Expansion of bike scheme stalls due to action over locking mechanisms

The expansion of Galway City’s public bike scheme has stalled because of a High Court action over the use of a locking mechanism.

French company Tracetel has initiated High Court proceedings against the National Transport Authority and Telfourth Ltd, the consortium which operates bike schemes across Ireland.

The company claims that its patented locking system is being used in the new docking stations without its permission.

Tracetel itself is part of the Telfourth consortium (which trades as ‘An Rothar Nua’ along with Telclic and Galway-based West Ireland Cycling.

When contacted by the Galway City Tribune, a representative of An Rothar Nua declined to comment on the ongoing delays.

It was revealed last year that initial usage statistics for the public bike scheme were 85 per cent less than those anticipated by operators.

This, in part, was attributed to a lack of places to pick up and drop off the bikes – but the plans to address that situation have hit the legal snag.

New docking stations were constructed at sites across the city including Westside, on the NUI Galway campus and at University Hospital Galway – with stations on College Road and the Old Dublin Road hoping to capture cyclists on the heavily-trafficked east side of the city.

A spokesperson for the National Transport Authority confirmed to the Galway City Tribune that the dispute has reached the High Court.

“It has been up for mention in the High Court,” he said. “But I don’t believe that it has progressed.”

“The NTA contracted a consortium to deliver on that project for us. Between parties within the consortium, there is a dispute over some of the technology used,” the spokesperson continued.

An Rothar Nua were appointed in 2014 to begin the roll-out of public bike schemes for Galway, Limerick and Cork – based on the hugely successful Dublin model.

Galway’s system was met with an underwhelming response – with complaints that the available docking stations were based too close together to warrant usage.

Prospective public bike users criticised operators for neglecting to provide for cyclists on the east side of the city – with the last available station previously located at City Hall.

Furthermore, a lack of suitable infrastructure in the city to provide for safe cycling dampened hopes that the scheme would become an effective alternative to cars.

The spokesperson for the National Transport Authority said that it was now up to the courts to deal with the issue.

“We will deal with this when it comes to the High Court – it will be dealt with by the courts and we will deal with it on that basis,” he said.