Disappointment as bike scheme request rejected

A NORTHSIDE councillor has expressed disappointment that there are no plans for the Dublin Bike scheme to be extended to Fairview and North Strand.

Cllr Larry O’Toole (SF), who represents the Beaumont Donaghmede Local Electoral Area (LEA), had requested a review of the proposed extension of the scheme to include these areas. 

A spokesman for Dublin City Council said it is currently in the process of extending the scheme catchment to serve Grangegorman Campus and the surrounding local area. 

“Construction of the expansion commenced in January and therefore, it is not possible to review the location of stations,” he said.   

“This expansion is facilitated by a €1.2 million sustainable transport grant from the National Transport Authority (NTA).

“The funding provided allows for the construction of 15 stations, the majority of which will service Grangegorman.

“In order for this expansion to work operationally, stations are also proposed outside the Grangegorman catchment at Killarney Street, near the Five Lamps, Buckingham Street Lower and at O’Connell’s School on NCR (North Circular Road).” 

The spokesman said the council has also started the process to facilitate the introduction of privately operated stationless bike hire schemes into the city (regulated by Dublin City             Council). 

“These private schemes will likely begin operation toward the end of April and have great potential to expand quickly to provide a public bike hire service to the areas of the city not served by Just Eat dublinbikes at present,” he said.

“Any further growth of the Just Eat dublinbikes scheme beyond the 2018 Grangegorman expansion will likely be dependent on the identification of additional sustainable funding for capital and operational costs; and pending a strategic review of the impact of stationless bike hire proposals on the Just Eat dublinbikes business and operational model.”

The spokesman said it is intended that this review will be completed in early 2019. 

“There is, therefore, no definite timeline in place for the delivery of Just Eat dublinbikes scheme expansion to North Strand, Fairview or the surrounding areas at this time,” he added.

Cllr O’Toole argued that the north east arterial route into and out of the city is very badly served by the scheme compared to other parts of the city. “Stations at North Strand and Fairview would be of great service to commuters from this area of the city,” he told Northside People.

“The Dublin Bike scheme has been a highly successive addition to commuter life of the city. I will continue to lobby for this to be done.”