Extension of Dublin Bike Scheme will bring benefits for local areas and local businesses – Byrne & Byrne

Fine Gael Dublin South Central Deputy, Catherine Byrne, and Deputy Lord Mayor, Cllr Clare Byrne, have this morning (Saturday) welcomed the agreement of a new €35 million deal between Dublin City Council and JC Decaux to extend the Dublin Bike Scheme.

Cllr Byrne said: ‘Since it first began in September 2009, the Dublin Bike Scheme has been a huge success. The need to extend the scheme recently from 450 bikes at 40 stations to 550 bikes at 44 locations was quite simply to meet the demands of those who had come to rely on Dublin bikes as dependable form of city transport.

“The scheme has been popular with tourists and Dubliners alike and with people of all ages across the city. It has been hailed as the most successful city bike scheme in Europe and the biggest complaint I have heard about it since its inception is that the scheme was not far reaching enough. This new deal will address the needs of those who use Dublin bikes, making areas beyond the boundary of the city more accessible, as far as Kilmainhaim, the O2 and the North Wall Quay.

Deputy Byrne said: ‘With 950 new bicycles and an additional 58 new hire points to be introduced, the Dublin Bike Scheme is sure continuing to grow from strength to strength. The new locations include key points in the South West Inner City including Heuston Station, Inchicore Road, Rothe Abbey, South Circular Road, Francis Street and James Street’.

“The scheme offers great value for money; as most people only hire the bikes for short journeys and as the first 30 minutes are free of charge accessing a Dublin bike is an excellent value and convenient way of getting around.

“This initiative will bring extra footfall and greater tourist numbers to key tourist attractions in the inner city, such as Kilmainham gaol and the Guinness Storehouse and will make it even easier for people to explore more of Dublin. This can only be a good thing for the development of local areas and especially for local businesses.”
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