An online petition has been set up after a bike rack was placed outside a popular LGBTQ plus bar in Dublin.
The owners of Street 66 on Parliament Street had wanted to keep street furniture outside their bar. It has been there since 2020 during the Covid Pandemic.
However they were refused by Dublin City Council and a bike rack was put there instead for eight bikes. 3,500 people have signed the petition calling for it to be moved.
We are so greatful for all the support thanks you .let’s hope #removetherack happens before we celebrate Dublin Pride.
Still no answers when this was planned as we were only emailed at 5:44 Friday evening about refusal of furniture license . #PrideMonth pic.twitter.com/HG8QLTGqPb— Street 66 Dublin (@st66dublin) June 12, 2023
Owner Siobhan Conmy says she doesn't know what's going on as there is already 26 places to put your bike on Parliament Street.
''I was told on Friday evening at 5.44 that my planning application had been refused and then on Monday morning a customer sent me a photo of eight bike racks being installed where I had wanted to put the seating area.''
She added: ''I'm very upset about the whole thing. I have Pride next week and there's going to be thousands of people outside on the streets. The whole thing is a hazard at this stage.''
Green Councillor Claire Byrne also raised the issue at a meeting on Monday.
"I'm obviously very pro-bike parking, that's not the issue," she said.
"The two issue here [are] I've been asking for a report on street furniture for the last two months to come to this area committee.
"I know myself, and other councillors as well I'm sure, are receiving a lot of e-mails from business - not just from Parliament Street, but from around the city - where there doesn't seem to be any coherent plan when it comes to granting street furniture licences".
