Dublinbikes expands into The Liberties

Dublinbikes station (photo: Rebecca Duffy)

Construction is underway on the new dublinbikes stations across The Liberties.

The new stations have been planned as part of the dublinbikes Strategic Planning Framework 2011-2016 and will provide a new form of public transport for the area, which will also make the Liberties more accessible to tourists, with stations at key cultural attractions such as the Guinness Storehouse.

Other locations will include Francis Street, James’s Street, St James’s Hospital, and Heuston Station.

The scheme coincides with Dublin City Council’s Thomas Street/James’s Street Enhancement Plan, which will feature “improved cycle facilities along full length of scheme”.

The new stations will add to dublinbikes’ existing presence in The Liberties, which already features stations at High Street (St Audoen’s Church), Christchurch Place and Golden Lane.

According to dublinbikes’ Strategic Planning Framework 2011-2016, the zones for expansion, which include The Liberties, were chosen as they “meet the necessary criteria to support a sequential expansion of the bike scheme”.

These criteria include areas that are “located in and around key urban districts that act as employment destinations”, and “areas of significant amenity value and are recreational and cultural destinations within the city.”

In April last year, dublinbikes sponsors JCDecaux signed a deal with Dublin City Council to expand the scheme from 550 bikes and 44 bike stations, to 1500 bikes and 102 bike stations.

These stations are to be spread from the Docklands area to the east of the city, across to Heuston Station and St James’s Hospital in the west of the city.

First introduced in 2009, the scheme has attracted more than 35,000 long term subscribers. As of 2013, dublinbikes has had over five million rentals, with 95% of them being journeys under 30 minutes, making them free of charge.