Bleeper Submission on Draft GDA Transport Strategy

Uimhir Thagarta Uathúil: 
NTA-C5-862
Stádas: 
Submitted
Údar: 
Bleeper
Comhairliúchán: 
Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy
Líon na ndoiciméad faoi cheangal: 
0
Údar: 
Bleeper

Tuairimí

9. Integration and Inclusion

Caibidil: 
Part B: The Strategy » 9. Integration and Inclusion

9.3 - International Gateways

There is increasing demand and appetite for so-called "Slow Travel", where air travel is avoided as much as possible due to its high climate footprint. This will see Dublin Port become increasingly popular for passengers, especially people who will be trying to access the port on foot, by bike, and using public transport. As such, the creation of improved active travel links between Dublin Port and Dublin City Centre, and the provision of facilities such as secure long-term cycle parking and bike share parking, should be prioritised to encourage and enable more slow travel.

9.4 - Park & Ride and Interchanges

Cycle parking and bike sharing should form an inherent part of all transport interchanges and hubs. 

9.7 - Mobility as a Service

Bleeper sees MaaS as a critical part of Dublin's transport future, and we are monitoring the development of MaaS systems in other major cities and jurisdictions.

9.8.1 - Smarter Travel Workplaces and Campuses

Bleeper has recently worked with major employers and organisations - including UCD and Sports Campus Ireland - to provide private fleets of shared bicycles for the use of employees, members or visitors. Services such as these can help shift habits and attitudes towards sustainable travel modes and should be eligible for support from local authorities or state agencies. 

9.8.3 - Residential Travel Planning

Similar to 9.8.1 above, residential travel plans could incorporate shared bike services, either public or private, which would enable residents to cycle and to access nearby transport hubs.

9.16 - Enforcement of Road Traffic Laws

As a business whose employees and customers use bikes to get around Dublin, Bleeper welcomes any provision which will make roads safer for everyone, but especially for people who walk or cycle. Camera technologies, such as CCTV on public buses and fixed cameras at traffic lights, have been successful at reducing risk in other jurisdictions and we would welcome the widespread introduction of such technology here in Dublin. 

 

10. Walking, Accessibility and Public Realm

Caibidil: 
Part B: The Strategy » 10. Walking, Accessibility and Public Realm

10.9 - Traffic-Free Streets and Pedestrianisation

Wherever traffic-free or pedestrian streets are being considered, the increased provision of public cycle parking in nearby and surrounding areas needs to be a key part of the overall design strategy. This will reduce the potential for clutter - such as bikes locked to lamp posts or other street furniture - but it will also enable more convenient use of bikes to access these pedestrian areas. This is important for bike sharing but also for cycle logistics, where cargobikes are becoming more popular for deliveries in central areas which are more likely to have pedestrian or traffic-free streets. 

10.10 - Persons with Disabilities

To follow on from our point in 10.9, increased provision of public cycle parking, especially on-street Sheffield stands, will reduce the potential for bike being locked to street furniture and creating potential obstructions or nuisances for people with disabilities. While Bleeper enforces a strict parking policy and issues fines to customers who breach our rules, we would welcome an increased provision of public cycle parking to reduce any temptation people might have to lock their bikes to street furniture.

 

11: Cycling and Personal Mobility Devices

Caibidil: 
Part B: The Strategy » 11: Cycling and Personal Mobility Devices

11.2 - The Message from the Pandemic

Bleeper witnessed first-hand the massive increase in people cycling during the pandemic. We strongly support and endorse the approach of building upon what has been learned during this time and applying these lessons to future transport projects.

11.3 - GDA Cycle Network

Bleeper strongly welcomes any moves which would expedite the implementation of the GDA Cycle Network. A network of segregated cycle routes is critical to the growth of cycling in Dublin, and such a network cannot come soon enough. 

11.5 - Cycle Parking

As a stationless bike share service, Bleeper is dependent on public cycle parking facilities. This stationless bike sharing model enables us to expand quickly to new areas without requiring dedicated infrastructure. However, if there isn't sufficient public cycle parking available, this can lead to reduced levels of service, as well as potential conflict with private bike users if there is too much competition for too few cycle parking spaces. 

11.6 - Bike Sharing

Bleeper welcomes the acknowledgement that bike share services become less efficient, and more costly to operate, in areas of lower population density. However, this does not mean that there isn't public demand for bike share in these areas or that such services aren't beneficial to the community as a whole, and Bleeper would welcome any support which can be provided to enable bike share services to operate in low-density areas. 

11.6.1 - Expansion of Bike Share Schemes

Having built a strong working relationship with the local authorities in which we operate, Bleeper looks forward to engaging constructively with the NTA and the local authorities to ensure that the expansion of bike share services is structured, coordinated, integrated and serving key urban areas.

11.6.2 - Electrification of Bike Share Schemes

Bleeper welcomes the NTA's commitment to support the provision of electric bike share schemes.

11.6.3 - Interoperability 

Bleeper welcomes the NTA's overall approach to interoperability. Our primary focus is providing a positive experience for our users, and interoperability with other transport services will be a key part of that experience as we more forward. 

11.8 - Emerging Personal Mobility Modes

Cargobikes

The increased popularity of cargobikes, both for personal and commercial use, should be given greater consideration in the GDA Transport Strategy. The sale of these bikes has boomed across Europe over the past couple of years, and similar trends are emerging in Dublin. 

The physical dimensions of cargobikes should be incorporated into the design standards for cycle infrastructure, as facilities which don't account for them will become increasingly redundant.

One of the major barriers to cargobike ownership is their cost - they are expensive compared to conventional bikes (but very cheap compared to cars). As such, financial supports and incentives specific to cargobikes should be considered. These supports could be administered by local authorities or by state agencies such as the NTA or the SEAI.

15. Freight, Delivery and Servicing

Caibidil: 
Part B: The Strategy » 15. Freight, Delivery and Servicing

15.7 - Delivery and Servicing

Bleeper supplied eCargobikes to more than 25 local businesses across the Dublin area in 2021 as part of pilot projects with Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Fingal and Dublin City Councils. These pilot projects have shown the enormous untapped potential for Last Mile Deliveries by sustainable modes. The encouragement and enablement of cargobike use should form a key part of the freight & logistics strategy for all key urban areas across the Greater Dublin Area. 

 

Faisnéis

Uimhir Thagarta Uathúil: 
NTA-C5-862
Stádas: 
Submitted
Dáta a cuireadh isteach: 
10.01.2022 - 23:08
Líon na ndoiciméad faoi cheangal: 
0
Comhairliúchán: 
Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy