UCD Bike Library wins SEAI Award for Excellence in Research and Innovation

The University College Dublin Bike Library has won the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) (opens in a new window)Award for Excellence in Research and Innovation.

Led by Francesco Pilla, Full Professor of Smart and Sustainable Cities at the UCD School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy, the goal of the Bike Library is to understand and promote sustainable mobility through community engagement. 

The project provides families with the opportunity to trial various e-bikes for three months, allowing them to explore barriers such as safety concerns and high costs. 

Participants travelled over 100,000 kilometres with researchers gathering valuable data on user behaviour and preferences. This robust dataset analyses the environmental benefits and societal impacts of e-bike usage.

The project has also contributed to narrowing the 'gender-cycling gap', with the majority of participants being women, contrary to national trends.  These findings have implications for policy and infrastructure planning.

The Bike Library project is an important study in advancing Ireland's clean energy transition.