Local organisers say that ‘On Yer Bike’ Ballymun, a community bicycle library, has clocked up around 40,000km since its launch earlier this year.
About twenty similar “bike libraries” are now operating in Ireland, aiming to allow people to try electric and other bicycles, such as cargo bikes and folding bikes.
It is estimated by those involved that over a third of those who try out an electric bicycle in such schemes go on to buy one of their own.
Most of the schemes operate from schools and sports clubs. Others operate from large places of employment, and one scheme, in Limerick, is operated by a local cycling campaign.
In Ballymun, the local organisers say that the ‘On Yer Bike’ library came about following a discussion among local community activists about the lack of accessibility to cycling in the area. Out of this came a plan to encourage more people to try cycling by providing electric bikes on loan.
Richard Greene, a spokesperson for Bleeper Active who helps run the Ballymun and other schemes, said: “We’ve calculated that the Ballymun bikes have already completed about 40,000 kilometres since March, which is much more than the average for bike libraries.”
The community electric bike library was launched in Ballymun earlier this year when ten electric bikes were handed over to members of the local community for a three-month loan.
The scheme has since received another ten bikes, courtesy of the NTA, and at Trinity Comprehensive School today, all twenty bikes were allocated to their new users for an extended four-month period to bring them into the New Year.
Those who sign up for a bike pay a €150 deposit and are then handed over their bike for a three-month period, complete with lock and tracker device.
Bleeper has indicated that it is happy to work with any school or organisation that is interested in setting up a bike library in their local area. They can be contacted via bleeperactive.com.