THE proposed public bike scheme for Limerick City Centre is expected to be wheeled out by autumn 2014, Limerick Smarter Travel announced this week.
The scheme will feature 23 docking stations housing 400 individual bicycle docks across the city and is styled on the hugely successful public bike scheme in Dublin, which has so far recorded over three million journeys since its launch in 2009.
An information session about the scheme, hosted by the National Transport Authority (NTA) and Limerick Smarter Travel, took place in City Hall on Tuesday, August 20.
There is also a public display of maps identifying the proposed docking station locations and illustrations of how they might appear on display in City and County Hall.
Pat O’Neill, project manager with Limerick Smarter Travel said: “Following the success of the public bicycle share schemes in Dublin, the NTA has initiated the introduction of similar schemes in the regional cities of Cork, Limerick and Galway.
He continued: “The NTA has recently commenced the tender process for the award of a contract to supply, install, operate and maintain the public bicycle share scheme for Limerick City Centre.
“Under the proposed scheme, 200 bicycles will be deployed in the city at 23 docking stations and will be redistributed throughout the city during the day to cater for demand by ensuring that there are both sufficient vacant docks to dock bicycles and sufficient bicycles at each docking station.”
Minister Jan O’Sullivan said she was delighted that the scheme would be going ahead.
She added: “As I understand there are still discussions going on with a potential sponsor and it certainly looks like it will be going ahead in the near future. It’s a great scheme for Limerick and I hope that people will use it.”
Submissions or queries in relation to the public bike scheme for can be sent to ntabicyclesharescheme@arup.com before 5pm on September 5.
The drawings of the docking stations are available to view at www.nationaltransport.ie and www.limerickcity.ie.
