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 | | Sunday, 17 February, 2002, 12:57 GMT 'Free' cycle scheme planned for Dublin  Dubliners could soon by cycling their way through traffic The Irish Government has been urged to introduce a "white bike" scheme to Dublin to ease the city's growing traffic congestion. The Amsterdam-style scheme was proposed by Martin Brady, a member of the Irish Parliament who has suggested that people could borrow bicycles and cycle them to drop off points around the city. The Fianna Fail TD for Dublin said the scheme would promote better fitness and go some way to solving the city's traffic problems. "Dublin Corporation has explored this suggestion as a free pilot scheme to raise awareness about bikes as a form of transport that would promote a healthy lifestyle and help ease congestion," he said.
Mr Brady said that users could register with the corporation which would issue them with a "smart card" containing an electronic chip. The card would be used to release security locks protecting the bicycles, ensuring that only registered users, rather than vandals, could get their hands on a bike. "A white-bicycle type scheme was initiated by the corporation some years ago. However many bikes ended up thrown into the canals and the River Liffey by vandals," Mr Brady said. "This scheme aims to make users accountable for their travel." "When investigated it proved too costly for the corporation. "However, because of its potential I believe a corporate sponsor could step forward and promote the scheme, perhaps if it was used enough it could go beyond the pilot scheme," he said. | | See also:  Internet links: The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites Top Europe stories now:  Links to more Europe stories are at the foot of the page. | ||
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