Catherine Noone (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As a former member of Dublin City Council - I was on the council when it came into being - I welcome the news that it has been agreed to treble the number of bicycles available under the Dublinbikes scheme from 500 to 1,500. Since it was introduced four years ago the Dublinbikes scheme has proven a template for cities across Europe and the world and has shown how a properly implemented and efficiently run urban bike scheme can be successful. In a time when we are experiencing cutbacks on all levels it is good to see something being extended. At the end of April last year, Dublinbikes passed 3.5 million journeys and when we consider this was achieved with only 500 bicycles it is all the more impressive. It is envisaged that by 2015 we will be on course to increase the fleet to 5,000 bicycles and it is anticipated that it will extend as far north as Dublin City University. Members will agree that the Dublinbikes initiative has changed attitudes and behaviours, freed up our roads, encouraged many more people to engage in a form of public transport, and is very cheap. Ultimately, it is great for tourists, workers, students and businesses, and it is great for Dublin. I commend Dublin City Council councillors on voting last night to treble the number of bicycles and look forward to further successes from this initiative in the coming years.