Galway city is the ideal location for the introduction of a bike-share service as it would encourage healthy activity and play a role in reducing the city’s transport and traffic problems.
This is the view of Labour councillor Niall McNelis who is seeking to introduce a bike-share scheme, similar to that which has been successfully operating in Dublin over the last two years.
In this scheme, bikes would be parked at locations in the city which are available for hire by the public, after applying to the local authority. Bikes can then be returned after use to any of the designated bike racks. Such systems are operating in Berlin, Paris, Chicago, Helsinki, and Montreal.
Cllr McNelis was in Dublin this week where he met with the National Transport Authority and Public Transport Minister Alan Kelly to discuss the viability of introducing such a service for Galway city. He also met the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Andrew Montague, who was instrumental in bringing the bike-share project to Dublin.
Cllr McNelis will hold a public meeting in September “to gather as much local support as possible and explain the many benefits that bike share has on a local economy and lifestyle”.
