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Local shop helps keep frontline workers on their bikes

PAUL McQuaid of River Cycles on the Liffey quays at Usher Island is offering free repairs on bicycles for those who are working on the frontline in the current crisis.

In an article in the Irish Times, McQuaid explained how business had slowed immensely due to the restrictions put in place for the coronavirus outbreak.

He emailed various hospitals around the city to ask if their staff working during the coronavirus outbreak would be interested in free bicycle repairs. That was just over three weeks ago – since then he has had more than 100 bicycles in the shop getting repairs.

In certain scenarios, McQuaid will collect the bicycles on his own cargo bike. For minor repairs, customers will leave their bicycles with McQuaid and they get a bicycle to borrow while theirs is getting fixed up.

Some people have donated bicycles to McQuaid’s shop and those that were donated will be refurnished and given to those who work on the frontline – or, if they’re in a worse state, their parts will be taken for future refurbishments.

The Irish Times article featuring McQuaid’s generosity was tweeted by The Liberties Dublin (@libertiesdublin) and received a positive response with numerous likes and retweets.

McQuaid gets up to 10 to 15 bikes a day, including bicycles from fire fighters and gardaí alongside those from hospital workers.

See McQuaid’s website for information.