Frequently Asked Questions
The Dublin Bikes Service
What is Dublin Bikes?
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Dublin Bikes is a public bike-sharing scheme operated by JCDecaux on behalf of Dublin City Council.
It has over 100 docking stations and 1,500 bikes spread across the city centre.
You can pick up a bike at any station and return it to any other station in the network.
How do I get a subscription?
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You can subscribe online at dublinbikes.ie or purchase a 3-day visitor pass
directly at any docking station terminal using a credit or debit card.
The Annual subscription costs €35/year and gives you unlimited 30-minute journeys for free.
The 3-Day Pass costs €5 and works the same way for its duration.
Trips longer than 30 minutes incur additional charges per 30-minute block.
How do I unlock a bike?
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Follow these steps at any docking station terminal:
- Select "Take a Bike" on the terminal screen.
- Enter your subscription card number (or enter the PIN sent by SMS for a visitor pass).
- Enter your 4-digit PIN.
- The screen will show a dock number — go to that dock and pull the bike out firmly.
- The green light on the dock confirms the bike is successfully released.
How do I return a bike?
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To return your bike, push it firmly into any empty dock at any station. The dock's
indicator light will turn green to confirm the bike is locked in correctly.
If the light stays red or the dock won't accept the bike, try a different empty dock. Never
leave a bike that hasn't locked — you remain responsible for it until it is securely docked.
What do I do if a station is full?
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If your destination station is full, use this app's map to find the nearest station with
available docks. You can also use the Nearby search feature to locate alternatives quickly.
When a station is full, you can request a 15-minute extension at the terminal to give yourself
time to reach another station — this extension is free of charge.
Using This Application
What does the map show?
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The map on the homepage shows all active Dublin Bikes stations across the city.
Each marker indicates a station. Click on any marker to see:
- The station name and number
- Current number of available bikes
- Current number of free docking stands
- An availability chart for the past 24 hours
How do I search for a station near me?
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Use the search bar at the top of the map to type any Dublin address or landmark.
The map will pan to that location and highlight the nearest stations.
You can also open the station panel on the left side of the map (click the toggle tab)
to browse all stations as a list, sorted by distance from your search result.
What is the Prediction feature?
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The Prediction feature uses a machine learning model trained on historical Dublin Bikes data
to forecast bike and stand availability at a given station.
- Prediction Plot — shows a 24-hour availability forecast chart for a chosen station and day.
- Prediction Number — gives a single point-in-time estimate of available bikes or stands for specific inputs.
Predictions are estimates based on historical patterns and weather data. Actual availability
may differ due to real-time events.
Why do I need to log in for predictions?
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The Prediction Plot and Prediction Number features are available to registered users only.
Creating a free account lets us personalise your experience, save your favourite stations,
and manage access to the ML-powered prediction tools.
You can sign up here — it only takes a moment.
How do I save favourite stations?
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Once logged in, click the ☆ star icon on any station's info panel to add it to your favourites.
Your favourites are saved to your account and will appear highlighted on the map each time you log in.
You can manage your favourites list from your account settings.
Can I change the language?
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Yes! Use the language selector in the top-right corner of the navigation bar.
The app supports English, French, Italian, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, and Japanese.
Troubleshooting
The bike won't unlock at the terminal — what do I do?
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Try the following steps:
- Double-check your PIN — it is the one sent to you by email or SMS when you registered.
- Ensure your subscription is active and has not expired.
- Try a different docking terminal at the same station.
- Contact Dublin Bikes customer support on 1800 927 000 (freephone).
The map isn't loading — what should I check?
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If the map doesn't appear:
- Check your internet connection.
- Disable any browser extensions that block scripts or maps (e.g. ad-blockers).
- Try a hard refresh: Ctrl + Shift + R (Windows/Linux) or Cmd + Shift + R (Mac).
- Try a different browser (Chrome or Firefox recommended).
I forgot my password — how do I reset it?
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Password reset functionality is coming soon. In the meantime, please contact the site
administrator or register a new account. Your saved favourites are linked to your account ID.