Galway firm wins contract for bike hire schemes

West Ireland Cycling are part of the successful An Rothar Nua consortium who will supply and install 740 bikes across the three cities as part of a €4.5 million investment project.

Currently based at Fisheries Field in Galway City, the successful tendering of the project – announced on Friday by the National Transport Authority – will see West Ireland Cycling take on between 12 and 14 new employees across the three cities.

The scheme, broadly based on the hugely successful Dublin bike scheme, is expected to be up and running by November.

In Galway, there will be 205 bikes available for hire at 19 stations, mostly in the city centre. It is expected that the scheme will grow to include areas such as Salthill and may become a model for other cities and towns across the country.

West Ireland Cycling are part of a consortium which includes French firm Tracetel SA, who operate similar bike hire schemes in cities such as Lille, Rennes, and Bordeaux.

“After so many years of hard work, this is a really proud announcement for our company,” said Liam Codd of West Ireland Cycling yesterday. “Cycling has always been more of a passion for us than anything else, so we are thrilled to be awarded the contract.”

He said that a fleet of three electric vehicles would service and maintain the bicycles across the three cities, with plans in place for three new depots to be constructed before the scheme becomes operational.

The scheme is sponsored by Coke Zero, who are investing €3 million over the next five years. Supplying and installing the bikes is expected to cost €4.5 million, with an annual operating cost of about €1.25 million.

Galway native David Gibbons, who is based in Roscahill, will be the Project Manager for all three city schemes.

Read more in today’s Connacht Sentinel