On the 1st of January 2024 we will be making the following changes to our fees for Bleeper's public bike service:
We are introducing new credit bundles to reward customers for buying €10 or €20 of Bleeper credit. The bundle offers will work as follows:
These new bundle offers will be available from the 1st of January 2024.
We are conscious of the increase in the cost of living over the past few years and have been extremely reluctant to raise our fees because of this.
However, our own costs of operating Bleeper have also gone up and we cannot continue to absorb all of those costs and still run a reliable public bike service.
We have endeavoured to make these fee changes in the fairest way possible, with the least impact on our most frequent users.
We are investing in a new fleet of bikes and will have the third generation of Bleeper bikes on Dublin's streets in 2024. This will result in better bikes, more widespread coverage of the city, and a better overall Bleeper experience.
Bleeper is a proudly Irish-owned and operated business, based in the heart of Dublin, and we look forward to growing our business here.
01/01/2024
]]>Our LeaseBike long-term bike hire service has been running for over six months now so we thought we'd share some insights on the people who are using the service and the type of bikes they're leasing from us.
The most popular bike type by far is the standard electric bike with a 79% share, while the folding e-bike has a solid 15%.
The longtail cargo bike accounts for 6% of customers, but we only launched that bike option in September so it has some ground to make up on the others.
Overall we're very happy with the uptake in the service and the variety of people who are using LeaseBike. The male to female split of 56% : 44% is quite positive compared to the general breakdown of cyclists which is somewhere between 2:1 and 3:1 of male to female in Ireland.
For more information about LeaseBike, visit the webpage here:
https://bleeperactive.com/pages/leasebike
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Bleeper was delighted to continue our ongoing collaboration with University College Dublin to develop a Bike Library trial for staff working in the Belfield campus. The trial builds upon the successful rollout of School Bike Libraries across Dublin, which has been led by Professor Francesco Pilla of UCD and funded by the National Transport Authority.
The UCD Bike Library will enable staff to borrow a range of electric bikes and folding bikes for a prolonged period to see how the bikes can be incorporated into their daily travel routines.
Bleeper worked closely with Professor Pilla and John Doody of the UCD Energy Institute to develop the parameters of the trial and fine-tune it for this workplace scenario. The bikes used in the trial are supplied by Bleeper and will be monitored and maintained by Bleeper for the duration of the trial.
You can read more about the launch of the UCD Bike Library here.
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Our staff created a pop-up parking facility on Leinster Street South, close to the Start/Finish Area of the marathon on Merrion Square.
Bleeper users were able to finish their trips at the pop-up facility, rather than searching for a public cycle rack to lock their Bleeper bike to.
The facility opened at 7am and operated until just after 11am, with a brisk turnover of Bleeper bikes despite the inclement weather on the day.
Bleeper would like to thank Dublin City Council for coordinating the pop-up cycle parking and we look forward to working with other event organisers to incorporate cycling into their event management plans.
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Bleeper creates new Suburban Hubs across Swords
Bleeper’s latest expansion of our bike sharing service takes in the western parts of Swords. New Bleeper ‘Suburban Hubs’ have been created in Miller's Square, Brackenstown Road and Hilltown.
Bleeper’s expansion in Swords follows on from the successful rollout of the Suburban Hub concept in Crumlin Village, Beaumont and Artane.
Bleeper has worked with Fingal County Council's Active Travel team to identify new areas in Swords where where Bleeper bikes can be parked. These parking zones include schools, shops, public parks and residential areas. Bleeper bikes can be parked at any of the public cycle parking spaces within the new zones.
Bleeper bikes can be hired by anyone who downloads the Bleeper app and creates an account. The app can be used to immediately unlock any Bleeper bike that you see on the street.
15-Minute City
Bleeper’s Suburban Hub strategy is based on the popular urban planning concept of the 15-Minute City, which aims to put people’s everyday needs within a 15-minute walk or cycle of where they live.
While we can’t have a Bleeper bike outside every home across Swords, we can aim to give everyone access to a Bleeper bike within a short walk of their home. These new hubs will put a Bleeper bike within 15 minutes of a whole new group of people in Swords, improving access to the centre of the town as well as nearby towns and the city centre.
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Bleeper is delighted to be working with Dublin City Council on a range of new initiatives to boost the use of cargo bikes in the city. The new projects come on the back of a successful pilot scheme which saw more than 20 local businesses trialling electric cargo bikes over the past two years.
One of the new projects will provide electric cargo bikes to non-profit organisations such as community groups, charities and sports clubs. These bikes will be available for a 12-month loan period, with the full cost subsidised by Dublin City Council.
The original eCargo Bikes for Businesses pilot scheme has also been made permanent, meaning local businesses can trial an electric cargo bike for up to 12 months, with Dublin City Council providing a 60% subsidy on the rental cost.
The third project sees the launch of a new Community Cargo Bike which can be hired for free by the public. The first of these shared cargo bikes will be based at The Bike Hub in Eamonn Ceannt Park in Crumlin.
Building On A Successful Pilot Project
Today’s announcements are the continuation of a project which began in September 2021 when Dublin City Council announced its eCargo Bikes for Business pilot project.
That scheme saw 22 local businesses trial cargo bikes for prolonged periods of six to twelve months, with 60% of the cost subsidised by the city council.
Those businesses clocked up a combined 34,691km over the course of the pilot - the equivalent of a trip from Dublin to Sydney and back again!
The pilot project also helped the businesses to avoid emitting an estimated 4,372kg of CO2 when compared to using a small commercial van for their transport needs.
At the end of the trial 90% of participants indicated that they could see a use for cargo bikes in their business, while 40% of participants actually took the leap and became permanent cargo bike users.
Enabling More Cargo Bike Use
The new projects announced today are aimed at broadening the appeal of cargo bikes and enabling more people to try them out.
The Community Cargo Bike in Crumlin will be available for short-term hire, allowing people to test out their usefulness for everyday trips such as doing the weekly shopping.
“We used the original pilot project to identify some of the barriers to cargo bike use,” says Jennifer McGrath, Senior Engineer in DCC’s Micromobility Unit. “One of those barriers is cost, which is why we’re making these cargo bikes available to try for free to non-profit organisations and the general public.”
“We were delighted that so many businesses became permanent cargo bike users after the pilot project, which was a big factor in making the Cargo Bikes for Businesses scheme permanent. Thankfully we’ve had strong support from the National Transport Authority from the very start which has enabled us to broaden the scope of the project as we went along.”
A Healthier, More Sustainable City
The announcement of the new cargo bike projects was made at an event hosted in Dublin’s Mansion House, with many of the participants from the original pilot scheme attending - along with their cargo bikes.
Welcoming the new projects, Lord Mayor of Dublin Daithí de Róiste said Dublin City Council was showcasing the use of cargo bikes as a more sustainable option for deliveries in the city.
“Cargo bikes are good for our environment and our health & wellbeing. They offer us a climate-friendly transport mode that can save on emissions, aligning with Dublin City Council’s Climate Action Plan, its Development Plan, and the climate ambitions of Dublin’s citizens and businesses.”
Dublin City Council is now accepting applications from businesses and non-profits who wish to trial cargo bikes. All of the information and the application form can be found on this page: https://www.bleeperactive.com/dcc/cargobikes
The Community Cargo Bike is available to hire from The Bike Hub in Eamonn Ceannt Park, with bookings to be made via the website www.thebikehub.ie/cargobike
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Bleeper has partnered with Veloci to provide a new test ride centre for the range of Veloci e-bikes.
You can now book a free test ride of any Veloci e-bike at Bleeper's workshop on Merchants Quay in Dublin city centre.
To book a test ride, visit the Veloci website here and choose an appointment in the online calendar.
You can see some of the Veloci e-bike models below, all of which can be tested at Bleeper's workshop.
Bleeper will be attending the PedalPalooza cycling festival in Ringsend Park this Sunday, from 11am to 4pm.
There will also be a cycle parade starting at Capel Street and heading out to Ringsend Park for PedalPalooza. More details on the cycle parade here.
Come along to PedalPalooza and try out our LeaseBike e-bikes and some of the cargo bikes from the School Bike Library Project.
To celebrate BikeWeek and PedalPalooza we're giving away a free Bleeper trip to all our users.
The voucher code will permit one free trip of up to 6 hours and is valid until the 21st May 2023. Here's the voucher code:
BIKEWEEK
Simply go to your Wallet in the Bleeper app and enter the promo code above to receive a voucher for one free trip. Then apply the voucher to whichever trip you want to get for free.
]]>Bleeper launched our new bike-leasing service LeaseBike last month and it has proven to be very popular so far.
For as little as €19.99 per week you can get your very own e-bike, which you keep 24/7, and the weekly fee also covers the cost of any maintenance or repairs. It's just like owning a bike, but without the hassle!
We've had a lot of queries about how LeaseBike works, so in this blog we'll break down the key points that people need to know.
You will be charged a once-off Joining Fee at checkout when you first sign up to LeaseBike. The cost of the Joining Fee depends on the bike model you choose. The Joining Fee is a one-time payment and is separate to your weekly LeaseBike payments. Your weekly payments will only begin on the day you collect your bike.
Your weekly LeaseBike payment (€19.99 for the Veloci Spirit or Sport) will commence on the day you collect your bike. These weekly payments will continue until you cancel your membership AND return your bike.
In the event that something goes wrong with your LeaseBike (such as a puncture) Bleeper will repair or replace it. You can bring your bike to Bleeper’s workshop on Merchants Quay or avail of our call-out service, which operates as follows:
If you have a bike repair issue, please contact maintenance@bleeperactive.com and we will arrange a service for you.
Your Bleeper LeaseBike subscription permits the use of an ebike for up to 250 kilometres per week. It is intended for everyday use, such as commuting and leisure cycling. It is not intended for commercial use, such as food delivery. Click here for our commercial use/ delivery bike.
Your LeaseBike subscription includes routine preventative maintenance, at no additional cost, which the user is required to accommodate, either at Bleeper’s workshop or via our mobile mechanic service.
Security Deposit: On the day you collect your bike you will be required to pay a refundable deposit. (The deposit amount depends on the bike model. The deposit for the Veloci Spirit and Sport is €150.) This deposit will be refunded in full when the bike and its accessories are returned in good condition.
Bike Damage: The user may be held liable for the cost of any damage caused to the bike or battery through misuse or carelessness. (Routine wear & tear such as punctures are covered through our Repair & Replacement service.)
Theft Prevention: The user will be supplied with locks which must be used to secure the bike. Overnight storage in a public place (e.g. on the street) is not permitted.
Battery Security: Our e-bikes come with removable batteries which can be removed using a key. Users are encouraged to remove the battery from the e-bike whenever the bike is locked in a public place.
Liability: In the event of the loss or theft of the bike and/or the battery, the user is obliged to report this to Bleeper within 24 hours. Depending on the circumstances of loss (e.g. if the bike was locked or not), Bleeper will be entitled to charge the user a deductible up to the following maximum amounts:
Visit the LeaseBike homepage for more information.
]]>An eCargo bike is a battery power assisted pedal bike with a clever feature in front; a large, aerodynamically designed, lidded box. The box has a carrying capacity of 350 litres and is suitable for moving items such as sports training gear, small items of furniture or simply a large load of grocery shopping.
Fingal County Council’s Director of Environment, Climate Action and Active Travel, David Storey says cargo bikes can provide the convenience and capacity that non-drivers may have traditionally struggled with. ‘We know that fewer young people are learning to drive or choosing to own a car and we believe that Active Travel services such as this eCargo bike can plug the gap that people may experience without a motor vehicle and make the choice to switch to Active Travel easier. Fingal County Council is working hard to provide a network of cycling routes and safer cycle lanes across the County and by pairing that work with services like bike sharing we are opening up a world of cycling opportunities for everyone in the community.’
Borrowing the eCargo bike is a simple process. The bike is stored in a ‘bike bunker’ at Mountview Community Centre and can be unlocked for a small €3 fee, which covers 120 minutes of use. After 120 minutes, a fee of €0.05 per minute is charged.
The eCargo bike must be returned to its original location at the end of your trip and to hire the eCargo Bike you must download the Bleeper app and set up an account. Users must be over the age of 18 to set up a Bleeper account.
To access the eCargo Bike Bunker, users will also need to download the EVVA Airkey App, which will enable them to use the NFC Reader with their phone.
This eCargo bike has been purchased by Fingal County Council and maintenance and bookings will be handled by partner Bleeper.
Hugh Cooney, CEO of Bleeper Bike, says cargo bikes can offer a convenient and affordable alternative to car use for many. ‘Our eCargo bikes take advantage of the latest technology, they are lightweight and easy to manoeuvre. Anyone who can cycle a bike can use a cargo bike and being able to do the ‘big shop’ for example without the need for a car can really free you up to choose the healthy, climate friendly option of cycling.’
For more information about the Fingal Cargo Bike, please visit https://www.fingal.ie/ecargo
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Bleeper creates new Suburban Hubs on the Northside
Lord Mayor Caroline Conroy was on hand this week to help launch Bleeper’s latest expansion of its bike sharing service into the Dublin suburbs. New Bleeper ‘Suburban Hubs’ have been created in Artane, Beaumont and Donnycarney.
Bleeper’s expansion into Dublin’s Northside follows on from the successful trial of the first suburban hub in Crumlin Village, which launched in June 2022 and has now been made permanent.
Bleeper has designated specific areas around Beaumont and Artane where its bikes can be parked. These parking zones cover the hearts of the villages, as well as Artane Castle Shopping Centre. Bleeper bikes can be parked at any of the public cycle parking spaces within the new zones.
Bleeper bikes can be hired by anyone who downloads the Bleeper app and creates an account. The app can be used to immediately unlock any Bleeper bike that you see on the street.
The arrival of Bleeper bikes to Beaumont, Artane and Donnycarney was warmly welcomed by Lord Mayor Caroline Conroy.
“We’re very excited to have these Bleeper hubs coming to our local area. People who wouldn’t normally have access to it can now take part in a bike share scheme we see all over Dublin,” said Lord Mayor Conroy.
“It will enable local people to cycle more often, while not having to worry about the expense or maintenance of owning a bike.”
Founder and CEO of Bleeper Hugh Cooney said, “We’re delighted to be providing greater access to bike sharing for people living in suburbs across Dublin. The most common feedback we receive is requests to expand our service to new areas, so it’s nice to be able to bring Bleeper to communities who’ve been waiting for us to arrive.”
15-Minute City
Bleeper’s suburban hub strategy is based on the popular urban planning concept of the 15-Minute City, which aims to put people’s everyday needs within a 15-minute walk or cycle of where they live.
“While we can’t have a Bleeper bike outside every home across the entire city, we can aim to give everyone access to a Bleeper bike within a short walk of their home,” explains Cooney.
“These new hubs will put a Bleeper bike within 15 minutes of a whole new group of people on Dublin’s Northside.”
Speaking at the launch of the hub in Crumlin village, Kevin Meade, senior executive at Dublin City Council said: “We’re delighted to see Bleeper expanding its service to these new areas and we’ll continue to work with our stationless bike hire operators to further enhance services for the people of Dublin.”
Read More: Bleeper launches new Bike Sharing Hub in Crumlin
Today’s announcement comes ahead of further moves planned by Payzone to expand its current range of services within its popular Parking application. Payzone has brought various innovations to motorists over the years and the application is ideally placed to implement a broad range of future value-added features. This will include a range of services which will make it easier for the travelling public to go about their daily lives, using one single application, regardless of how they commute, whether by Car, Bus, Rail, Taxi, Bike, Scooter or on Foot. This will also become instrumental in promoting sustainability.
Bleeper provides smart solutions for everyday transport offering a sustainable alternative to individuals commuting around the capital. Bleeper is on a mission to fight climate change, one journey at a time. In 2022 Bleeper users avoided emitting approximately 59,199kg of CO2 by choosing to cycle for their everyday trips.
Commenting on the sponsorship, Jim Deignan, CEO, Payzone Ireland said, “Bike sharing has grown in popularity across Europe in recent years and Bleeper is a very successful cycle hire scheme operating here in Dublin. We have plans to expand the Payzone parking application to offer our customers a range of additional mobility-related services, with sustainable transport being at the forefront of these plans.
“We’re delighted to partner with Bleeper to promote alternative modes of transport. We feel the partnership aligns with our future vision for Payzone and demonstrates our commitment to sustainable transport and supports the Government’s stated ambition of active travel.”
Bleeper offers a range of sustainable travel solutions from its shared public bikes and shared private bikes to its newly launched LeaseBike subscription service. The Payzone brand will be displayed on both sides of the middle ad board of the Bleeper public bike for the duration of the 12-month sponsorship.
Hugh Cooney, founder of Bleeper said, “Making it easier to access bike sharing schemes like Bleeper can only help with growing the number of people cycling. We are excited to be partnering with Payzone and to be the first mobility service available in the Payzone app. Dublin is an ideal city to get around by bike and this partnership is another step towards making it a little easier to do that.”
In addition to the sponsorship, Bleeper bikes will be discoverable on the Payzone App from the beginning of July, making it easier for individuals to find a Bleeper bike near them.
Payzone and Bleeper are actively involved with Mobility Partnership Ireland, a private sector coalition with the vision for Ireland to develop as a European and global leader in sustainable mobility. Representing car sharing, bus travel, ride-hailing, e-cargo and bike-sharing modes of transport, their shared aim is to place the needs of transport users at the heart of transport policy, enable innovation, promote public health and support climate action.
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Dubliners can now get their hands on an e-bike for just €19.99 per week thanks to a new service launched by Bleeper.
LeaseBike is a subscription e-bike service which provides users with their very own e-bike, lock and charger. Unlike Bleeper’s shared public bikes, LeaseBike users keep their e-bike all the time - so it’s just like owning a bike, but without the hassle.
The weekly subscription fee also covers any maintenance or repairs, such as punctures, meaning that you never have to worry about your bike letting you down.
Subscription bike services have been growing in popularity on the European continent in recent years and the new €19.99 service from LeaseBike puts Dublin on a par with other major European cities.
“We have two e-bike models available for €19.99 per week,” says Bleeper founder and CEO Hugh Cooney. “These are city ebikes, ideal for someone who commutes in and out of the city centre. These e-bikes have a great battery range and a powerful motor, so they’ll even suit people living in the foothills of the Dublin mountains!”
Repair or Replace
One of the major benefits of LeaseBike is that the repair or replacement of your e-bike is built into the weekly subscription fee.
If something goes wrong with your LeaseBike, Bleeper will either repair or replace your e-bike at its city centre workshop at no additional cost.
“Nobody wants to lose the use of their bike for a few days while it’s being repaired,” says Cooney,” so with LeaseBike you will receive a replacement e-bike to keep you on the road.”
“E-bike ownership has increased dramatically in recent years, but cost is still a barrier for a lot of people. LeaseBike eliminates the upfront cost of buying an ebike and will give more people the opportunity to use an ebike for their daily trips.”
People can find out more about LeaseBike on the Bleeper website: https://www.bleeperactive.com/leasebike
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You’ve probably been hearing a lot about ebikes recently, and they're certainly getting more popular, so we've put together this short blog to give you an overview of the main things you need to know about this sustainable, healthy, and fun mode of transport.
Electric bicycles have been around for decades, in one form or another, but new battery technology has made e-bikes more affordable and easier to produce, and we’re seeing a lot more of them on our streets as a result.
Ebike sales have grown dramatically in the past few years and now account for a significant proportion of new bikes sales - up to 50% of sales in some bike shops. They are no longer a niche product; They are now a standard transport tool for people of all ages and abilities.
In the Netherlands, it is estimated that 42% of adults own a light electric vehicle (an umbrella term for ebikes and escooters) and a recent study has predicted that ebike sales will surpass car sales in Europe by 2025:
An ebike is a term given to a broad range of pedal cycles which have an electric motor to assist the rider. The basic components of an ebike consist of a battery, an electric motor, and a control column which enables the rider to select the amount of assistance they want.
The motor and battery can be installed in a variety of ways: Some ebikes have batteries integrated into the frame of the bike, while in others the battery is attached to the bike, usually either on a rack at the rear of the bike or fixed to the top of the downtube.
The electric motor can be installed in the hub of the front or rear wheels, or it can be installed near the bottom bracket, referred to as a mid-drive motor. Hub motors tend to be less expensive than mid-drive motors, but the mid-drive motors offer more power, e.g. for climbing hills.
Most ebikes come with a control panel as standard, allowing the user to set how much assistance they will receive from the electric motor. Different ebike models will have different power settings, but in general they can be broken down into three broad categories:
Eco Mode: This power mode usually gives a minimal amount of assistance but it increases the range of the ebike, enabling you to travel further on a single trip.
Normal Mode: This is the middle of the power range, offering a good balance between how much electric assistance you receive and how long the battery will last.
Turbo Mode: This mode will enable you to go faster (up to a maximum of 25kph) but at the expense of draining your battery much quicker.
Most people will toggle between the different power modes on any given trip. For example, you might switch to Turbo Mode for a few minutes to help you get up a hill quicker or if you’re facing a headwind, or you might switch to Eco Mode if you’re trying to make your battery last longer.
One of the most frequently asked questions on ebikes is about battery range, but unfortunately there is no straight answer! The basic range of your e-bike depends on the capacity of the battery (how much energy it can store) and the output of the motor (how much energy your ebike uses over time).
However, there are a variety of factors which affect how long your battery lasts on any given trip, such as the total weight being carried (including the rider), the power setting being used (Eco Mode vs Turbo Mode), the terrain (especially hills) and weather factors such as temperature and wind. Because of all these variables, it isn’t possible to give an exact range for an eBike, but manufacturers can provide estimates for the low and high ends of the range of each bike.
What happens if the battery runs out? You can still cycle your ebike even when there is no power. It'll be a tougher cycle without the power assist (due to the extra weight of the battery & motor) but you won't get stranded if your battery runs out.
Here are some examples of the battery ranges of ebikes which Bleeper sells in our ebike shop:
Ahooga Active (Folding eBike): 30-45km Range
This is a folding ebike where one of the most important issues is to keep the bike light (so that it is easy to push or carry when folded). To achieve a lighter overall weight, this ebike comes with a smaller battery (168 Wh) and that results in a shorter range of 30-45 kilometres.
Yuba Kombi E5 (Longtail Cargo eBike): 35-80km Range
This cargo bike has a large battery (500 Wh), but it is also a heavy & robust bike, designed to carry additional loads. The 35-80 kilometre range is more than enough for most people’s day-to-day trips to school, to work, and to the shops. This is a real workhorse of a bike, and lots of fun to ride too!
Dolly Cargo (Box-Type Cargo eBike): 35-80km Range
This front-loading cargo bike has a larger battery (600 Wh) than the Yuba Kombi E5, but it is a slightly heavier bike so the Yuba and the Dolly actually have similar battery ranges. The Dolly would be even heavier except for the double-walled plastic box (fully recyclable) which saves weight compared to the materials used for the boxes in other cargo bike models.
Short Answer: Ebikes are completely legal and are legally considered to be the same as standard pedal bikes.
The standard ebikes you’ll find in Ireland are “pedal-assist” ebikes. This means that the motor will only assist the rider when they are pedalling - the motor won’t push the bike on its own if the rider is not pedalling.
These pedal-assist ebikes are usually speed-limited to 25kph, and when the bike reaches that speed the electric motor will automatically cut out and won’t restart until the bike drops below 25kph again.
E-bikes which meet the criteria outlined above are considered to be “pedal cycles” under Irish Road Traffic Legislation, meaning that the same laws which govern the use of ordinary bicycles on public roads also apply to the use of pedal-assist ebikes.
You’ll never know until you try! With excellent Bike to Work grants available (See our guide on that here), there has never been a better time to consider getting an ebike or a cargo bike.
Everyone can benefit in some way from an ebike and, in our experience, once you’ve tried an ebike you will absolutely love it. To that end, we facilitate test rides for all the ebikes and ecargobikes that we sell.
Test rides are available at our workshop in Dublin city centre, conveniently located on Merchants Quay. To book a test ride, simply click the “Book a Test Ride” button on whichever bike model(s) you’re interested in testing. Visit our Online Shop!
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On the 16th February 2023 the European Parliament adopted a resolution calling for the development of a European cycling strategy. One of the key goals of the new strategy is to double the number of kilometres cycled in Europe by 2030.
The resolution sets out a plan to build more cycling infrastructure, incentivise more bike, battery and component production in Europe, and create 2 million cycling-related jobs across manufacturing, retail, hospitality and health.
There are also calls for 2024 to be designated at the European Year of Cycling, with national governments being encouraged to take additional measures to enable and encourage more people to cycle. Some of the proposed measures include reducing VAT rates related to cycling, and radically increasing existing investments and incentives which promote cycling.The European Parliament's resolution has listed a number of specific actions and policies to enable more people to cycle, including:
- Significantly increase investments in safe, separated cycling infrastructure and integrate cycling into urban frameworks
- Take cycling into account when building or upgrading Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) infrastructure
- Include the cycling industry in the mobility ecosystem of EU industrial strategy
- Support the production of “Made in Europe” bicycles and components
- Enable the creation of additional high-quality green jobs in the cycling industry
- Increase the accessibility and affordability of bicycles
- Accelerate the development of EuroVelo, the European cycle route network, and its 17 routes
- Promote cycle-friendly workplaces
- Enable safe and secure bike parking spaces and charging capacity for e-bikes
-Designate 2024 as the European Year of Cycling.
Bleeper welcomes the adoption of this resolution and looks forward to working with EU, national and local organisations to implement the policies needed to double (at the very least) the number of kilometres cycled in Dublin and Ireland.
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With new Bike to Work incentives coming in January 2023, more and more people are considering getting a cargo bike for their day-to-day trips.
While not everyone can replace their car with a cargo bike, for those who can the savings and benefits could be substantial.
AA Ireland has previously compiled estimates for the cost of running a car in Ireland, including both the fixed costs such as tax and insurance, and the ongoing costs like fuel.
In the table below, we've compared the annual costs of running a car and a cargo bike, illustrating the significant savings that can be made.
While the environmental benefits of replacing an Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) car with a cargo bike are obvious to most people, a cargo bike can also be more sustainable than an electric car (EV).
One of the things which is often overlooked is the embodied energy of a vehicle, that is the energy that's used in the manufacturing of the vehicle, including the extraction of precious metal such as lithium for batteries.
As the tweet below outlines, you can manufacture far more batteries for cargo bikes than EV batteries using the same quantity of materials. This efficiency is made even more stark if the EV and the cargo bike are doing similar daily trips, such as the commute or the school run.
Transport minister Eamon Ryan recently announced a new €3,000 limit for cargo bikes in the Bike to Work scheme. This popular tax incentive allows people to use their pre-tax income to purchase a bicycle.
Cost has been one of the major barriers to cargo bike uptake in Ireland and the new Bike to Work incentive has been broadly welcomed.
To illustrate how the Bike to Work scheme applies to a specific cargo bike, we’ll use the Dolly Family Cargo Bike - an excellent two-wheeled e-cargobike which can seat up to three child passengers. Bleeper sells the Dolly Family in our ebike shop for €5,400.
Long Tails are an increasingly popular cargo bike option, with their narrower frame suiting people who don't have enough storage space for a 'box' cargo bike.
Another popular feature of the Long Tail cargo bike is that its geometry is very similar to a 'normal' bicycle, making it very easy to cycle - with or without cargo.
Long Tails can also be a more comfortable option for older children, who can start to outgrow the 'box' cargo bike around age 6 or 7.
Bleeper stocks a range of electric long tail cargo bikes from Yuba, including the Kombi E5 shown below.
Bleeper is delighted to be working with Francesco Pilla of University College Dublin on an innovative 'Bike Library' project in Harold's Cross Educate Together National School.
This initiative enables the parents of children who attend the school to try out a variety of bicycles for their school journey, including ebikes, folding bikes and cargo bikes - along with accessories such as child seats and carrier racks to carry school bags and child passengers.
This is the first Bike Library of its kind in Ireland and Bleeper is supplying the bikes and maintenance for the project, as well as compiling usage and trip data via GPS tracking devices in each of the bikes.
The Bike Library has also featured on national television in Ireland, with RTÉ News broadcasting a reportabout the initiative on the main evening news bulletin.
The Bike Library is being led by Professor Francesco Pilla of University College Dublin, with support and funding for the initiative coming from Science Foundation Ireland and the European Commission.
"It's about giving a choice to parents when they are travelling to school with their kids," says Professor Pilla. "A choice to use a bike rather than a car. It's all about trying to meet the climate targets for Dublin and having more sustainable options than the car."
It is hoped that this pilot project will persuade local authorities and central government to fund similar bike library projects in other schools in Dublin and across the country.
Bleeper would be more than happy to work with any school or organisation that is interested in setting up a bike library in their own local area - just get in touch!
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The government recently announced an increased Bike to Work limit of €3,000 to encourage greater use of cargobikes in Ireland. Cost has been one of the major barriers to cargo bike uptake in Ireland and the new Bike to Work incentive has been broadly welcomed.
The new €3,000 limit will come into effect in January 2023 and will apply specifically to cargobikes and e-cargobikes - the existing limits of €1,250 and €1,500 will still apply to pedal bikes and e-bikes respectively.
What is a cargo bike?
A cargo bike is a term given to a broad range of pedal cycles which have been specifically designed and built to carry additional or excess loads. The diagram below gives a good overview of the different cargobike typologies, with the most common types on Ireland’s roads being the Long John, the Box Bike, the Long Tail, and the Christiania Trike.
Bike to Work - How does it work?
The Bike to Work scheme is a tax initiative which allows workers to use their pre-tax income to pay for a bicycle. The original scheme had a €1,000 limit, but this was increased to €1,250 for pedal cycles and €1,500 for e-bikes. The government has now recognised that it needs to do more to incentivise cargo bikes, so it has introduced a new €3,000 limit specifically for cargobikes.
The effective discount you will receive through the Bike to Work scheme depends on which tax band you are in. If you are in the higher tax band you will receive a discount of approximately 49%, and if you are in the lower tax band the discount is approximately 29%. These discounts only apply within the €3,000 scheme limit - any costs above that limit are paid in full by the consumer.
To apply for the Bike to Work scheme you should contact your employer or your HR department. Bleeper is a registered supplier with most Bike to Work providers.
Case Study - Dolly Family Cargo Bike
To illustrate how the Bike to Work scheme applies to a specific cargo bike, we’ll use the Dolly Family Cargo Bike - an excellent two-wheeled e-cargobike which can seat up to three child passengers.
Bleeper sells the basic model of the Dolly Family Cargo for €5,400. The limit of the Bike to Work allowance for cargobikes is €3,000, so the tax savings can only be applied to this amount - the customer pays the remaining €2,400 in full.
The amount of tax you save through the Bike to Work scheme depends on which rate of tax you pay: Workers who pay the standard rate can expect a saving of 29%, while those who pay the higher rate will save approximately 49%.
The illustration below gives a basic breakdown of the savings that can be made on a Dolly Family Cargo via the Bike to Work allowance:
Electric or Not?
Many cargobike models come with and without electric-assist motors, but electric cargobikes are quickly becoming the standard and most popular option. If you are regularly carrying loads - e.g. bringing the kids to school - or live in a hilly area, or just want to be able to move off confidently in traffic, then an electric-assist cargobike is the right option for you.
E-cargobikes are more expensive than non-electric models, but thankfully the new Bike to Work allowance will help to diminish that cost barrier which has held so many people back from taking the leap with cargo bikes.
Longtails are an increasingly popular cargo bike option, with their narrower frame suiting people who don't have enough storage space for a 'box' cargo bike.
Another popular feature of the Longtail cargo bike is that its geometry is very similar to a 'normal' bicycle, making it very easy to cycle - with or without cargo.
Longtails can also be a more comfortable option for older children, who can start to outgrow the 'box' cargo bike around age 6 or 7.
Bleeper stocks a range of electric longtail cargo bikes from Yuba, including the Kombi E5 shown below.
Bleeper E-Bike Shop
Bleeper is now selling new & refurbished cargobikes and e-bikes in our online store. Find your next bike, and book a test ride at our Dublin city centre workshop, on our website here: https://www.bleeperactive.com/buy-a-bike
To facilitate access to the Dublin City Marathon on Sunday 30th October, there will be a special pop-up parking facility for Bleeper (& Moby) shared bikes located on the East side of St. Stephen's Green.
Bleeper users will be able to drop off and pick up Bleeper bikes at this special facility which will be managed by Bleeper's staff. The pop-up parking will be in operation from 7am-6pm on Sunday 30th October.
The pop-up parking is located a short walk from the Start/Finish point of the marathon on Merrion Square. This pop-up parking initiative is supported by Dublin City Council.
We're delighted to announce the launch of the new ESB eBike service which is going live across Dublin today, Wednesday 17th August.
Bleeper ESB eBikes will be available to hire using the Bleeper smartphone app - simply switch to the ESB eBikes tab in the map screen.
The ESB eBikes can be hired for €10 per day, or if you are a regular user you can purchase a €30 monthly pass which reduces the daily cost of hiring ESB eBikes to €5.
You'll be able to hire the Bleeper ESB eBikes from nine different stations across Dublin, which can be seen on the map below:
St James's Hospital in Dublin has partnered with Bleeper to provide a shared eBike service for its hospital staff. The eBikes service, which is supported by University College Dublin, will enable St James's staff to reserve the eBikes via the Bleeper app.
The shared eBikes will reside at the brand new Central Cycle Hub which has just opened beside the main entrance to St James's Hospital. It is part of a broader Smarter Travel initiative which aims to enable & encourage staff to use sustainable transport as part of their daily commute.
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In June we introduced an Unlimited Monthly Pass as a special offer, but it has proven to be so popular with Bleeper users that we've decided to make it a permanent feature.
Unlimited Monthly enables users to take an unlimited amount of 1-hour Bleeper rides per month for just €17.50. (Our previous monthly pass was limited to four 1-hour rides per day.)
After the first hour, an individual ride is charged at our normal Pay-As-You-Go rate of €0.02 per minute.
To avail of the Unlimited Monthly pass, simply open the Bleeper app and follow the instructions below:
On World Bicycle Day, Friday 3rd of June, bike sharing service Bleeper launched a new “Suburban Hub” in Crumlin village. The creation of this hub will enable people to hire Bleeper bikes - and park them - in Crumlin village for the very first time.
The Crumlin village suburban hub is the first of its kind in the Dublin City Council area and marks a new approach from Bleeper which aims to bring bike sharing to more areas outside the city centre.
Bleeper has designated a specific area around Crumlin village where its bikes can be parked. This parking zone runs along St. Agnes Road between Crumlin Post Office and Crumlin Garda Station. Bleeper bikes can be parked at any of the 40 public cycle parking spaces within this zone.
Bleeper bikes can be used by anyone who downloads the Bleeper app and creates an account. The app can be used to immediately unlock any Bleeper bike that you see on the street, or you can use the prebooking function to reserve a bike for up to 15 minutes before you begin your journey.
Community Engagement
Bleeper has created the Crumlin hub in response to requests for bike sharing from local community groups. Bleeper has engaged with the local community to identify the best location for the hub and will continue this engagement to ensure its success.
Founder and CEO of Bleeper Hugh Cooney said, “We hope the Crumlin village suburban hub can be a stepping stone towards greater access to bike sharing for people living in suburbs across Dublin.”
“It has been great to get direct feedback from the community in Crumlin and to hear their enthusiasm for bike sharing and for cycling in general.”
The arrival of Bleeper bikes to Crumlin has been warmly welcomed by locals.
“We’re very excited to have a Bleeper hub coming to Crumlin and to be the first suburb to try out this great idea where people who wouldn’t normally have access to it can now take part in a bike share scheme we see all over Dublin,” says Michelle Hardiman, of Crumlin Community Cycles.
“It will enable local people to cycle more often, while not having to worry about the expense or maintenance of owning a bike.”
15-Minute City
Bleeper’s suburban hub strategy is based on the popular urban planning concept of the 15-Minute City, which aims to put people’s everyday needs within a 15-minute walk or cycle of where they live.
“While we can’t have a Bleeper bike outside every home across the entire city, we can aim to give everyone access to a Bleeper bike within a short walk of their home,” explains Cooney.
“This new hub in Crumlin village will put a Bleeper bike within 15 minutes of everyone living in the wider Crumlin area.”
Speaking at the launch of the hub in Crumlin village, Kevin Meade, senior executive at Dublin City Council said: “We’re delighted to see Bleeper expanding its service to Crumlin and we’ll continue to work with our stationless bike hire operators to further enhance services for the people of Dublin.”
]]>A coalition of leading private sector transport and mobility providers in Ireland, including Bleeper, have established Mobility Partnership Ireland (MPI), a sustainability-driven coalition, in a move to strengthen and expand sustainable shared mobility options across Ireland.
Enterprise Holdings, Bleeper, Moby and Yuko have committed to the industry-wide sustainable mobility agenda that will provide safe, green, accessible and efficient alternatives to private car ownership.
MPI’s vision is for Ireland to develop as a European and global leader in sustainable mobility by adopting policies that will enable innovation, promote public health and support climate action.
Minister for Transport, Environment, Climate and Communications Eamon Ryan officially launched the ambitious new coalition at an event at Dublin City Council’s Wood Quay venue on Monday 23rd May.
Speaking of the partnership, Minister Eamon Ryan said, ‘‘It is timely and appropriate that the private sector plays a central part in providing sustainable, affordable and shared mobility options to communities around the country, including both urban and rural regions of the country."
"The advancement of shared sustainable transport and active transport will alleviate both the pressures private car ownership places in Ireland’s zero-carbon agenda, as well as the financial pressures people are experiencing due to rising energy costs."
MPI was born out of the common desire among its founding members to raise awareness of and improve and expand shared sustainable mobility, recognising the changing needs of users, and ensuring that climate and community transport objectives are at the heart of their services.
MPI aims to expand its membership, in time, to include additional modes of transport as well as public transport operators. The integration of public and private transport is crucial in changing user behaviour away from private car ownership.
More information about Mobility Partnership Ireland, its vision and goals, as well as how to become an associate member, is available at www.mobilitypartnershipIreland.ie
]]>One of the highlights of Bike Week 2022 for Bleeper was Cycle 4 Climate, a group cycle from the Convention Centre in Dublin City Centre along the Royal Canal Greenway to St. Anne’s Park in Dublin Bay North.
Bleeper provided 10 bikes to be made available for participants. Cyclists of all ages and experience were welcome to the event.
Organised by Green Schools Ireland, the aim of the Cycle 4 Climate event was to bring together students from three Ambassador Programmes to showcase their action projects, have a climate conversation and learn from each other.
The Climate Ambassador Programme was established in 2017 as an initiative to train and support individuals taking action on climate change.
The Green-Schools Travel #AndSheCycles Ambassador programme was brought about to identify the barriers to cycling and encourage young women and girls to take up the activity.
The Water Ambassador Programme offers secondary school students the opportunity to learn about this invaluable resource and to develop a campaign in their school and community to raise awareness about water conservation and reduce water waste.
Bleeper were delighted to supply bicycles for the bike ride, which brought together young people to celebrate the benefits of cycling and enjoy a bike ride off road and away from cars on the Royal Canal Greenway.
Organised by the National Transport Authority, Bike week is a celebration of the many benefits of cycling. This year’s activities will start on Saturday May 14thand continue to Sunday May 22nd. The Bleeper team are excited to be involved in several events organised by local authorities.
E-Cargobikes for Business Webinar – Monday, May 16th at 1pm
In 2021, Dublin City Council launched the ‘E-Cargobikes for Business Pilot’ with Bleeper, encouraging greener, more sustainable deliveries. This pilot, based on a model first launched by Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, has seen over 20 Dublin businesses sign up to test an E-Cargobike for City deliveries at a discounted rate for a trial period.
Interested? Register now for this webinar to learn more about the E-Cargobikes for Businesses Pilot and hear from the participant businesses about their experiences transition ingto more sustainable deliveries. The webinar is free and open to all.
Register by clicking here.
Swords Castle eCargobike Demo for Business – Friday, May 20th 2:30pm
Is eCargo delivery right for your business? Join us in Swords Castle for a demo session and a chance to try an eCargobike from 2.30pm.
Dublin City Council Pedal palooza Cycling for All – Sunday,May 22nd 12-4pm
Pedalpalooza is Dublin City Council’s flagship bike Week event. It’s a family-friendly bike festival, taking place in Fairview Park. Pedal palooza aims to celebrate and promote the benefits of cycling through workshops, guided cycles and fun activities. A wider range of activities, suitable for all ages and abilities, will be held in the park to get people moving and to promote a more sustainable urban mobility culture.
Bleeper will be providing a variety of bikes – including standard bikes, e-bikes and eCargobikes, for attendees to demo at the event.
For more information on Bike Week and to find a Bike Week event near you, see the event calendar here.
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As part of Bike Week 2022, we hosted a webinar with Dublin City Council to showcase the E-Cargobikes for Businesses Pilot and hear from the participant businesses about their experiences transitioning to more sustainable deliveries with e-cargobikes. The recording of that webinar can now be viewed via Youtube.
About the E-Cargobike Pilot Project
In September 2021, Dublin City Council and Bleeper launched the ‘E-Cargobikes forBusinesses Pilot’ which encouraged & enabled greener, more sustainable city deliveries.
This pilot, based on a model first launched by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, has seen more than 20 Dublin businesses sign up to trial an e-cargobike for City deliveries at a discounted rate for the trial period.
[This cargobike scheme is not currently accepting new applications but stay tuned for further updates. If your business is interested in buying or hiring a cargo bike from Bleeper, please check out our e-bike shop or our long-term hire service.]
This week, Irish Independent journalist Jonathan Keane interviewed Bleeper CEO Hugh Cooney on the future of bike sharing in Ireland.
‘’The bike sharing space is a competitive space and there’s a lot of companies talking about launching scooters,’’ Hugh is quoted, ‘’and the reality is they’re only doing that in the hope they then get scooter licences when they come to market next year. The e-bike is the new Trojan horse in companies trying to get scooter licences.’’
Legislation to permit e-scooter sharing in Ireland has been delayed to 2023.
Bleeper has been a pioneer in Ireland’s bike-sharing industry, with private scheme bikes deployed at University College Dublin, Sport Ireland and Trinity Halls, among other locations.
]]>On the 21stof April, Bleeper attended University College Dublin (UCD) Bike Day, an annual event held by UCD Estate Services to promote all aspects of cycling from safe cycling practices to the health, economic and environmental benefits of cycling.
Bleeper provides a private fleet of shared bikes to international students, the UCD Global ‘My Private Scheme’. Furthermore, the Bleeper public scheme operates on the UCD Belfield campus.
With over 4,000 public bike racks on site, UCD is an ideal location for bike-sharing. Bleeper continues to experience increased utilisation of our bikes on campus with most trips that finish on the campus having started inside our Dublin City Council Operating Zone.
The Bleeper crew brought out our public bikes, eBikes and eCargobikes to the event. Bike Day attendees were able to try out our eBikes and eCargobikes to learn more about the various modes of active travel Bleeper provides.
The highlight of the day for Bleeper was the ‘Slow Bike Race’ where students competed to cycle as the slow as possible across the Basketball court. Some cyclists were able to travel 27 metres in over 40 seconds. Winners of the Slow Bike Race were awarded Bleeper credit for their accomplishment.
In addition to our public bikes, Bleeper showcased the UCD Global Private Scheme bikes. For the second year in a row, Bleeper is providing a private fleet of 30+ shared Bleeper bikes to over 500 international students studying at UCD. Completely free to use, ‘My Private Scheme’ allows students to explore the very best Dublin has to offer, not to mention all the great towns and villages on both the north and south side of the city.
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The theme for Earth Day 2022 is ‘’Invest in Our Planet,'' providing an opportunity for businesses, governments, and individuals to focus their attention on developing solutions for the Climate Crisis.
The most recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report states that global carbon emissions must peak by 2025 – at the latest – to avoid the most devastating effects of Global Warming. In the coming years, we must drastically cut carbon emissions to prevent these harms.
At Bleeper, we believe that the benefits of investing in our planet are more than just environmental. With over 800 public bikes operating in Dublin, we are proud to be reducing the number of cars on the streets of Dublin and supporting a circular economy.
People-focused mobility
Adapting to the challenges of Climate Change does not always mean making sacrifices.
Building cities around people, not cars, means creating more engaging urban spaces where children can play, friends can eat and drink and people can gather. Take, for example, streets which were blocked off to cars for al fresco dining during the pandemic—showcasing what is possible when we prioritise humans over cars.
Reducing the number of motorised vehicles on the street also improves air quality and reduces noise, making streets safer and more enjoyable for pedestrians and cyclists.
Active travel has a number of health benefits—alleviating stress, reducing the risk of heart disease and improving muscle strength. On the other hand, the sedentary lifestyle promoted by a car dominant culture can lead to adverse health effects, anxiety and social isolation.
In 2020, ‘’the transportation sector accounted for 17.9% of Ireland’s Greenhouse Gas emissions.’’ Furthermore, road transportation accounted for 94%of transport emissions in the same year. Therefore, transitioning to sustainable modes of transportation is necessary for meeting our decarbonisation targets.
As Hildegarde Naughton, the Minister of State for the Department of Transport has stated, ''the benefits [of sustainable mobility] are not just environmental.’’ While we work to reduce our carbon footprint, we are also making our society safer, healthier, and happier. This gives us even more reason to #InvestInOurPlanet.
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