About 20,000 bikes are stolen in Dublin each year, campaigners say. That’s about 55 cyclists robbed of their transport every day.
For bike owners in the capital, this Dublin Cycling Campaign estimate will be no surprise. Many will have experienced that sinking feeling of returning to their parking spot to find a broken lock, or nothing at all.
Bike theft disproportionately affects those on lower incomes, given cycling is a cost-effective means of travel. Bike theft is a serious barrier to getting about, especially so for teens who can’t easily afford a replacement.
But a new scheme from Fingal County Council aims to address this. Second Spin is providing free, upcycled bikes to teenagers who have had theirs stolen. The idea is to encourage young victims of bike theft to stick with cycling.
READ MORE
Where are the free bikes coming from? The bikes are donated or abandoned, then expertly reconditioned at the Rediscovery Centre, the national centre for the circular economy, in Ballymun.
The centre says it’s thrilled to work with the council to provide bicycles free of charge to young people in the area.
Bikes donated to the centre are stripped down to the frame, cleaned, repaired and put back together by mechanics who are trained at the centre. Each bike must pass a 170-point check as well as test cycling, says Mark Dunne, the Rediscovery Centre’s cycling programme manager.
Teens get a similar bike to the one they had, as well as a replacement lock, says Dunne. The Rediscovery Centre even offers a free bike service to new owners within the first two months – though few return to avail of it, as the bikes are in such good condition.
New isn’t always better, refurbished bikes are just as good, he says.
The council hopes the scheme will restore teenagers’ independence after bike theft, making it easier for them to keep cycling as their main way of getting to school, training, college or part-time jobs – rather than relying on lifts from parents or needing to spend money on public transport.
“Bike theft is more than just an inconvenience for teenagers, it can mean a real loss of independence and a setback in building long-term sustainable travel habits,” says David Storey, Fingal County Council’s director of services for environment, climate action, active travel and sport.
“With Second Spin, we want to make sure one negative experience doesn’t stop young people from cycling.”
The scheme is a unique way to help young people facing the distress of bike theft to get back on their bikes, and reclaim their freedom, says Fingal mayor Tom O’Leary.
Cycling is so much more than a mode of transport for teens – it helps to keep them fit too, supports healthy growth, builds lasting active travel habits and can help them manage stress in a busy world.
And let’s not forget the benefits to air quality and the planet.
People who cycle, walk or wheel using mobility aids in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford are collectively taking 660,000 cars off the road each day and saving 120,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, according to recent research from the National Transport Authority (NTA).
Dublin schoolchildren took six million cycle trips in 2025, up from 3.3 million in 2023, an increase from 4 per cent of all trips to 7 per cent of all trips, according to the NTA data.
So, by keeping bikes in circulation, Fingal Council is not only supporting active travel but also reducing waste and promoting climate action. Teenagers get their freedom back while helping to build a more sustainable future for everyone.
The project is also giving Fingal Council good data on where bikes are being stolen from, and thus will provide valuable insights into patterns and hotspots across Fingal.
This can help identify areas where improvements to bike-parking facilities might reduce theft. It will also allow the council to collaborate with schools, community groups and gardaí to raise awareness about bike security.
So, if you are the teenage victim of bike theft, simply fill out an application form and the council can help keep you cycling.
