators. Road traffic regulations in this country don’t currently permit the use of bus lanes by blood bikes, or providing an exemption from road tolls, with the possibility being stopped or fined if found to be doing so.
However, the first step to changing the situation was finally been made with approval granted last October by the Department of Transport to enable them to bypass traffic congestion and reduce transit times for collections and deliveries. In granting the approval, in principle, the Minister for Transport, Darragh O’Brien TD, said: “Blood Bikes Medical Transport volunteers provide a crucial health service, and this decision acknowledges the importance of their work to our society. Every day, Blood Bike volunteers transport vital medical supplies between hospitals and patients across the country quickly and efficiently.”
The Minister had met with volunteers Michael Noonan and Fergus Lennon in July 2025 to hear about the transport services they provide. “They are among the 140 dedicated volunteers who give their time, free of charge, to ensure the service is both efficient and dependable,” he noted.
According to Fergus Lennon, Founder and Director of Blood Bike Leinster, there has been some positive news regarding the bus lanes. “We met in December last year with the admin team to try and get this over the line. It’s still a work in progress”.
Speaking recently to ‘Emergency Services Ireland’, Lennon said he remains confident that Blood Bikes Medical Transport will “get this over the line within the coming months”, pointing out that “the legal team is making sure this is watertight and will not lead to a courtroom battle by other medical services saying they are doing what we do”.
However, he described the issue with the road toll payments on the motorways as “a different kettle of fish” and added they have had no meetings with the Department of Transport up to now.
“We are at the start of the year so we can now push forward to pin this down. I was in talks with the Department of Transport many years ago and at that time, it was then a straightforward ‘NO’. But since then, as our vehicles now resemble HSE ambulance type vehicles, and we don’t have that problem.
“Well, while our group does not, other groups still must display the required tags on their windscreens, so hopefully we can get it through for all groups. One main issue that I did take from our last meeting, is that vehicles must be branded yellow and green, with drivers having green and yellow jackets. No unmarked vehicles will be allowed to use the bus lanes.”
On 11 December last, in a parliamentary question to Minister Canney, Jennifer Whitmore Social Democrats TD for Wicklow, had asked the Minister to “advise on the stakeholder process, further to approval in principle for a service to use the bus lane network while carrying out their services”. She also queried the proposed timelines for such activity.
In response, the Minister pointed out that his department officials had been in contact with members of Blood Bikes Medical Transport regarding access to the bus lane network. “My officials have just begun a review of the relevant legislation, and over the coming months, my department intends to continue to engage with all relevant stakeholders to ensure the best legislative outcome for all parties.
“Considering the ongoing stakeholder engagement and potential legislative complexities, it is not possible at present to provide a definitive timeline for the introduction of the required legislative amendment.”
Blood Bikes Medical Transport is a registered charity which assists Ireland’s health service by transporting clinical items to and between healthcare facilities. There are almost 140 Blood Bike volunteers, handling 6,000 calls annually. Blood Bike volunteers provide their service free of charge.
