Are you tired of waiting at bus stops? Do you find yourself losing patience with every other bus that passes by? Cursing blindly at those emblazed with “as seirbhís”? Dublin City Council may have come up with a solution to ease your commuter frustration.
From the 13th of September, 450 bicycles will be available to rent from 40 rental stations across Dublin city. Stations are situated in central locations across the city, making it easier to travel from A to B.
How it works
At each dublinbikes station there will be a slot-like machine, which will allow the user to “rent” the bike. The user will be able to pick the bike up in one location and drop it back to the bike station closest to their destination.
In order to avoid the fate of a similar rental scheme in Paris, where over half of the bikes have either been stolen or vandalised, security measures have been put in place. For example, the bike stand has an electronic locking device which tells the user through a green/red light indicator whether the bike has been successfully locked.
How much it costs
If you decide to avail of the dublinbikes scheme, there are a number of payment options:
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The first half hour is free
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One hour’s rental costs 50 cent
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Two hours costs €1.50
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Fours hours costs €6.50, with every half hour thereafter calculated at €2
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A three day card (mainly targeted at tourists) will set you back €2
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A long term hire card costs €10
Notably, a €150 deposit is required before you ride your bicycle . The deposit will only be debited from your account if the bike is stolen or not returned to the station within 24 hours of first being taken out.
Benefits for the brave
In Dublin, the cyclist remains an exotic breed. Dublin city traffic has yet to fully embrace the bicycle. A cyclist faces intolerant drivers, unsatisfactory cycling lanes and the odd shaking fist. However, the benefits associated with cycling outweigh the risks of cycling in city traffic. Those who avail of the bike rental scheme will experience a cheaper, faster and healthier way to get around the city.
The initiative has the potential to completely alter Dublin’s transport system. At present, commuters are reliant upon a poor bus service and expensive rail transport. Paying consideration to the lack of transport options, cycling may prove to be the most efficient and inexpensive way to get around the city.
People often complain about being unable to find the time to exercise. The beauty of the bicycle is that it can fit into the busiest of schedules. Why not cycle to and from work? Cycling is great form of exercise and is one of the most time efficient ways to incorporate regular exercise into your daily routine. There has never been a better time to discover pedal power!
For more information check out the dublinbikes website: www.dublinbikes.ie/
Tags: Fitness, money saving tips, Transport, travel savings
(4 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
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Fantastic article. As a battle-hardened cyclist I have had my fair share of unsavory encounters with inner-city motorists, invariably gutter-mouthed taxi drivers, though I wholly agree that cycling is the very best way to travel through the city, being both inexpensive and swift. I certainly hope this new scheme will encourage the local authority to provide safer and more extensive cycle routes for those of us using pedal power to get from A to B. Personally I will be encouraging a few slothful co-workers of mine to avail of this service, some of whom have been laying it on a little thick in the lunch department recently!
Keep up the good work!
Kindest regards,
Catherine