Galway Bay FM News Archives
Bike scheme could be up and running for Volvo Ocean Race
Date Published: 17-May-2011
By Denise McNamara
Galway City Council will advertise for expressions of interest to roll out a bike rental scheme next month, with plans to have it up and running in time for the Volvo Ocean Race in a year.
Transport Minister Leo Varadker indicated at the launch of National Bike Week in Eyre Square on Friday that he was in favour of extending the bike sharing scheme that is currently operating in Dublin to regional cities such as Galway in cooperation with local authorities.
“There is a provision in the programme for government for this,” he said. Galway was “exactly the type of city” where it would work extremely well, with its large student and tourist population, coupled with its compact size.
The scheme effectively operates as low-carbon public transport system, whereby people hire bicycles from various stations around the city.
The Galway Transportation Unit (GTU) is already working on plans for the scheme. In mid-June they plan to call for expressions of interest from companies which specialise in the schemes around Europe.
They will be asking for ideas on how a scheme would best operate in a city the size of Galway.
These submissions would then be examined and a proposal forwarded to the Minister in the autumn. It is hoped that funding for the scheme would be secured by early next year, with bikes available for hire across much of the city by the time thousands flock to the city for the Volvo Ocean Race next June.
JC Decaux operates the ones in Dublin and Paris, while Adshell is responsible for the scheme in Barcelona and was involved in the design of the one in Ghent, Belgium, a city similar in size and populace to Galway, according to Jim Molloy in the GTU.
“Ghent might be a good scheme for Galway to base itself on as it’s a university town and it’s very tourist-orientated, whereas the Dublin scheme is aimed at a much higher density and at the business community,” Mr Molloy explained.
“We don’t want to go the Dublin way of putting up massive advertising signs to fund it. A lot of companies have cut back on advertising so it’s not the big revenue stream it once was. We’d also look for a less intrusive scheme than in Dublin which involved digging up a lot of ground.”
For more, read this week’s Connacht Sentinel.
Date Published: 07-May-2013
Galway has a population of young people which is more than twice the national average.
According to information gathered by the Central Statistics Office, Galway’s population of 20 to 24 year olds is more than twice the national average.
The number of 25-34 year olds in Galway is also more than the norm nationally, with the two main colleges thought to be the main reason.
However immigration in Galway is much higher than in other areas at 19.4 percent, compared to the national average of 12 percent.
Date Published: 07-May-2013
A city councillor is encouraging people to donate goods directly to charity shops.
It follows allegations of thefts from clothes banks in Galway and across the country in recent months.
However, cameras are in place at some clothes banks and surveillance is carried out by local authorities.
Speaking on Galway Talks, Councillor Neil McNeilis said the problem of theft from clothes banks is widespread.
Date Published: 07-May-2013
A park ‘n’ ride scheme from Carnmore into Galway city could become a permanent service if there is public demand.
That’s according to the Chief Executive of Galway Chamber of Commerce, Michael Coyle.
The pilot scheme will begin at 7.20 next Monday morning, May 13th.
Motorists will be able to park cars at the airport carpark in Carnmore and avail of a bus transfer to Forster Street in the city.
Buses will depart every 20 minutes at peak times and every 30 minutes at offpeak times throughout the day, at a cost of 2 euro per journey.
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