Cycle hire
Cycle hire schemes enable anyone to borrow a bike for a journey in London. There are a number of different cycle hire schemes that currently operate in Hackney.
Hire a dockless e-bike
You can hire dockless e-bikes in Hackney, either through Lime or Voi.
We have created over 230 cycle hire bays across the borough where you can pick up and park a dockless bike.
To hire a dockless bike, download the Lime or Voi apps from the Apple app store or Google Play.
Cost of hiring a dockless bike
The price of your journey depends on how long it lasts. Lime and Voi have different pay-as-you-go and prepaid minute bundles, depending on your journey needs.
Voi rides within Hackney are capped at £1.75 for 30 minutes, which is the same price as a London bus fare for 30 minutes. It’s then 20p per minute.
Lime offers discounted rides through a LimePass+ option.
Lower-income residents and key workers can also get Lime Access, which provides a 70% discount. See the frequently asked questions for full details.
You may be fined if you do not park your bike in a cycle hire parking bay at the end of your journey in Hackney.
Parking a dockless e-bike
To end your trip, you must park your bike in a cycle hire bay and take a photo to confirm it’s parked correctly.
We have cycle hire bays across Hackney. This helps you find a place to park your e-bike without blocking pavements or shared public spaces.
If you do not follow the parking guidelines, you could get a warning or a fine.
Use the map below to find cycle hire bays in Hackney. You can also see these locations on the Lime and Voi apps.
Map of bike sharing schemes in Hackney
How to report a problem with a dockless e-bike
You can report dockless e-bikes that have been left in the way of the pavement or road. You can report them through the relevant app, or by contacting the companies directly
- Lime: email london-ops@li.me or fill in a Lime request form
- Voi: email support@voi.com or report a bike on Voi’s website
To report a problem with a cycle hire bay, email streetscene.enquiries@hackney.gov.uk.
If you’re a Hackney resident, you can also report any parking location issues through FixMyStreet.
Our partnership with Lime and Voi
We have a new contract as part of our partnership with Lime and Voi. As part of this, Voi will introduce dockless e-bikes around Hackney throughout October 2025. You’ll still be able to hire Lime bikes in Hackney.
Our new contract will:
- make cycling more affordable and accessible for more residents
- provide tougher measures to tackle bikes blocking pavements
- offer different bike models for different journey types
- improve rider behaviour through ongoing cycle training
Santander cycle hire
Transport for London and Santander have a cycle hire scheme in the south of Hackney, with a mixture of electric and non-electric bikes. You can pick up and return bikes from a London-wide network of docking stations.
Santander docking stations in Hackney are generally found:
- around Regent’s Canal
- in and around Victoria Park
More information can be found on the Santander cycles app or on TfL.
Bikes can be hired through a smartphone app and used similarly to Lime e-bikes. You can download the Santander Cycles app from the Apple app store or Google Play.
Report Santander cycles via email abandonedtflcycle@tfl.gov.uk.
What it costs
It costs £1.65 (same as a bus fare) for the first 30 minutes of each journey and £1.65 for each additional 30 minutes. E-bikes are £3.30 for the first 30 minutes.
See TfL’s website for more information on memberships and pricing.
Cargo bike hire
Cargo Bike Share is an on-street, on-demand, community bike scheme. The bikes are publicly available for residents and businesses to make deliveries, collect shopping and carry passengers (one adult or 2 children).
There are 2 types of bikes that you can hire.
Back-to-Base bikes
These have a blue sticker on the bike and blue icon in the app. When using a Back-to-Base bike, you can:
- start and end your ride in the same location
- book up to 6 months in advance
Flexi bikes
These have a pink sticker on the bike and pink icon in the app. When using a Flexi bike, you can
- pick up a bike at one hub and leave at another
- book a bike 30 minutes in advance
There is a £5 parking fee for Flexi bikes.
How to hire a cargo bike
The electric cargo bikes can carry up to 100kg. Bikes cost £1.25 per 15 minutes (£5 per hour).
The flexi bikes have an extra £5 parking fee.
You can hire a cargo book straight away or book one through the OurBike app.
Where to pick up a cargo bike
There are currently 5 hubs in Hackney where you can hire cargo bikes. These are:
- Fleetwood Street in Stoke Newington
- Broadway Market
- Calvert Avenue in Shoreditch
- Dalston Square
- on the corner of Chatsworth Road and Dunlace Road
More information about the cargo bike hire initiative
The cargo bike hire is part of the Zero Emissions Network, a joint initiative between Hackney, City of London, Tower Hamlets, Westminster and Newham councils, which is supported by the Mayor of London. The scheme is run in collaboration with community cargo bike share provider OurBike.
If you would like to find out more information about the cargo bike visit OurBike.co.uk or email zen@hackney.gov.uk.
Request a cycle hire parking bay
To request a new cycle hire bay in Hackney, including dockless and cargo bike bays, fill in our Cycle parking and cycle hire request form.