A COHERENT strategy is needed for the expansion of the Limerick bike sharing scheme to the University of Limerick in Castletroy, the Limerick Institute of Technology in Moylish and the Crescent Shopping Centre in Dooradoyle.
A COHERENT strategy is needed for the expansion of the Limerick bike sharing scheme to the University of Limerick in Castletroy, the Limerick Institute of Technology in Moylish and the Crescent Shopping Centre in Dooradoyle.That’s the view of Fine Gael councillor Daniel Butler who claimed that cyclists are currently taking their lives into their own hands when they take to their bikes on busy city roads.
Anti Austerity Alliance councillor Paul Keller asked the local authority at this week’s Metropolitan district meeting if there is a timeline for the expansion of the bike sharing scheme to UL, LIT and the Crescent Shopping Centre.
The existing scheme involves 215 bicycles being made available for short term hire from 23 locations across the city, ranging from King John’s Castle to Mary Immaculate College and O’Callaghan Strand to St John’s Cathedral.
Limerick City and County Council director of transport and travel, Kieran Lehane explained that the scheme is sponsored by Coca-Cola and managed by the National Transport Authority (NTA).
“Limerick City and County Council has assisted NTA in the rollout of this facility. The sponsorship of the bikes and the contract for the maintenance of the facility is a matter for the NTA,” he added.
Independent councillor John Gilligan also felt that people were taking their lives into their hands when taking to a bicycle on busy city roads. Limerick City, he said, deserves a response from University of Limerick (UL) about the scheme.
He also had a novel sponsorship idea for the scheme’s expansion.
“Ask McDonald’s for a few bob. They are part of the problem,” he suggested.
by Alan Jacques
