Dubliners get back on their bikes

A scene from Dublin in the Sixties

The Dublin Bike Scheme recorded its one-millionth hire over the weekend, eleven months and one day after the scheme was first introduced. To date, over 37,000 users have signed up for the service.

The 450 silver and blue unisex bicycles are available for use by the public at 40 locations from the Mater Hospital in the north of the city to Grand Canal Street in the south from 5.30am to 12.30am.

A long term subscription card costs €10 and a 3 day ticket costs €2. A guarantee of €150 is required, which will be charged to the guarantee account, if the bike is not returned within 24 hours

The scheme is designed to encourage cycling and to help people move around the city streets quickly and pricing is designed to encourage short trips. The first half an hour is free, 1 hour costs €0.50, 2 hours costs €1.50, 3 hours, €3.50, 4 hours €6.50 and every extra half hour after four hours costs €2.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Dublin Bike Scheme was launched in September 2009 by Dublin City Council in conjunction with French advertising company, JCDEcaux (Ireland), who fund the operation in return for advertising space.

So far the scheme has been a great success with only two bikes being stolen, which were subsequently recovered.  Because of the success of the scheme, Dublin City Council Plans to increase the number of bikes to 550 in the next few weeks, and to introduce four new stations at Smithfield, Eccles Street, Harcourt Terrace and Charlemont Mall.

“On yur bike”

Brendan Palmer also maintains a Recycling and Business NEWS blog

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