A UCD-led ‘bike library’ scheme to encourage more sustainable transport is to be rolled out to 20 further primary schools across Dublin.
A partnership between the National Transport Authority and University College Dublin, the programme gives families the opportunity to loan an e-bike, cargo bike or foldable bike for the duration of the school year at no charge.
The aim of the project is to encourage families to make a permanent shift to sustainable, active travel for their daily commutes by allowing them to see the benefits without having to purchase their own bikes immediately.
Since its initial rollout several months ago, founder of the Bike Library project Professor Francesco Pilla, UCD School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy and Chair of Smart and Sustainable Cities at UCD, said the pilot school is “almost car-free” now.
“The parents embraced the initiative and realised it was good for the kids not to be brought to school by car and to do active travel,” he told the Irish Times.
“The bike library kick-started the active travel theme in the school. The parents are now pushing it forward.”
