dublinbikes launches on Sunday 13th September. Dublin City Council and JCDecaux will host a special launch event at 9.30 am on Winetavern Street adjacent to the Civic Offices to mark the occasion.
According to Cllr Andrew Montague, who will represent Lord Mayor Cllr Emer Costello at the launch,
“I proposed introducing this scheme to Dublin five years ago and it’s very exciting for me to see the bikes finally hit the streets. dublinbikes is a great addition to Dublin city’s transport infrastructure. From Sunday people will be able to use what is essentially a new public transport system to get around Dublin city. dublinbikes has 450 bikes at 40 stations. The network is designed to facilitate people using the bikes for short journeys in the city centre area. This also facilitates each bike being hired several times a day. We’re aiming to see each bike used about nine times per day - about 4,000 bike journeys. Trips of up to 30 minutes are free and that’s how we’d encourage people to use dublinbikes.
“dublinbikes is open to everyone over 14 years of age but I think it will be particularly attractive to people who don’t own a bike but are open to the many advantages of cycling. Anyone using the scheme from Sunday on will see that it’s an efficient, pleasant and fun way to get around. I’d encourage everyone to play their part in making it a success and to cycle safely.”
Launch event – 9.30am Sunday 13th September, Winetavern St. adjacent to Civic Offices
Approximately 150 staff, family members and friends from Dublin City Council, JCDecaux as well as Councillors, local community groups and other interested parties will cycle from the Civic Offices car park to bike stations across the dublinbikes network. Cllr Montague will cut a ceremonial ribbon at 10am following which dublinbikes can be used by subscribers.
Cllr Montague says “everyone taking part in the event is doing so voluntarily and this shows the enthusiasm councillors and staff in Dublin City Council, staff in JCDecaux and elsewhere have for the scheme. We believe this also reflects public enthusiasm and there are over 1,500 members already. This compares extremely favourably with pre-launch figures in other cities. You join online on www.dublinbikes.ie and one year’s membership costs €10.”
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