Galway in line for Public Bike Scheme

Published in Sin newspaper on 21 November 2011. I also wrote a separate article for The Galway City Tribune which can be found here.


A public bike symposium was held in NUI Galway on Tuesday 15 November last, to gauge the appetite locally for a public bike scheme.


The event was opened by Minister for Public Transport, Alan Kelly TD, and attended by a number of business interests, elected representatives, members of the public and civic society, and some of Galway’s key stakeholders.

This was the last of four symposiums that have taken place following the announcement by Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Minister Alan Kelly of the Government’s commitment to exploring the rollout of a public bike scheme to regional cities.

Speaking at the symposium on Tuesday morning, Minister Kelly said, “The government believe public bike schemes in Waterford, Limerick, Galway and Cork will enhance the city centres.”

The Dublin Bike Scheme has been a resounding success since its launch in September 2009, with over 63,000 members, and more than 2.5 million journeys taken, so the government hope to make it a success in regional cities too.

A recently published report carried out by the NTA revealed that a similar bike scheme in Galway would require between 200 and 250 bikes over 23 docking stations within a four kilometre square area around the city. 

“Such a scheme has been tentatively costed at €1.7m in capital,” said Anne Graham of the National Transport Authority (NTA), “and almost €4m in operating costs over 15 years plus the apportioned cost of a national control centre.”

There are a number of reasons why a bike scheme would benefit Galway city. This is a sustainable transport that is efficient and easy to use. It would allow users to avoid the heavy traffic congestion and high parking costs of Galway city.

The scheme, if introduced would benefit Galway’s large student population greatly, giving them a means of travel that is faster than walking, more eco-friendly than driving, and an excellent way to keep fit and healthy. It will also help to combat the rising obesity levels in Ireland’s young people.

Membership to the bike scheme is extremely cheap, with a three-day cost of €2 and an annual membership of €10. Rental without membership is also extremely cheap, with the first half hour of travel costing nothing.

Galway is a very cycle-friendly city, as it is so compact and is well suited to a bike-sharing scheme. This is an affordable, efficient means of travel, aiming to get as many cars as possible off the road, and people back on bikes and public transport.

21 Nov 2011

by Jessica Thompson