Dublin City plans to make 450 bicycles publicly available from 40 locations around the city in a scheme similar to that which exists in Paris and done in conjunction with the same private partner – outdoor advertising company JC Decaux.

In what is clearly a nice idea, people will be able to pick up a bike whenever they need it and drop it back to any of the locations when they are done. A Smart-card system will handle issues like deposits and payment. Any fee will be very modest – the plan is to make them as freely available as possible.

The network will be monitored and distribution teams will maintain and move bikes around the city depending on demand and supply.

The network of stations will extend from the Mater Hospital in the north to Grand Canal in the south and from Smithfield in the west to the IFSC and North Docklands in the east.

Ground works on the installation of the bike stations will begin in Spring 2009 and the bike scheme will be fully operational by Summer 2009.

Dublin will join other European cities such as Paris (Velib), Lyon (Velo’v Lyon), Vienna (Citybike Wien) and Seville (Sevici) in possessing a city centre network of automated bike stations.

The proposed locations are listed below.To see them on a map, click here:

1. Anne Street South – On Street Location
2. Blessington Street/Berkeley Street Junction- On Street Location
3. Bolton Street / Capel Street Junction- Footpath Location
4. Chancery Street- On Street Location
5. Charlemont Place- On Street Location
6. Christchurch Place-Castle Street – Footpath Location
7. Cornmarket – On Street Location or Potential Footpath Option
8. Custom House Quay ( near Sean O Casey Bridge)- Footpath Location- Dockland ampshires
9. Dame Court-Exchequer Street Junction- On Street Location
10. Dame Street (Barnardos Square) – Paved Area of Square an Option
11. Earlsfort Terrace- On Street Location
12. Eccles Street- Footpath Location
13. Fitzwilliam Sq North- On Street Location
14. Fownes Street Upper-Central Bank- On Street Location`
15. Frederick Street North/ Hardwicke Street Junction- On Street Location
16. Georges Quay (Talbot Memorial Bridge junction) – Footpath Location
17. Golden Lane- On Street Location
18. Grantham Street/Camden Street Lower Junction- On Street Location
19. Harbourmaster Place (adjacent to IFSC and Connolly Station) - On Street Locatio
20. Herbert Place/ Baggot Street Lower Junction- On Street Location
21. James Street East- On Street Location
22. Leinster Street South- On Street Location
23. Luke Street - On Street Location
24. Marlbourough Street- On Street Location
25. Merrion Square East- On Street Location
26. Merrion Square West- On Street Location
27. Molesworth Street- On Street Location
28. Mountjoy Square West- On Street Location
29. Ormond Quay Upper - On Street Location
30. Parnell Square North- On Street Location
31. Parnell Street- Footpath Location
32. Pearse Street – Footpath Location
33.  Princes Street North/ O Connell Street Junction - On Street Location
34. Portobello Harbour/ Richmond Row/- Paved Area or On Street Options
35. Smithfield.  On Street Location
36. St Stephens Green East- On Street Location
37. St Stephens Green South- On Street Location
38. Talbot Street- On Street Location
39. Wilton Terrace/ Leeson Street Lower Junction - On Street Location
40. Wolfe Tone Park/Jervis Street -On Street Location (Potential Paved Area Option)