Public bike scheme widened to Galway, Cork and Limerick
The An Rothar Nua consortium has been awarded the contract for the provision of public bike schemes in the cities, with the total cost of the project in the region of €4.5m being provided by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport.
The scheme will cost around €1.25m per year to operate.
The public bike schemes, to be known as ‘Coke Zero Bikes’, will be launched to the public this autumn.
Comprising 740 bikes in total, the scheme details are:
Cork — 320 bikes, 31 bike stations and 635 bike stands.
Galway — 205 bikes, 19 bike stations and 395 bike stands.
Limerick — 215 bikes, 23 bike stations and 445 bike stands.
Depending on the success of these schemes, the contract is structured to allow the introduction of additional schemes in other cities, such as Waterford, and other locations in Ireland.
The scheme will have similar or lower membership subscriptions and user fees to Dublin Bikes at scheme launch.
The roll-out of the schemes is being made possible following an agreement by Coca-Cola Ireland to partner with the National Transport Authority (NTA). Through the agreement, Coca-Cola Ireland will be investing €3m over five years in the project, supporting the operation of the bikes.
Transport Minister Alan Kelly said widening the bikes scheme to other cities was one of his main priorities as minister.
“Now that the contract is in place the bikes, stands and other infrastructure will follow quickly. It is a major development and follows a commitment in the programme forgovernment to bring this about. The Coke Zero bike schemes will do more to promote a culture of cycling in these cities than any other project,” he said.
