LIMERICK could soon have its own public bike scheme which would see locals, shoppers and tourists getting around the city by bike from as little as €10 a year. The scheme has been a huge success in Dublin where it was first rowed out and this week, Transport Minister Alan Kelly was in town to pledge his backing for a roll-out of the initiative. Under the public bike scheme, members who pay an annual membership fee of around €10, and tourists who buy short-term passes, can unlock bikes from centre standpoints and deposit them at another when they’re finished.
The specially developed locking mechanism has successfully protected bikes in the Dublin scheme from being stolen.
A feasibility report for Limerick, commissioned by the Department of Transport, recommends a scheme with 135-165 bikes over 20 docking stations, with the first phase within the city centre and along a route out west to the Institute of Technology,
Such a scheme has been costed at roughly €1.38 million in capital and almost €4m in operating costs over 15 years, plus the apportioned cost of a national control centre.
“it would have fantastic benefits in terms of people getting fit, saving money and cutting down on emissions,” Minister Kelly told the Limerick Post.
“And Limerick is a city very well suited to this kind of scheme, with the two third level institutions. You have a big population of young people and they are the age group most likely to learn new habits,” he said.
Department of Transport spokeswoman, Laura Behan, explained that in Dublin, the scheme is funded through businesses who in turn, get free advertising on city billboards.
“A different approach may be necessary in Limerick but businesses who sponsor the scheme could, for instance, have their name and logo on the bikes”.
Tom Mackey, City Manager, Cllr Jim Long, Mayor of Limerick and Alan Kelly TD, Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport with special responsibility for Public Transport and Commuter Affairs pictured at Limerick City Gallery of Art where they addressed a Symposium on Public Bike Scheme to look at the feasibility of a bike rental scheme for Limerick City.
