Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
DUBLIN COUNCIL HAS said that a new stationless bike scheme to be launched in the city does not have its consent to operate, and has warned the public that they will be using the service at their own risk.
Dublin City Council said that it understands that the stationless bike sharing app BleeperBike intends to launch its service this weekend.
Bleeperbike is a shared bike service similar to ones in other countries. Users download an App onto their phone and use that to find and hire bikes across the city.
Users are charged per journey, and can leave the bike in a safe area for the next user (without having to return it to a designated station).
The company has had a social media presence on Twitter and Facebook since earlier this month. According to its Facebook description, it is set to launch in Dublin in July, 2017.
Bye-Laws
In its statement, the council said that it was agreed in the May meeting of the Transportation Special Policy Committee that Bye-Laws to do with stationless bikes had to be developed. It also said that a pilot scheme into the service also needed to be run.
“As bike share schemes provide a public service, operate within the city’s streets and make use of the city’s public realm, it is considered that regulation of the schemes through Bye-Laws is necessary,” DCC said.
The main issues to be addressed include managing the potential impacts of the scheme on the public realm, ensuring the bikes are fit for purpose and properly maintained, insurance, ensuring there is adequate cycle parking capacity in city centre locations and ensuring bikes are not abandoned at unsuitable locations.
It said that the Bye-Laws would likely require that any potential operators of stationless bikes would need to apply for a licence.
It said that the Bleeperbike launch was “premature pending the preparation of Bye-Laws”.
The council also said that it will have the power remove the bikes from the public domain as they are unlicensed and advertising the service they provide.
“It is an offence under Section 71 of the Roads Act 1993 to place unlicensed items in the public footpath/roadway,” the council said.
Dublin City Council is empowered under Section 71 to remove unlicensed items on the footpath/roadway without further notice.
DCC said that it believes the service will launch this weekend. It said it had written to the service telling them not to launch or distribute its bikes around the city.
“Should Bleeperbike ignore this request, members of the public are advised that they use the scheme at their own risk,” the council said.
TheJournal.ie has contacted Bleeperbike for comment.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
so if the city council are not being paid it’s not allowed to operate
@David Peate: DCC doesn’t know how to do anything without bogging it down in red tape and bureaucracy first.
@rick and morto: and loss making too.
@David Peate: I’m no fan of how our councils operate, but it is kind of unfair to launch a commercial service without notifying those who own the infrastructure that you will be utilising.
At least they are getting some free press from it!
@David Peate: and my friend is socialism. Once government doesn’t get a cut, your business is doomed
Why is it that this company comes under fire from DCC but those rickshaws dotted across the city can do as they like. I understand they’re always manned and not left lying around but they are unregulated and pose potential dangers to the public. DCC looking to make a quick buck?
They obviously don’t like the bit of competition
Something just doesn’t smell right when a bit of competition comes into Dublin. a bit too close knit I’m afraid.
How did DCC forget to mention the appropriate licence fee payable to DCC operate amongst the required issues to address
they seem to be hanging on to the fact that the bikes advertise their service but I would presume that any lorry driving through the city does the same on the side of their trailer.
For that matter every car has it’s brand stamped on it, and usually the garage that sold it has a sticker on the back. Will be interesting to see how the parasites in DCC manage to convolute their bye-laws into charging for this.
Having said that, they appear to be perfectly fine about homeless people advertising that they are homeless while collecting money on the streets. But then, they already show that they think people sleeping on the street looks nicer than a high-rise building… hence the planning laws.
Maybe if Bleeperbike promises DCC to erect advertising signs around the city like Coke Zero and JC Deaux then there’ll be no issues.
Dublin City Council will protect us from the scourge of unlicensed bikes. It will make up new rules as it goes along to deal with problems – I know not yet what they are but they shall be the terror of the earth.
All hail the mighty Dublin City Council, our fearless defender!
Can’t really see this working out with all the thieves around dublin
@Paddy: how Dublin Bikes have been stolen? These things have GPS trackers built in, and like the DBs they’re heavy and slow, and you can’t sell them on.
” On yer bike ” as they say …
They don’t seem worried about the rickshaws
Bit of the “Streisand effect” about this.
Cosy little cartel. Paws everywhere.
Is this a wind up?!? This has nothing whatsoever to do with Dublin City Council, go back to your beancounting lads, stay out of stuff that doesn’t concern you! All that is going on here is that they can’t bully commercial rates out of the people behind this business. Whoever in the council who thinks they can obstruct this should be fired first thing Monday morning.
Wait what about rickshaw? They are providing a public service. They are obstructing public realm. And nobody licenses them neither removes them. I call bs on dcc! Bring the bleeper bikes.. Wuhuu
One simple question to dublin city authority. Why rickshaws are allowed?
Government becomes more ridiculous and redundant every day.
So the bike mafia have another reason to complain. Rickshaws are being legislated for Dublin Bikes cost nothing to set up. Some greedy people now will have bikes all over the place on paths, chained to fences and all the rest. Yes if you run a service you should pay rates and charges. Might help save of DFB ambulance service.
These councillors should be locked up in jail. Sums up everything wrong with modern society. Pointless people.
These stationless schemes were initially very promising when they originated in China but they quickly turned into a disaster.
Apparently its getting out of control in China with so many rival Bike schemes using investors cash to place millions of bike on the streets – and piles of the bikes are being dumped everywhere and anywhere.
Dublin CC might actually have a legitimate point in asking for a more organised roll-out.
So what are you gonna do about it. You’ll do nothing. Same as the rickshaws. Give out a health and safety warning and do nothing.
The bike robbers will have a field day.
What a stupid idea.Dublinbikes works perfect and is run properly.
Dear Government please f*ck off.
have your say