Swords students to get free refurbished bikes in bid to cut school traffic
Students in Swords who are currently driven to school will be offered free refurbished bicycles as part of a new pilot scheme aimed at reducing traffic congestion and encouraging more young people to cycle.
The Swords Cycle to School Scheme has been launched across five secondary schools: Fingal Community College, St Finian’s Community College, Swords Community College, Loreto College Swords and Coláiste Choilm.
Eligible students who do not have access to a bicycle will receive a free refurbished bike.
The scheme is intended to help students make the transition from car-based journeys to independent cycling, while reducing traffic around schools and encouraging more sustainable travel.
Deputy Principal Swords Community College Ms Anne Kinsella with Swords Cycle to School Scheme Bike Recipient.
The initiative was launched alongside the new Swords Bike Library, which will allow residents to borrow an e-bike free of charge for up to three months.
Residents will be able to borrow different types of e-bikes, including standard, folding and longtail bikes, allowing them to try cycling for commuting, local journeys, leisure and exercise before deciding whether to buy a bike.
There is no rental fee, although participants must pay a fully refundable deposit.
Bikes allocated through the scheme can be collected from Applewood Community Centre or Holywell Community Centre.
Deputy Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Luke Corkery, said the projects would encourage people to choose cycling as a “sustainable and healthy mode of transport”, while helping to reduce congestion and improve air quality.
AnnMarie Farrelly, chief executive of Fingal County Council, said the initiatives would help make active travel “more inclusive” while supporting the council’s climate action goals.
David Storey, the council’s director of services for Active Travel, said: “By providing greater access to bikes and e-bikes, these initiatives give residents the opportunity to experience the benefits of cycling and support a shift towards more sustainable travel choices.”
Meanwhile, Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien said: “Encouraging more people to choose cycling is about more than infrastructure; it’s about providing opportunities and removing barriers.”
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