The Green Party has welcomed the roll-out of stationless bikes in Dublin City. On Wednesday, 30th May, 2018, Dublin City Council launched the first regulated Stationless Bike Hire Scheme in Dublin city. Two operators, Urbo and Bleeperbike will be granted licences to operate the low cost bike hire scheme which will complement the existing Just Eat dublinbikes scheme. The City Council is delighted to facilitate the orderly roll out of this scheme which will see 200 bikes on the streets immediately with a gradual increase in the number of bikes over the coming months. Councillor Ciaran Cuffe, Chair of the Transportation Strategic Policy Committee said:"This is a good day for Dublin. Stationless bike schemes have a clear role to play in tackling congestion in Dublin. Similar schemes have succeeded in major cities all around the world, and we're delighted to have them here. The lesson from abroad is that properly regulated bike schemes can make a positive contribution to sustainable transport and mobility. I am pleased that we have awarded licences to Urbo and Bleeperbike and I wish both companies success over the months ahead."“Looking around the world, there have been challenges with stationless bikes, of them being left in the wrong place and obstructing footpaths,” Mr Cuffe said. “But I think if it’s done right . . . we should be able to overcome these hurdles and really get more people cycling, which is good for air quality, it’s good for health and it’s good for the city.”The Stationless Bike Hire Scheme will expand bike hire services to outer suburban areas and it allows greater flexibility for users as bikes do not have to be returned to a docking station, but simply locked to an official Sheffield stand. The City Council has increased cycling parking facilities throughout the city with over 1,300 extra cycle parking spaces installed over the past few months. The installation programme is continuing and will provide extra cycle parking for own-bike users and bike hire users alike.Users can sign up to either operator with full interoperability between the two schemes. Bikes are sourced via an App which unlocks the bike. Once locked to a Sheffield stand at destination the hire period ceases. The Council is working in partnership with both operators to ensure that the scheme will be a success and not encounter the problems experienced in other cities with unregulated schemes. ENDSIssued 30th May 2018 and uploaded 31st May 2018