Bike Ambassadors sought for new Laois initiative

Portarlington is set to become one of the first locations outside of Dublin to have an ebike library. 

Portarlington Community Development Association(PCDA) is looking for Bike Ambassadors to take part in the new project. 

PCDA Chairman Aidan Mullally said the project has attracted a lot of interest locally. It aims to get regular car users to trial, and in Mr Mullally’s words “try before you buy”, electric bikes for their daily commute.  He explained that many people in the town would drive to the train station every day and that they could now have the option of trying an ebike instead.

He said the purpose was “to allow people who may be driving or commuting on a daily basis to use an alternative mode of transport”. 

Mr Mullally is hopeful that the new initiative will take off when it is launched in Portarlington next month. Mr Mullally said the timing of the project was well timed as it will coincide with the delivery of bicycle lanes on Station Road and Canal Road in Portarlington. 

The Bike Library will offer users the opportunity to borrow three different types of ebikes for a three month period once they place a €150 deposit which will be returned at the end of the three months. The bikes are either a long tail bike, cargo bike or foldable bike. 

Mr Mullally said the bikes, which are fitted with GPS and data recorders, cost in the region of €4,000 to buy. They will be available to Bike Ambassadors in the hope of converting car users and other commuters to ebike users.  Mr Mullally said the bikes record use and location and if they aren’t being used for weeks on end, the person who has borrowed the bike will be contacted and asked if they want to return it early so that another user can get a chance. In total, the project will begin with nine ebikes. 

PCDA are looking for Bike Ambassadors who would like to participate in the New eBike project.  Email : info@portarlington.ie