Minister predicts success for bike scheme extension

The €3 million roll out of public bike schemes in regional cities of Cork, Limerick and Galway will be such a success that the local authorities in each city will soon be seeking to expand the schemes, Minister for Public Transport Alan Kelly has predicted

A total of 740 bikes are being provided in the scheme, with the first bikes due to be in situ and operational in each city by the end of September.

Mr Kelly said the Regional Cities Public Bike Scheme, which is sponsored by Coca Cola, is similar to one which has been operational in Dublin since 2009 and which has proven the most successful public bike scheme per capita anywhere in the world.

“There was an awful lot of cynicism about the introduction of the scheme in Dublin - people were predicting that bikes would be vandalised and would end up in the River Liffey but less than a handful of bikes have been damaged or lost since it was introduced,”he said.

Under the scheme some 320 bikes will be provided in Cork at 31 different bike stations around the city centre with 635 bike stands while Limerick will have 215 bikes with 23 bike stations and 445 bike stands and Galway will have 205 bikes and 19 bike stations with 395 bike stands.