Dublin City Council is developing a new Sustainable Kerbside Policy aimed at reallocating on-street residential car parking spaces to accommodate secure bicycle storage units, known as bike bunkers, following a sharp increase in public demand.

Under a draft report presented to the council's Mobility and Public Realm Strategic Policy Committee, officials revealed that residents have submitted 3,384 requests for bike bunker spaces across the city. Each secure metal storage hangar occupies the footprint of one standard car-parking space and can store up to six bicycles, offering a practical solution for residents in terraced housing or apartments who lack private indoor storage.

The rollout is being operated in partnership with micro-mobility provider Bleeper under a 10-year contract framework to deploy up to 300 units across the city. To date, 56 bunkers have been installed, with residents paying an annual fee of €100 per bicycle space.

However, council officials acknowledged that converting residential parking spots into cycle storage frequently encounters local resistance. Brendan O'Brien, the council's executive manager for traffic, noted at the committee meeting that while the overall programme has proven successful, replacing car spaces remains sensitive for car-owning residents. He stated that the new policy framework is intended to establish clear guidelines for kerbside space re-organisation rather than contesting allocations street by street.

The draft initiative aligns with the Dublin City Development Plan to encourage active travel, lower traffic congestion, and cut carbon emissions. Initial policy options suggest that between 10% and 30% of kerbside space could eventually be repurposed for sustainable transport infrastructure and shared mobility schemes.