Galway city is set to be given 205 community bicycles and 19 bike stations as part of a public bike scheme launched by the National Transport Authority.
The scheme is also being tested in Cork and Limerick cities.
Cork will receive the most of the scheme’s funding, with 320 bikes, 31 bike stations, and 635 bike stands, while Limerick will gain 215 bikes, 23 bike stations and 445 bike stands.
The An Rother Nua consortium, which manages Galway’s West of Ireland Cycling and the Dublin-based Mobile Research Solutions Limited, was awarded the contract to provide Galway city with the bikes, with funding provided by the Department of Tourism.
The public bikes scheme, known as Coke Zero Bikes, will be kick-started this autumn in a push to incentivise the use of public transportation.
The Galway bike stations will be located at Headford Road, University Road, Wood Quay, Prospect Hill, Forster Street, Newtownsmith, Eyre Square, Fairgreen Road, Mainguard Street, St Augustine Street, Merchants Road, Ceannt Station, Raven Terrace, Quay Street, New Dock Street, Gaol Road and Father Griffin Road.
With an annual cost of about €1.25 million, the project will have similar or lower user fees to the existing Dublin bike scheme.
“Bringing bike schemes to these cities is one of my main priorities as Minister. Now that the contract is in place the bikes, stands, and other infrastructure will follow quickly. It is a major development and follows a commitment in the programme for Government to bring this about,” commented Alan Kelly TD, Minister for Public and Commuter Transport.
