COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, October 10, 2011

MOTION NO. 7

MOTION: Councillor J. Lahart, Councillor T. Gilligan, Councillor J. Hannon, Councillor E. Walsh 2009

That the Council supports a cooperative regional approach to the Dublin Bikes scheme, in partnership with Dublin City Council, enabling the scheme to be extended gradually to the villages of the county thereby promoting tourism, less dependence on cars and reduced carbon footprint for the county

REPORT:

Earlier this year, the Planning Department sought funding from the National Transport Authority (NTA) for a study to investigate the potential roll-out and development of an on-street bike rental scheme (compatible with the existing Dublin Bike Scheme) focussed on the Tallaght Town Centre area. 

This was in the context of funding being sought by SDCC for a range of ‘smarter travel’ initiatives from the NTA by both the Planning and Roads Departments primarily for measures intended to benefit pedestrians and cyclists and encourage greater use of public transport

The original proposal was that Stage 1 would comprise the bike scheme feasibility study and that Stage 2 of the Project would be the preparation of a coherent cycle network plan to include routes and supporting infrastructure. However, further to negotiation with the NTA, it was agreed that SDCC would be funded to preparing a coherent cycle plan for the area, not exclusively focussed on a bike rental scheme, and that the NTA would themselves undertake the feasibility for the extension of the Dublin bike scheme.  The cycle network study is currently underway within the Planning Department.

The reasoning behind the NTA approach was that the potential extension of the bike scheme within and beyond the Dublin City Council area gives rise to issues common to all local authorities who may wish to consider separate and/or extended schemes and that the NTA would be best placed to ensure a consistent approach and importantly, the compatibility of any future systems. This is in line with the o-operative approach envisaged in the Motion.  There are also particular commercial considerations to be addressed and overcome, as the Dublin Bike Scheme is based on a significant element of outdoor advertising in return for the provision of cycle infrastructure.  Whilst it is open to individual local authorities to progress separate schemes, it was considered that it would be appropriate to seek consistency and compatibility in the first instance.  The NTA has also sought to facilitate an improved coherent, direct, safe and comfortable cycle network to support any future scheme in the SDCC area through funding a network plan to focus upgrade and improvement.

A land-use transport integration meeting is scheduled to take place between the Planning and Roads Departments and the NTA during the coming weeks, at which an update in respect of progress on the bike scheme feasibility will be sought and reported to the Council.  If the Motion is passed the content will be brought to the attention of the NTA.