‘There’s clearly a demand’ - Calls for expansion of bike-sharing scheme in Waterford city

A local councillor has called for the expansion of the TFI bike-sharing scheme in Waterford city.

Fianna Fáil councillor Eamon Quinlan spoke on the subject at the April meeting of the Waterford Metropolitan District.

Cllr Quinlan said: “As councillors will know, there’s docking stations all around the city and some years ago, we applied to have Ferrybank included in that and were turned down at the time.

“It’s been pointed out to me by several people working in the city centre who are now using the TFI bike-sharing scheme, that when they live in Ferrybank, they have to essentially drop off their bikes on Hanover Street just off the Quay and then walk across the bridge and Dock Road.”

He continued by calling on Waterford City and County Council to make contact with TFI (Transport For Ireland) over the potential expansion of the scheme.

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“Given the plans for the opening of the sustainable bridge and the fact that there isn’t going to be transport across it, it seems like a great time to reapply to TFI to get a docking station in Ferrybank, so that people can use bicycles to cross and park up.

“There’s clearly a demand for it and with 6,000 people in Ferrybank, it just makes sense.”

In response to Cllr Quinlan, Senior Engineer Paul Johnston said that a review of the current scheme is already underway.

Mr Johnston said: “There is a review currently being undertaken on that.

“Unfortunately, it hasn’t progressed to funding this year but we would hope that there will be funding for the expansion of that scheme in 2027, to include Ferrybank.

“We’ll be discussing that with our colleagues in Kilkenny. The idea is that the current locations would be reviewed.”

Later in the meeting, Sinn Féin councillor Joeanne Bailey also lent her support for the expansion of the scheme.

Cllr Bailey said that she would also like to see the scheme expanded to Tramore and the Dunmore Road.

She went on to raise an issue with the location of one of the current bike stands.

Cllr Bailey said: “One issue I had around the bike scheme was the removal of the bike stand around the park.

“Let me know if there’s an update in having that removed and finding a new location. Look, in my opinion, that bike stand should’ve never have went in there.

“It was dangerous and the feedback that we got on the ground was that it should be moved inside the park.

“But look, with more traffic now coming down that road by the park, I just want to know if that will be removed soon. We had a commitment that that would be done.”

In response, Mr Johnston said that he agreed with Cllr Bailey in saying that that bike stand should be removed.

He added that that would happen as soon as a suitable alternative location was found.