COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF LUCAN AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, January 24, 2017

MOTION NO. 17

MOTION: Councillor L. O'Toole

Cathaoirleach's Business

"As part of the Tourism Strategy for the county this committee asks the Chief Executive to explore the possibility of implementing a bike scheme to the Lucan and Palmerstown area including Clonburris and Adamstown similar to the “Dublin bikes stations” that are distributed throughout the city centre. This could include identifying connections to key tourist hubs, village centres and commercial centres including hotels."

REPORT:

The success of “Dublin Bikes” scheme has prompted the consideration of extension of the public bicycle sharing scheme in the greater Dublin area. In 2012 the National Transport Authority (NTA) prepared a draft report titled 'Report on the feasibility of providing bike rental schemes within the Metropolitan towns outside Dublin City Centre’.

This report identified Tallaght as a potential prime location in South Dublin County Council (SDCC) for a public bicycle sharing scheme. Furthermore the report indicated that a public bicycle sharing scheme in Tallaght could generate greater use of, and vibrancy within, the town centre by providing easy access between origins and destinations such as Tallaght Hospital, Tallaght IT and the retail / commercial core. It is envisaged that this project could contribute to national policy by creating a strong cycling culture in Ireland creating the conditions whereby cycling will become the preferred transport option for short trips, and the bicycle will become the transport mode of choice for all ages.

The NTA funded SDCC and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council to prepare a feasibility study to examine the possibility of introducing a public bicycle hire scheme in Tallaght and Dun Laoghaire. The NTA provided SDCC with approx. €15,000 for that purpose. Accordingly the a consultant was procured in accordance with the “Framework Agreement for Consultancy Services to provide Design, Construction Management and other services for Transport Projects Funded by the National Transport Authority” to carry out a feasibility study into the provision of a public bicycle hire scheme for the towns of Dún Laoghaire and Tallaght in 2013 and 2014 respectively. The brief included the following in relation to Tallaght:

• Examination of the demand for such a scheme;
• Identification of the type of scheme that would be most effective;
• Examination of the possibility of linking a public bicycle hire scheme in Tallaght to other bicycle schemes;
• Assessment of the potential to expand a public bicycle hire scheme beyond Tallaght; and
• Preparation of a cost estimate for the proposed scheme.

This report was completed. It outlines a number of options in relation to the provision of a public bicycle hire scheme in Tallaght. At present the NTA have no capital funding to deliver this scheme for design, planning consent or construction. The delivery of the public bicycle hire scheme in Tallaght will have to happen in advance of its extension to other locations within South Dublin County Council.

The potential to develop cycle routes as part of South Dublin County Council Tourism Strategy should be directed to the Economic, Enterprise and Tourism Development Department.