— Existing bicycle parking removed from more popular Kildare St side of Leinster House.
— New bicycle parking is seen as exposed to the elements and poorly located.
A user of the €335k parking structure for 36 bicycles at Leinster House said that while people who cycle to the parliament — which includes not just politicians but also staff — wanted a basic covered bicycle shelter, what was provided is a “white elephant that will damage the cause of trying to deliver active travel infrastructure across the country.”
As IrishCycle.com reported last night, the Office of Public Works (OPW) issued a statement defending the cost of the bicycle parking while confirming that the Minister of State responsible for the OPW, Kieran O’Donnell, has “requested his officials to carry out an immediate full review of the project.”
According to a number of sources, after the new bicycle parking was added to the Merrion Square side of Leinster House, existing bicycle racks were removed from the more popular Kildare Street side. This has caused issues because the Kildare Street side remains the more popular side with over 430 metres to go around the block to the Merrion Square entrance, including along some cycling-unfriendly one-way roads.
Meanwhile, existing bicycle parking stands on the Merrion Square side are more popular than the new €335k bicycle parking because the existing parking is more conveniently located.
Before making a more serious point, Cathal McCann, political director at the Labour Party, joked: “My bike was enjoying its new deluxe home in Leinster House until it was plastered all over RTE News this evening.”
On Twitter, he continued: “In all seriousness though, it’s not even properly sheltered, so no idea how it cost €335k even if it included other groundworks or the e-car chargers beside it? The new shelter is a decent distance from the side door a lot of staff enter by, so many still use the bike stands beside Merrion Street gate.”
The OPW’s breakdown of costs, both the version provided to the original Freedom of Information request and the one listed in their statement last night, do not include the cost of e-car changers.
McCann said that some bicycle parking has been removed on the Kildare Street side of Leinster House, the main entrance to the building, and now the bicycle parking on that side is “often overcrowded now even during the quieter summertime.”
He added: “What most of us who cycle into Leinster House have been asking for over many years are bike stands located beside or close to the entrances, preferably covered. Instead, we got a white elephant that will damage the cause of trying to deliver active travel infrastructure across the country.”
What happened here is that a contractor totally took the piss and overcharged a phenomenally huge amount to do a simple job.
But even worse, the opw didn’t give a shit about value for money or accountability for spending public funds and ok’d the entire project because that would just be too much effort and anyway, who ever checks up on these things?
And as for the removal of the other existing bike parking facilities, in all probability whoever made this decision probably never rode a bike to work in their life.
It is ridiculous and shameful for people in positions of authority and responsibility to have so little respect for the money and resources they are spending.
Assuming of course that there was no actual corruption involved either?
Whoever in the opw ok’d this needs to have their face and name prominently featured in the media for an extended period to explain in detail how and why this was decided on and approved by them.
Yes I know I’m a fantasist!
I wouldn’t trust the OPW with delivering any bike parking, whether ‘covered’, as here, or unprotected. These architect designed bike parking arrangements leave a lot to be desired generally – just try using the bike stands at Dublin Castle’s Lower Yard or the ones at National Gallery Ireland.
I regularly use the bike stands in the Lower Castle Yard and find them excellent. They function and look a lot better than standard Sheffield stands. What’s the problem with them Mike?
My lock is an Abus articulated bar-type so won’t fit through the two bars on those stands.
Mr.Ginty,
Your saying that the bike shelter is for 36 bikes, the Journal are saying it’s for 18 bikes, who’s correct?
Regards,
Phil
Hi Phil,
It’s explained in my previous article — there’s 18 stands which can hold two bicycles each. So, a total capacity of 38 bicycles: https://irishcycle.com/2024/09/02/opw-defends-e335k-bicycle-shelter-outside-irish-parliament-buildings/
If its 18 sheffied stands then the capacity is for 36 cycle parking spaces. A similar cantilevered shelter was built outside DCC covic offices for around €25k
Even adding 50sqm of granite paving that’s there, it might add on another 10 grand to that 25k. Can’t help but think that a Dublin Bus shelter trimmed in black rather than khaki/brown would have blended into the same location and at least given some wind protection.
What no-one seemed to have any issue within this historic location, is the broad swathes of the Leinster House lawns strewn with multiple irregular-shaped metal boxes of various colours – placed onto cheap and nasty black tarmacadam.
I can recall some discussion of reverting the lawns to … lawns… a few years back. I guess that the OPW see mobile random metal boxes and tarmac as a necessary evil.
Was this job put out to tender?
How many prices did the OPW receive?
Who decided to go with the €335K.
We need answers.
Yes Teresa, those are serious questions you ask above.
I have a better shed: Unlike the Dail…cap-shed (i’ve just invented that term. But that’s all it is- a kind of cap, not even a real shed, is it?). Anyway, mine is fully water-prof. Lockable and mine even looks better aswell. Definately. Cost me less than 500 quid inc its installation.