By Sean Moriarty

A bicycle rental scheme similar to the one in operation in Dublin could be one of the solutions to the town’s persistent traffic congestion problems.

The Dublin scheme is based on the London project which was launched by then London Mayor Boris Johnson 12 years ago with modes of transport known as ‘Boris Bikes’ to this day.

London’s first large-scale public bike hire scheme was greeted with a largely positive response from the public in July 2010.

The scheme, which followed similar projects in other countries including France and Spain, aimed to ease congestion on London’s commuter network through 400 bicycle “docking stations” placed all over the city.

The same plan could be come to Killarney after Cllr John O’Donoghue called for such a move at Wednesday’s Killarney Municipal District meeting.

He asked: “That the Council would liaise with existing bicycle rental operators within the town to see the feasibility of starting a rental bike scheme in Killarney similar to the City Bike Scheme in Dublin”.

A council official said: “Provision of additional infrastructure in the town is subject to market demand. However, it is important to be cognisant of the potential for any displacement of existing enterprises providing these services."