Innovative smart parking system launched in Castleknock to reduce bicycle clutter

Fingal County Council is the first Local Authority in Europe, outside of Norway, to install smart technology at shared bike parking zones and we are pleased Castleknock has been chosen to trial the project. The main aim of the technology is to eliminate the problem of mis-parked and badly parked hired bikes which are a hazard and unsightly.

The technology involved is a wireless solar powered Bluetooth device placed on top of a pole adjacent to the bike parking area which beams down on the location. These poles and Bluetooth devices are already erected at the two Castleknock bike parking locations at the Phoenix Park Gates and the junction of College and Castleknock Roads. All Moby and Bleeper bikes will be fitted with a transponder.

To return a bike a user must park it appropriately in the designated parking area. If the bike is not returned to this spot it remains on hire. Each location is designated by FCC as to its size and how many bikes it can accommodate. It will not allow more than the permitted number of bikes to be dropped off. The system will go live in the coming weeks and CTT is hopeful it will eliminate the issue of badly parked hired bikes which we experience from time to time.