Petition to launch Dublin Bikes scheme around M50 areas

People Before Profit Candidates for the Ballymun-Finglas, Clontarf, Donaghmede, Artane-Whitehall and Cabra-Glasnevin wards in the upcoming local elections have launched an Uplift Petition calling for the expansion of the hugely popular Dublin Bikes scheme inside the M50.

The scheme which began in 2009 inside the area of the Royal and Grand Canals was due to be expanded, with proposals to bring bike stations as far north as DCU campus in Glasnevin in 2011.

However these expansion plans were shelved during austerity and have not returned since.

The scheme, which allows Dubliners to rent bikes for short periods at low cost has been hugely successful, increasing the numbers of people opting for active travel in the City Centre.

Speaking at the launch of the petition, People Before Profit candidate for Ballymun-Finglas, Conor Reddy said: “Dublin Bikes are one of the best things to happen to transport in our city for decades – they’re green, cheap and much faster than driving, walking or taking public transport through the city centre. It’s time they came out to the North Dublin Suburbs, to DCU, to Finglas, Ballymun and other suburbs that thousands commute into town from everyday.”

Bernard Mulvany, candidate for the Clontarf LEA and a co-founder of the Access for All Campaign said: “It’s important to see more initiatives like the Dublin bike scheme rolled out into our communities. This offers clean alternatives to tge commuting public and frees up vital spaces for our mobility impaired community on our public transport system like Dublin bus.“

Clara McCormack, a first time candidate in the Donaghmede area, an environmental activist and a regular cyclist said: “If we are to rise to the challenge of decarbonising our city and tackling climate breakdown we need to radically change how we travel. The approach isn’t coercion or punishment of people who currently drive but to provide attractive alternatives – free, green and frequent public transport and cheap bike rental schemes with safe cycling infrastructure, for example“

The petition can be found here: https://my.uplift.ie/petitions/bring-dublin-bikes-to-ballymun-finglas-and-north-of-the-canal