Category: Ambulance

Here are a pair of St. John Ambulance cycles parked in front of two motorised ambulance vehicles. The bikes are made by Swissbike and have a heavy-duty hinge under the seat, meaning the bikes can be folded in half and transported easily. Here is an example of a St. John Swissbike in action in the daylight.

Here is a London Ambulance Service bike that is used at Heathrow Airport. The small pouch attached to the rear box carries a spare inner tube. The rear view of the bike, showing the the wording 'working in partnership with BAA' and the large rear blue flashing led.

This is a Vauxhall Vivaro that is used by LAS's Cycle Response Unit for transporting bikes and related equipment to events. It carries a basic LAS livery.

Here a St. John Ambulance medic cycles through a chicane of cones at a demonstration event in Smithfield Market, City of London. Another St. John medic has removed the equipment from the rear of his bike and is passing under a low obstacle at speed as part of the same demonstration.

An example of an ambulance responder bike with two panniers and a rack-top bag. It carries the familiar green and yellow checkered colour of ambulances.

This privately operated ambulance cycle is heavily equipped. It has the usual medical equipment on the rear and front panniers. The whole bike is decked out in yellow with green stripes.v On the handlebars is a vast array of equipment. It has a mirror, a small and a large siren, white lights, blue constant light, blue flashing lights and even a bluetooth Tomtom Rider sat nav. It's no wonder the brakes have been upgraded to cope with the weight.

Here is a London Ambulance bike with sponsorship by Openhouse.

This is the first ambulance cycle in the UK. It was ridden by London Ambulance's Tom Lynch in a trial during the summer of 2000. The cycles used have evolved greatly from this starting point and units have sprung up all over the country.

In August 2006, a two-month trial began using cycles to respond to 999 calls in The City area of London. This follows from the success of established units in the West End and Heathrow. Here are two of the four medics with their bikes. ... As an emergency call comes in by mobile 'phone from the control room, one medic makes a quick note of the details and then checks the route on the map. ... Both the paramedic and technician then head off to take the fastest route to the patient, cutting through traffic and side streets.

Here is a paramedic cyclist practicing riding down steps with a heavy load on the rear of the bike. And the same person practicing riding up steps! The key is to maintain forward motion by approaching at speed, pulling the handlebars up and continuing to pedal up the steps. Spotters on the steps are ready to lend a hand if the rider can't make it to the top.

This St. John Ambulance cycle response unit is used in London to reach patients in areas that are not easily accessible by traditional road vehicles.

This is Pat Andrews, a cycle response unit paramedic with London Ambulance Service. Behind him are the famous London landmarks of Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square and Big Ben. Also shown is a closer view of the bikes used by the LAS medics. Notice the large yellow box on the back (with removable bags and oxygen cylinder) and the small bags on the front.

This is the equipment used by the London Ambulance Service's skateboard response unit (which is part of the cycle unit). The photo shows the ambulance back-pack with essential emergency care equipment, as well as the protective equipment worn by the skater. The board is in European-standard ambulance yellow with LAS wording, crest and NHS logo. The skateboard and equipment in use. Following on from the success of the cycle unit, a trial of responding to emergencies in inaccessible areas by skateboard was started. The top side of the skateboard is not liveried due to the high-grip surface. Another view of the skateboard in use, being ridden by an emergency medical technician. A more traditional ambulance can be seen in the background. The information concerning this venture was released to the press on 1 April 2004, and yes it was an elaborate April fool!

Heathrow airport was only the second in the world to have an ambulance cycle unit (Vancouver was first). Here EMT Gerard Robinson and Duty Station Officer Alan Payne switch on their blue flashing lights inside the terminal for press photos. The cycle unit and this press call were covered by BBC's 'Airport' television programme. The same two ambulance cyclists cycle past the tails of British Airways planes. It is a big advantage to be able to respond to medical emergencies at speed both inside and outside the buildings.

Paramedic Neil Roberts on the TENYAS Life Cycle takes a look around.

A group of London Ambulance Service cyclists listen to words of wisdom from veteran ambulance service cyclist and instructor Mark Inman.

Here a LAS cycle response unit is joined by a very similar St. John Ambulance version.

This photo shows two West Midlands St. John cycle responders being briefed at a large outdoor event. The same cycle team also meet up with some colleagues in a Challenger 4X4.

This picture shows two flashing blue lights and a flashing ambulance sign on the rear of a London ambulance bike. What is interesting is the fact that they are paper thin and are made of material. They run on a separate small pack of batteries and can run continuously for weeks. A similar pannier box can be seen on the back of this St John Ambulance London District Cycle Response unit.

Here is EMT Kate Walker on a training course before becoming a fully fledged TENYAS life-cycle rider and emergency responder.

This black Smith & Wesson paramedic cycle is liveried as London Ambulance Service, but is actually a sample in use at a display of medical equipment.

Here is another St. John ambulance cycle. It has a large oxygen cylinder placed horizontally behind the seat, and two further panniers which include an AED (automated external defibrillator).

Here is a 'Medicman' cycle unit that is used to provide cover at large outdoor events. 'Medicman' is a private company that provides medical cover and training.

Tees, East and North Yorkshire Ambulance Service's Life-Cycle team expanded in June 2004 with the introduction of two more reserve riders. In the centre is Technician Kate Walker who is the first female ambulance cyclist outside of London. She is joined on the right by Technician Neil Green. The extra manpower allows cover to be maintained 12 hours per day, every day of the year in York city centre. On the left of the picture is founding Life-Cycle paramedic Mark Inman.

Ian Gregory, a Dorset Ambulance Service paramedic, on a training course prior to the launch of a two-paramedic cycling ambulance service unit. They will respond to emergencies in Bournemouth town centre and along the sea front.

In April 2004 one TENYAS life-cycle was equipped with a large high-visibility yellow pannier in the same style as LAS's cycles. The pannier box is embroided with the life-cycle logo and has large 'ambulance' signs on all sides. It has reflective striping to the rear and a clear map case on the top flap. This photograph shows the two packs of medical equipment that slide out of the pannier box, along with the oxygen cylinder. This revised design means that the cycle is highly visible whether the medical equipment is in use or not.