This joint initiative between Dublin City Council and the National Transport Authority (NTA), operated alongside local company Bleeper, has launched a pilot project featuring 36 smart, secure bike lockers that are free for the first two hours. Available across four strategic locations throughout the city, the software and access technology for one of the key sites have been developed by Don Cicleto.
Spanish Technology for Dublin’s Mobility
The four sites are located at Capel Street, Grafton Street, Drury Street Car Park, and Jervis Street Car Park. At Jervis Street, the infrastructure combines hardware from Irish manufacturer Larkin with Don Cicleto’s technological architecture.
«We have integrated digital access control, mobile app unlocking, and smart payment processing, operating in this trial under the local brand Cycle Parking Ireland,» confirms Pablo Rosa, CEO of Don Cicleto.
«These particular lockers are made by Larkin,» explains Hugh Cooney, CEO of Bleeper, «a Galway-based company, while the smart locks and the app that manages the lockers are made by Don Cicleto, a Spanish company.»
Each module in the system is designed to maximize available space, accommodating up to two bicycles with independent access at each end.
Within a year, we will understand the needs and know which combination of locker and app works best to decide our next steps.
Measuring Demand
Dublin City Council’s goal with this pilot project is to assess real-world infrastructure usage and evaluate how different technologies perform before planning a wider rollout across the city.
This is why the service is offered free of charge for the first two hours, encouraging users to try it for short trips or daily errands. After the second hour, the fee is €2 per hour, up to a daily maximum cap of €12.
Alec Dundon, Senior Executive Engineer at Dublin City Council’s City Centre Projects office, summarized the approach by noting that they aim to get «a clear idea of the demand that exists for this type of service. Within a year, we will understand the needs and know which combination of locker and app works best to decide our next steps».
Don Cicleto’s SaaS in International Projects
Don Cicleto’s role as a software provider in the Irish capital reinforces its international growth. Capable of seamlessly integrating with various hardware manufacturers, Don Cicleto’s white-label SaaS for secure bike parking management adapts effortlessly to the operational requirements of any municipality or operator.