The Dublin BikeThe best way to get around Dublin city centre is by using the “Dublin Bike” introduced in 2009. For short journeys there is no better way and Dubliners and tourists alike are quickly realising this . Since starting operation the take up of annual accounts by locals and 3 day tickets by tourists is amazing and has even shocked the operators who thought 30 bikes at each location would be sufficient. Already there are people sitting at the more popular locations waiting for a bike to be returned. The system works perfectly and is easy to use with simple to follow instructions even for the slowest of learners. All you need is a credit card to guarantee the security deposit of Euro 150.00 (this is NOT charged to your card unless you loose the bike) The rates are quite reasonable, the three day ticket starts at 50 euro cents for 1st hour and and a little more for additional hours after that, the annual ticket is just €10 per annum and works even easier with a swipe of a card, no keying in numbers like with the 3 day tickets.
When you return the bike to any location you hear an audio signal (2 beeps) and the green indicator light will confirm you have successfully locked it into the stand. In the event of any problems, help is at hand as you can call the help centre on 1850 777 070. You can return your bikes 24/7 but can only rent them until 00.30pm. The stands used are specially designed solely for the purpose of securing them to avoid theft and so far the Dublin crook has not found a away around the system. Dublin now joins the list of cities offering this great service along with Paris which was one of the first and London as late as August 2010 (Dublin beat them by a few months) to have its own bike sharing scheme, Others include Vienna, Brussels and Seville.
Amsterdam did start a similar scheme a few years back of course ahead of the rest of the world but it did not really take off and was abandoned after a year or so.
List of Dublin stations - There are locations all over the city ,
**Stations with credit card terminals Map of Locations around the city
Some Advice on Dublin Biles 1.Check the saddle and make sure it is to waist level; you should be able to put your feet on the ground.2. Before setting off check the brakes are working, tyres are hard and both front and back lights are in working order. 3. In wet conditions reduce your speed and prepare to break sooner then in dry conditions. 4. It is advised to wear reflective or at least bright clothing in bad weather conditions and at specially at night. 5. The bike is designed for one passenger, no placing extra guests on board. 6. A cycling helmet is and highly recommended.
Bike lanes Dublin has added bikes lanes and paths to most roads and streets. You are advised to keep to theses were possible and avoid cycling on the foot paths as this annoys folks walking on them. Some bikes lanes are in bad repair so care must be taken.
Below are a few videos of the bikes Around Dublin on a Dublin Bike Bouncing around Dublin on a bike
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