Deputy Lord Mayor of Cork: ‘Car parks should have covered areas for bikes’

THE deputy lord mayor of Cork has suggested that the city’s car parks should expand to include bikes.

“I’ve been to Utrecht and what struck me most is the amount of bike parking there is,” Colette Finn told The Echo.

“They are located everywhere and especially close to transport hubs, like bus and rail networks; we don’t have anything like that in Cork,” the Green Party councillor said.

There is covered bike parking at Kent railway station, but no locker to store helmets or rain gear, and the bus stop for the Aircoach/GoBus has no bike parking.

“We need to think more in terms of mixing your mode,” Ms Finn said. “For example, cycling to the train or bus, parking it nearby: Trip chaining is often the reason that people need to use their car, when they are not just going to one destination.

“If we can make it easier for people to park up their bike, it makes it easier to mix how we move around the city. I think car parks should think about offering a service to people who move around by bicycle as well.”

Helen Guinan, chairperson of the Cork Cycling Campaign, added: “The Cork Cycling Campaigned has been asking for covered bike parking for many years now. We are delighted that Colette Finn is pursuing this issue.

“It would benefit the city hugely, from an economic and climate action point of view, if every car park in the city offered secure, covered bike parking.

“These spaces need to be bright, easily accessed, and centrally located. It’s really important that the busiest car parks are included, so that the scheme is set up for success from the start. The spaces need to accommodate both regular and non-standard bikes, including cargo bikes.”

Ms Guinan added: “There are also many shops in the city centre that have been closed up for years: These would also make excellent, covered, bike-parking locations.”