Dozens of bikes stolen from Luas stops and DART stations

A LOCAL Green Party candidate has raised the issue of bikes being stolen from Southside Luas stops and DART stations

Speaking on the figures which show that 86 bikes were reported stolen from Luas stops, and 58 from DART stations last year, Green Party Candidate for Killiney-Shankill Una Power said: “These numbers are significant and confirm what I have been hearing locally.

“A number of people have told me that they will no longer cycle to Bride’s Glen or Cherrywood to take the Luas as they don’t feel their bikes will be secure there.

“We should be encouraging people to both cycle and use public transport – but without secure parking for cycling this combination is not possible, particularly for people using isolated stops such as Bride’s Glen or Cherrywood on the Green Line.

“And given the inability to bring a bike on a Luas carriage or peak time DART, parking the bike at the station is often the only option.

“The National Cycle Policy Framework lists the provision of Proper Integration between Cycling and Public Transport’, including high-quality parking at all public transport stops, as a core objective.

 “It’s time that the Minister for Transport Shane Ross to review the National Cycle Policy Framework, measure what targets have actually been met, and commit to seriously investing in cycling to make it accessible to all.”

Meanwhile, Green Party Councillor Patrick Costello has expressed his disappointment after he claimed that other city councillors failed to back his call to give communities their say on how to create better cycling and pedestrian infrastructure for the city. 

Cllr Costello claims his proposal would have required the Dublin City Council Traffic department to open a public consultation on the South Dublin Quietway.

 Cllr Costello stated: "Quietways bring all sorts of benefits to communities. There had been a lot of misinformation put around about this project. The public consultation could have helped address that and show the benefits.

Councillor Costello’s fellow Green Party, Cllr Claire Byrne, added: "These types of solutions work well in other cities and if we are serious about taking climate action, moving towards more sustainable transport, and making the city safer for pedestrians and cyclists, then we need to be considering such schemes in Dublin".