Wigan Council leads the way to free up bus lanes for life-saving treatments

Wigan Council leads the way to free up bus lanes for life-saving treatments

Jo Platt MP with GM Blood Bikes Chair Russ Harrison, Leader of Wigan Council Cllr Nazia Rehman, and Wigan Council representatives

Wigan Council has become one of the first local authorities in Greater Manchester to formally allow Blood Bikes to use bus lanes while carrying out their vital duties.

The council has amended its bus lane Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) to allow Blood Bike riders on official duties to legally use bus lanes across the borough, helping to ease the journey of volunteers and reduce the risk of unnecessary delays.

A volunteer-led charity, Greater Manchester Blood Bikes transport blood, plasma, vaccines, breast milk, emergency medicine and more to hospitals and healthcare settings all year round. 

Leader of Wigan Council, Councillor Nazia Rehman, said: “I am incredibly proud that we are leading the way to give Blood Bikes riders access to bus lanes while carrying out their vital duties.

“These volunteers provide an invaluable service to our communities and NHS, and this decision is a practical way of recognising their dedication and commitment.

“Granting greater access to these volunteers may prove to be a lifeline to those in need of urgent medical attention.”

Whilst Blood Bike volunteers are currently able to use bus lanes in Manchester city centre, Wigan Council’s TRO amendment means that it is the first outer-borough to implement the change in Greater Manchester.

All ten local authorities agreed in principle that Blood Bikes should be permitted use of bus lanes at a recent Greater Manchester Traffic Managers meeting, and it is hoped that the policy will soon become region wide.

Such a policy will allow volunteers to reduce journey times and reach more people in need, with the charity already surpassing last year’s total of 5,500 jobs between January and October 2026.

Russ Harrison, chair of Greater Manchester Blood Bikes, said: “The decision by Wigan Council to amend their bus lane TRO is a massive piece of recognition for the Blood Bike volunteers, who work so hard to deliver these vital supplies.

“The extra time that it will save us will allow us to do more, and if we get the extra help with bus lane changes across Greater Manchester, I’m sure that we can do even more to help those we work with to save lives”.