Athlone bike hire scheme set to be extended for three years
Westmeath County Council is seeking to extend the pilot bike hire scheme in Athlone and Mullingar for a three-year period.
The scheme, which became operational in Athlone in April 2022 on a six-month trial basis, could now be extended to April 2026 under the terms of a new contract, details of which have been advertised on the government's e-tenders website.
The council issued a tender on March 16 last for an extension of the public bike hire scheme for Athlone and Mullingar for a fixed term of three years, beginning on May 1 next until April 30, 2026. The contract is for the supply of 60 bikes, 30 each in Athlone and Mullingar, and the contract stipulates that the bike hire scheme must become operational as close as possible to May 1 next, but must be in place "for June 1st, 2023, at the very latest."
Applicants have until Tuesday next, April 4, to submit their applications to the climate projects office of Westmeath County Council, and the council is due to make a decision on awarding of the contract by April 14.
While the bike hire scheme for Westmeath only operates in Athlone and Mullingar at the moment, the tender documents state that the future phases could include the development and growth of the scheme within “both towns and possibly other areas of Westmeath.”
The documents also state that there is “no budget available” to the Westmeath local authority to implement a public bike share scheme, so the request for tender is being issued on the basis of “a concession contract” whereby the successful tenderer will be entitled to” retain the revenue generated from customers and sponsors over the lifetime of the contract, in return for an annual payment to the Council.” It also stipulates that tobacco, alcohol and gambling sponsorship “will not be permitted.”
The app-based bike hire scheme in Athlone is currently being operated by an Irish company, Moby Bikes, on behalf of the council, with the cost of hiring a bike priced at €1 per hour, up to a maximum of €16 per use.
Some 30 bikes are available at 10 locations across the town, including: the entrance to Athlone Marina; Athlone Civic Centre; Golden Island Shopping Centre; Dublingate Street; St Mary's Church; Garrycastle greenway entrance; and Athlone Regional Sports Centre.