Dublin City Council has finally contracted a company to deliver 300 secure bike storage bunkers across the city, a decade after first piloting the scheme in 2015.
Bleeper Bikes, the dockless bike-sharing company operating in Dublin since 2017, will provide and maintain the new facilities under a contract potentially worth €10 million excluding VAT. The bunkers will offer communal bike storage at €100 annually per bicycle – double the cost of a residential parking permit.
The lengthy timeline has drawn criticism from local representatives. Green Party councillor Michael Pidgeon described the wait as “very, very long” and expressed disappointment that the solution relies on complete outsourcing.
“It’s a real shame it’s taken this long and the solution we’ve ended up with is almost completely outsourced. It undermines your faith in local government,” Pidgeon told The Journal.
Despite the delays, demand remains exceptionally high, particularly among residents lacking secure bike parking. Pidgeon believes the bunkers will provide crucial alternatives for people currently storing bikes indoors to prevent theft.
“It’s putting off people from getting a bike as they don’t want it nicked,” he explained.
The bunkers will primarily target terraced housing areas, which comprise roughly 40% of Dublin city housing. Each shelter accommodates four to six bikes, with numbered spaces allocated to subscribers who receive designated keys.
The rollout, if proceeding smoothly, should meet the council’s 2026 target recommended in recent reports. Existing trial users can continue under Bleeper management, while new participants can register online.