LIMERICK’S Greenway is without its main supplier of bikes for hire as the tourism season approaches, after the company that won the operating licence shut up shop.
Limerick City and County Council confirmed to the Limerick Post that the Dublin-based company that was designated to rent bikes at three locations on the county’s greenway, and given a loan of €300,000 to get up and running, has pulled out just two years into a five-year agreement.
Meanwhile, construction is going ahead on the Limerick Greenway Hub in Rathkeale, which consists of the renovation of a derelict railway goods shed to provide services to Limerick Greenway patrons and the local community, as well as the upgrade and development of a car park and a public realm area with bike stands, picnic tables, and benches.
The work is scheduled to finish in May but there is currently no bike hire company with a licence to operate from it.
Limerick Greenway Bike Hire Ltd (operated by Lazy Bike Tour Company Ltd) has operated from the three council-owned greenway car parks (including Rathkeale) since 2021 under a licence issued by Limerick City and County Council, a spokesman for the local authority confirmed to the Limerick Post.
The licence issued gave the company the first option to occupy the goods shed building under renovation at Rathkeale once completed or, alternatively, to exercise a break clause in the licence.
“Limerick Greenway Bike Hire Ltd have chosen not to occupy the permanent building in Rathkeale and are therefore exercising their break clause and will no longer be trading from the three council-owned Limerick Greenway car parks,” the spokesman said.
“Limerick Greenway Bike Hire Ltd are fully up to date with their repayment schedule on the loan issued to them by Limerick City and County Council in 2021 and the council are in discussions with the company on the repayment of the balance of the loan.
“The council is now exploring opportunities with other existing bike hire providers on the Limerick Greenway for the use of its facilities at its three car parks on the Limerick Greenway.”
The hub project is funded by Limerick City and County Council, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, and the Department of Rural and Community Development under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme.
When contacted by the Limerick Post, a Limerick Greenway Bike Hire spokesman said the company did not want to comment at this time.
