One millionth journey taken on Dublinbike scheme

AN UNWITTING user of Dublin City Council’s popular Dublinbike scheme undertook the service’s one millionth journey on Saturday night.

The landmark trip was undertaken at 7.25pm, but details of the station and route have been withheld due to restrictions placed on the scheme’s operators by the Data Protection Act.

Operators of the scheme were trying to contact the cyclist yesterday to notify the person that he or she had won a prize for choosing pedals over petrol on the night in question.

Dublin City Council and its partner JCDEcaux (Ireland) launched the highly-successful rental scheme on September 13th, 2009.

Over 37,000 people have signed up for the service to date.

Would-be cyclists have 450 bicycles available to them from 40 stations between the Royal and the Grand canals.

Users of the scheme must pre-register their personal details and credit card information to facilitate the micro-payments which part-fund the service.

Bicycle rental is free for half an hour and costs 50 cent for the first hour, rising to €6.50 for four hours.

The success of the rental scheme has recently prompted Dublin City Council to add increased capacity.

Plans are in place to increase the number of bikes to 550 in the next few weeks, and to introduce four new stations at Smithfield, Eccles Street, Harcourt Terrace and Charlemont Mall.

Further information on the service can be found on www.dublinbikes.ie