In a letter to the Luas operator, Senator Neale Richmond said: "This is a tourist and cyclist friendly idea which would also ensure the Luas is compliant with the National Cycling Policy it has failed to implement since that policy was published in 2009.
“I am requesting something very doable here. Other tram services across Europe have limited access to two bikes per service and this is a reasonable compromise. This is the international norm where cities such as Edinburgh, Bordeaux and London allow their metro and tram systems to accommodate cyclists.
“We also have precedence of this already in Dublin, as the Dart allows cyclists to bring their bicycles on-board during off peak hours.
“While it may not be feasible to accommodate bicycles at peak service times, there should at least be scope to look at accommodating bicycles at off peak times, particularly weekends.
“The National Cycle Policy Framework states that ‘We (Department of Transport and Transort Infrastructure Ireland) will provide for the carriage of bikes on LUAS when services are of a frequency and at a capacity that allows for it.’
“If Transdev cannot accommodate any bike carriages even during off-peak services then it is clear we have a larger problem of capacity on our Luas services.”
The Fine Gael Senator added: “South Dublin is the start of many of the mountain trails and routes that traverse the Dublin and Wicklow mountains; for many families these are inaccessible as they are unwilling to cycle the city routes out or haven't the means to transport their bicycles. Amending the bye laws to allow bicycles to be brought on at the weekends could open up the mountains with easy start points along the LUAS line at stops such as Glencairn or Carrickmines.”
He concluded: “I am asking Transdev to examine the demand for bicycles on Luas services and to find a way to accommodate these customers just like their counterparts on the DART have managed to. While I appreciate that the TII have invested heavily in bicycle stations and lockers at many Luas stops, it should be easier for passengers to dismount and continue their journey with their own bicycle.
“We have seen an explosion in the number of cyclists in Dublin over the last number of years and if we are to be a city that truly embraces cyclists then our public transport operators be they private or public companies must find a way to embrace and promote this."