Electrical work delay for public bike scheme roll-out
A spokesman for the National Transport Agency (NTA) yesterday said that electrical work is ongoing to deliver power to the 73 bike stations that are to be located across the three cities before construction on the collection points begins.
The NTA is to launch a pre-registration process for the scheme “in the next few weeks” with the first of the three cities to see the Coke Zero-sponsored bikes on its streets a month after the public has been invited to sign-up for the scheme.
“There is a lot involved in the schemes from the point of view of procurement of the bikes, having all the stations serviced and correct and making sure that we are doing everything right for the launch,” the spokesman said.
Plans for the scheme for Cork, Galway and Limerick were originally announced in September 2013 by then-public transport minister Alan Kelly, who said the schemes would be operational in July 2014.
Mr Kelly was in Cork last July to unveil the design of the bikes at City Hall, and then said that the scheme would be up and running by the end of September.
The schemes will eventually see 740 bikes available for rent across the three cities. Cork will have 320 bikes available from 31 bike stations across the city; with 205 bikes at 19 bike stations in Galway; and 215 bikes for hire from 23 stations in Limerick. The red and black bikes — sponsored by Coca-Cola for €3m over five years — will have built-in gear-shifting technology, enabling automatic gear-changes which will contribute towards easier, safer cycling for users.
The schemes are expected to have a pricing structure similar to the Dublin Bike Scheme which charges a €10 annual registration fee.
The contract to provide the bikes was awarded to a consortium called An Rothar Nua, which is comprised of West Ireland Cycling Limited, based in Galway, the Dublin-based Mobile Research Solutions Limited and another two companies based in France and Luxembourg.
The contract is structured to allow the introduction of additional schemes in other cities, such as Waterford, and other locations in Ireland depending on the success of the schemes in Cork, Galway and Limerick.
