Dublin Bikes to get €2.6 million expansion

I am delighted with the news that the Dublin Bikes Scheme is to be expanded.

The scheme, which is among the most successful bike sharing schemes in the world, is set for an expansion eastwards and westwards, from Heuston Station to Docklands, with a grant of €2.6 million from the National Transport Authority.  As an avid cyclist myself, I believe it is a further demonstration of how cycling has really taken off in recent times and it illustrates people’s growing awareness of their own health and wellbeing.

Dublin Bikes has had over five million journeys so far, and many thousands of journeys are taken each day with over 90,000 subscribers. Expanding this makes sense and will hopefully with fifty-nine additional stations by 2014, the scheme will be significantly enhanced.

It is hoped to use Dublin City as an exemplar for getting bike schemes into other cities. I also understand that my colleague, Alan Kelly TD, Minister of State for Public Transport, has allocated €30,000 for feasibility studies into the provision of the bike scheme for Tallaght, to be carried out in collaboration with South Dublin County Council.

The expansion is to be funded from the sustainable measures programme for the Greater Dublin Area administered by the National Transport Authority. The programme will involve €43 million of investment in sustainable transport infrastructure for the local authorities in the Greater Dublin Area.