More space in multi-story car parks in Dublin City Centre could soon be used for public bicycle parking and the Bike Bunker service is now expected to be rolled out in the first half of 2025.
Funding has been secured for an expansion of the existing cycle parking facility in the Jervis Street Car Park and the city council is exploring the possibility of bicycle parking at the Fleet Street Car Park in Temple Bar.
Cllr Donna Cooney (Green Party) said: “This is a positive response to my question on increasing indoor bike parking by repurposing car parking spaces.”
“As we continue to expand on our cycling infrastructure the numbers of people cycling will increase and with that the need for secure bike parking. Access to secure bike parking will also encourage more people to cycle,” she said.
She added: “Repurposing car parking spaces is particularly welcome, as private car park operators can see the economic benefits to increased cycling numbers in our city.”
In a written question to Dublin City Council’s Chief Executive, Cllr Cooney asked for an update on progress with increasing indoor bicycle parking and possible extension of indoor city centre bicycle parking.
The written reply said: “The National Transport Authority has recently agreed to fund an expansion of the cycling facility in the Jervis Street Car Park and Dublin City Council are in negotiations with the car park operator to expand our current licence agreement.”
“Dublin City Council are also currently exploring the possibility of developing cycle parking in the Fleet Street Car Park,” the response said.
The response from the council’s executive added: “While the cycle parking facility in the Drury Street Car Park is well used it still has spare capacity and there are currently no plans to expand this facility. Similarly there is still spare capacity in the Spire Car Park and there are currently no plans to expand this facility.”
Meanwhile, the Bike Bunker service is expected to be up and running in the first half of 2023, it is hoped in Q1 2025.
The tendering process for the provision of a Bike Bunker Service is currently ongoing
Council officials told the councillor that they hope that a service provider will be appointed and that the city will see some bunkers on its streets by the end of Q1 2025.
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