Portlaoise bus service attracts thousands as e-bikes scheme also proves big hit

Portlaoise's public bus service and the county town's electric bikes appear to be proving to be a big hit with the public, according to figures provided by the Laois Climate Action officer.

Karen Moore of the Climate Action Section at Laois County Council spoke at the Portlaoise Climate Alliance which met for their first bi-annual session of 2025 recently.

With over 35 members, representing 21 Portlaoise-based community organisations attending on the day, the event was hosted by Laois Education Support Centre, and supported by the Climate Action Section, Laois County Council.

Karen Moore works at the Climate Action Section in Laois County Council. She spoke about the results of local initiatives. She highlighted the partnership between Portlaoise Tidy Towns and Laois County Council's Area Office in the pollinator-friendly roundabout plantings. She also described the progress shown in the Laois Climate Action Plan - Implementation Report. She said just seven of the 59 actions in the plan are yet to be delivered in Portlaoise’s Decarbonising Zone.

Ms Moore also commented on the success of recent sustainable travel projects for Portlaoise. During one week in May, over  9,300 people used the bus service.

“The new Portlaoise bus service, launched only in February this year, has already over 9,000 weekly trips being taken. Moreover, since launching August 2024 Bolt bikes has had 25,000 separate trips registered, totalling nearly 53,000 km distance cycled. The rapid uptake in these sustainable travel options for Portlaoise shows the need that is being met by these services,” she said. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

Karen Moore addresses the meeting

Simon Walton is the Director of Services at Laois County Council with responsibility for roads, transport and Portlaoise. He spoke about what has been achieved.

“In 2017 a strategic vision for the development of Portlaoise was published, ‘Portlaoise 2040 and Beyond’. So much has been achieved in the past 8 years, since the Plan was adopted. Various organisations and groups, many of whom are represented in this Portlaoise Climate Alliance, have delivered measures making a significant contribution towards the greening of Portlaoise, exposing the Town’s rich heritage, renewing and revitalising the Town Centre, exposing the River Triogue, implementing active travel and public transport measures and enhancing opportunities for local employment and enterprise.

“Going forward, our collective strength lies in ensuring that all projects, irrespective of scale and who is delivering them, have regard to the objectives of ‘Portlaoise 2040 and Beyond’. In that way, the collective, positive impact of all these projects will be highly impactful. Well done to all contributing to the Portlaoise Climate Alliance," he said. MORE BELOW PHOTO.

Simon Walton addresses the meeting.

A creative collaboration session was facilitated by Eleanor Saunders, a specialist in education for sustainability and innovation. Creative collaboration involves bringing in stakeholders from a variety of areas to build a wide network and increase capacity.

“Systemic change will not come from one group of like-minded people, it has to ripple across all communities and organisations,” she told the gathering.

With Eleanor’s guidance, the Alliance members worked through steps including creating the right environment, using appropriate tools and supporting diversity. 

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Updates were presented by Alliance members on projects delivered since their last meeting in October 2024.

Michéle Castiaux, an Alliance member and Green-Schools Travel Officer, showcased the successes from year one of the Portlaoise Schools Cluster project. This involves all 10 mainstream Portlaoise schools sustainably traveling to and from school and is supported by Laois County Council.

The Alliance enjoyed a tour of the Centre's Biodiversity Demonstration Garden guided by members involved in its establishment, Suzanne Dempsey, Climate Action Co-ordinator, Laois County Council and Liam O’Neill, Chair of Laois Teachers Climate Action & Biodiversity Committee. MORE BELOW PHOTO.

Some of the alliance members.

For further information on the Portlaoise Climate Alliance please contact climateaction@laoiscoco.ie