Volunteer motorcyclists are taking to the roads across Australia to deliver vital blood and medical supplies when needed.

Blood Bikes Australia was founded by Peter Davis, based on the blood bikers movement in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The idea is that volunteers can fill a gap and be available to transport blood and medical supplies whenever other transport is not available.

“A very good friend of mine was a volunteer for Blood Bikes Scotland and I thought, what a bloody great idea!” said Peter.

“I'm retired, I like riding my bike and this gives me an excuse to ride my bike and do some good.”

First approaching Mater Pathology in Brisbane, Peter got the idea working on a small scale with nine volunteers across the Brisbane region, transporting blood medicines and other equipment.

Thanks to publicity in motorcycle publications, Peter’s volunteer numbers are growing and he has been busy meeting with health services to try and see how they can fit in with existing pathology transport arrangements.

“We've now got 82 volunteers Australia-wide in all states. in all capital cities and in the Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Bundaberg, Orange, Murwillumbah, Coffs Harbour, Gosford and it is growing!” said Peter, who stresses that the idea is to complement the systems already in place.

“We don't want to take anyone's job. All these place already have paid couriers, however what happens so often is all their couriers are out working and then they have to get a taxi or something like that which means money that would normally be spent on health care has to go to sending a courier.

“So that is where we come in. We are a pool of people who can be called upon as and when required so that money can stay in the health system.”

Peter said the idea has been welcomed by the senior health officials he has sat down with and he is now actively looking for new volunteer riders.

“Firstly, we were looking for healthcare providers to volunteer for, but we are now ready to ramp up and get more volunteers,” he said.

Blood Bike volunteers are required to cover all costs associated with the transportation, complete an Australian recognized certificate in blood transport, and adhere to a code of conduct.

“We are not ‘wannabe’ ambulance drivers or police, we stick to the road rules and we don't need funding, because we volunteer everything: our motorcycles, our time, our petrol, our tolls if that's the case,” said Peter.

“We are the back up; we are offering a free transport alternative so that money can stay in the health system.”

Local motorcyclist Oz McGuire heard about the group through her riding contacts and reached out to Peter to try get something going here in Orange.

“I think it is a great concept. And out here with distance, getting product from 100 or 50 kilometres up the road can be daunting, and this is just another avenue that you can take to help your community,” she said.

Anyone interest in learning more should visit the Blood Bikes Australia Facebook page, or email Peter bloodbikesau@gmail.com