Author: Dublin City Council

Dublin City Sport & Wellbeing Partnership (DCSWP) is a section of Dublin City Council responsible for providing as many opportunities as possible for people to engage in sport or physical activity through facilities, infrastructure, services, programmes, and events. 

In recent years Dublin has seen huge growth in the profile and popularity of cycling illustrated by events such as The Great Dublin Bike Ride, and initiatives like the Bike to Work scheme. However, Sport Officers of DCSWP who work with local communities around the city identified logistical, educational, and participation deficit in many of the areas particularly those of high socio-economic disadvantage.

Sport Officers devised and delivered a pilot scheme, assessing the viability of a sustainable cycling program within Dublin City. This pilot scheme, rolled out in 2016 in the South Central Area of the city, involved educational programmes for primary schools, community leader education, local event planning, training and participation programmes; as well as professional bicycle mechanic training for community centres and locals active in their communities. It was a holistic approach, aimed to encompass all aspects of cycling, creating a sustainable approach to the proliferation of positive cycling practices in the area.

The scheme was an outstanding success, and as such, roll out of replica programmes were explored as well as other viable options within Dublin City.  Evaluation demonstrated the most effective way to deliver cycling programmes would be the creation of Cycle Hubs operated by Dublin City Council for use by the DCSWP Sport Officers’ network of community and youth groups.

In Bike Week 2018 Dublin City Council and DCSWP launched two Cycling Hubs. The Hub locations are in two existing Dublin City Council sport centres, both uniquely and ideally located in areas with excellent local cycling infrastructure and beautiful local amenities, The Dublin Municipal Rowing Centre, Islandbridge, and the East Wall Water Sport Club, off the Alfie Byrne Road.  

The Dublin Municipal Rowing Centre, Islandbridge is Located between the Phoenix Park, and The War Memorial Gardens, 2km from the city centre. It has a number of large cycle-ways and paths in the immediate locality. It is a beautifully scenic and historic part of the city, ideally located to facilitate groups of any level of ability. The East Wall Water Sport Club, located off the Alfie Byrne Road, is situated on the Sutton to Sandycove (S2) cycleway. This is a 22km cycle route capturing the north and south quays of Dublin Bay, and is in close proximity to Fairview Park, St Anne’s Park and Bull Island, magnificently scenic amenities in the city. 

Both Centres are staffed by experienced and qualified Dublin City Council Sports staff and received funding to purchase bicycles, safety equipment, to professionally qualify staff as bicycle mechanics and cycle leaders. 

In 2018 both hubs rolled out a number of bike-leader education programmes via Cycling Ireland, supported a number of youth services and community programmes as they embraced the challenge of the Great Dublin Bike Ride, as well as supporting local groups and organisations working with the DCSWP in programming and training. The Hubs provide the Sport Officers with the facility and equipment to deliver cycling programmes on segregated cycle tracks for groups and individuals who would otherwise not engage in cycling.  In essence, they provide a gateway for people to get back on their bikes, build their cycling confidence and progress to recreational cycles and cycling for transportation.

Between the two centres there is a fleet of over 45 bicycles, including a mix of both road and mountain bicycles, with all ancillary safety equipment, repair equipment and perishable spares on site. The hubs can cater from the ages of 8 years of age upward. In 2019, further funding was secured to purchase tandem bicycles as well as adapted bicycles for inclusive cycling programmes.