A PETITION to save a paramedic bike service has attracted more than 2,000 signatures.

The South West Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust revealed that the status of a paramedic bicycle that serves Weymouth is under review, and that it could be replaced with a Rapid Response Vehicle (RRV).

This news was met with negative reactions by some residents, who argue that the bike has the ability to weave in and out of traffic on busy days, meaning that it can get to emergency situations faster when traffic is heavy.

David Simonds, 52, a relief operations supervisor for First Bus, started a petition urging people to see the benefits of retaining the bike service.

Mr Simonds said: "We really want that service during the summer. That is what the people of the town want. They want that service during the summer."

"I don't want there to be a death due to them not having a service during the summer."

People commenting on the petition have expressed similar sentiments, saying that they believe the bike is a service that helps to save lives.

Mr Simonds said that he is please that so many people have expressed support. He said: "There are people from all different walks of life saying why they want it. We are going to keep on it."

On the petition's Change.org page, Mr Simonds said: "Dorset CCG are trying to take a valuable service away from a very busy seaside town where traffic is a problem. We have cycle Paramedic who brings a valuable service to the town when we need it. Rather than waiting for an ambulance. It will come to life or death."

A spokesman for South Western Ambulance Service said that the bike's future is still under review, and that it is still being used on certain occasions.

They said that the service often only attends one or two patients in a shift, and sometimes none at all. For this reason, they say it is not a good use of the paramedic's time. They also added that the bike may still be used for big events such as festivals.

The spokesman said that the Ambulance Service will invest in more staff as a result of an extra £12 million of funding.

The NHS Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group has asserted that it has no role in the decision about the bike's future.

A spokesperson said: “We would like to clarify that whilst we (NHS Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group) do commission emergency ambulance services in Dorset from SWASFT, we do not specify the response vehicle type by location.

“We have no involvement with the decision about the future of the paramedic bikes that operate in Weymouth; therefore, any suggestion that we are trying to remove the service is inaccurate.

“The provider of emergency services – in this case SWASFT – would choose how to best respond to an emergency call; this would also include the type of vehicle used.”

The petition to save the bike can be found on Change.org