Public to have say on Cork bike scheme plans

Members of the public have been invited to have their say tomorrow on plans for a bike-sharing scheme in Cork.

Wed, 21 Aug, 2013 - 01:00

Eoin English

The National Transport Authority has confirmed it is in the pre-qualification stage of considering tenders from potential sponsors for the scheme.

Unlike the hugely successful bike-sharing operation in Dublin, the Cork scheme will require some level of Government funding to get off the ground.

It is hoped a decision to award the tender to a potential partner to install, operate, and maintain the Cork bike-sharing scheme will be made before the year end. A decision on Government funding is awaited.

No decision on the number of bikes, or possible charges cyclists may face, can be made until a funding model has been finalised.

However, 31 possible docking sites have been identified.

Since its launch in 2009, the ‘dublinbikes’ scheme has exceeded all expectations and is regarded as one of the most successful schemes of its kind in the world.

More than 5m journeys have been made on dublinbikes and there are more than 31,000 active, long-term subscribers, with 95% of journeys taking less than 30 minutes, making them free to subscribers.

JCDecaux operates the contract on behalf of Dublin City Council. It has 550 bikes with 44 bike stations located in the city centre. Contracts were signed in May to almost double the number of docking stations to 102, and treble the number of bikes to 1,500.

Engineers for the Cork scheme have invited people to view their proposals at an exhibition in City Hall from 5pm to 8pm tomorrow.

Fine Gael councillor John Buttimer, a keen cyclist, said: “The routes, base locations, and the number of bicycles being proposed on this occasion is hopefully only the start of continued investment in the scheme.

“The initial mapped route is from the main public transport hubs [train and bus station] through the city centre to UCC with some docking stations on the south and north quays of the city.

“However, if the scheme is to be owned by the people of Cork then there is a need to increase the routes into suburban areas so that it is truly a Cork scheme and not just one for work commuters and students.”

*Anyone who would like to contribute their ideas can email ntabicyclesharescheme@arup.com. This email address will remain active until Aug 30.

ON YOUR BIKE

Potential sites:

1 Gaol Walk

2 FitzGerald Park

3 The bandstand (UCC Gates)

4 Mardyke Walk (outside the Granary Theatre)

5 Outside the Mercy Hospital

6 Lancaster Quay

7 Farren’s Quay/Shandon St

8 Adelaide St

9 Courthouse, Washington St