Tender push to improve TFI bikes’ coverage on Cork's northside

The northside of Cork city is to be a priority area for TFI bikes as the scheme seeks a new operator.

The TFI bikes scheme has operated in Cork, Limerick, and Galway, and Waterford since 2014. It has been operated by Telfourth Limited, trading as An Rothar Nua, on behalf of the National Transport Authority (NTA) since its inception. The current contract is to run until August 2026.

A letter from the NTA to public representatives, seen by The Echo, said that the tender for a replacement service provider is well underway with a framework of suppliers already established, and the tender for the four cities is at an advanced stage.

“We are particularly keen to improve coverage in those areas that are under-served due to topographical limitations, such as the northside of Cork city. For this reason, electric bikes are likely to make up the larger proportion of the new fleet,” it added.

“This move will eliminate the challenges of hills for many cyclists, but will also likely see a large increase in usage as has been experienced in other urban areas, both in Ireland and elsewhere, where electric bikes were introduced.

“NTA intends to have new service providers selected early next year. This will be followed by a mobilisation period with the existing TFI bikes remaining in operation until the new operators are ready to commence operations in the summer of 2026.”

The Labour councillor for the north-east ward, John Maher, told The Echo: “It’s nonsense that the topography of the northside was mentioned as the reason the area is under-served. People are cycling anyway, it’s not for the NTA to decide whether they’re going to cycle or not.

“There’s no hills in Blackpool, it would be very achievable to have a cycle corridor there, and there’s people cycling on Summerhill North every week. There’s plenty of opportunities, but they’re only just now looking at the area again.

“Instead, a docking station that used to be on Coburg St is gone now — it’s backwards we’ve gone.

“I don’t believe the hills are why the bike scheme didn’t expand, it’s because they didn’t fund it.

“I hope that these new providers will have a different ambition when they’re in place, but it’s still the NTA who’s funding this.”