We are committed to making streets accessible and safe for all motorcyclists, including those with disabilities. We’re currently gathering information to understand how we can best meet the needs of disabled riders in the borough.
Your feedback will help us understand your experiences and challenges, and shape future policies and initiatives we are considering.
Motorcycle charges are now live in Hackney. You need a valid permit, visitor voucher or short stay parking session in place to park in the borough.
If you don’t have a valid permit, voucher or short stay parking session in place from Monday 10 June 2024, you could receive a penalty charge notice (PCN) from our enforcement team.
This change aims to promote cleaner transportation options and combat air pollution.
Introducing these charges supports our goal of cutting CO2 emissions and aiming for zero emissions by 2040. We will regularly review this policy in line with our strategic objectives. These include the Sustainable Transport Plan, the Parking and Enforcement Plan, and the Air Quality Action Plan.
All existing motorcycle parking policies will remain in place until the charges go live on Monday 10 June 2024. Keep an eye on this webpage for updates.
Why we're introducing parking charges for motorcycles
We’re committed to tackling the climate emergency and improving air quality. This is why, for the last decade, we have charged for parking based on tailpipe emissions. We also added a surcharge for diesel vehicles. These charges encourage people to choose cleaner vehicles. They also promote the use of public transport, walking, or cycling over private cars, cutting down on harmful emissions.
Everyone in Hackney deserves clean and green public spaces. Encouraging sustainable travel and fewer cars on our roads is essential for achieving this goal. Over the next four years, we’re working hard to reduce short-stay parking by 30% and overall driving by 15% in Hackney by 2026.
Historically, how we’ve managed motorcycle parking has not been in line with our goal of making our streets more liveable for everyone. The changes we are making will help reduce CO2 emissions, improve air quality, and make Hackney a greener and cleaner borough.
Find out what type of parking permit you need
After 10 June 2024, all solo motorcycles must have a permit.
On-street residents
If you live on-street you must apply for an on-street resident permit before 10 June 2024.
You can only get one resident permit for a solo motorcycle. This is on top of the one permit we allow for all other vehicles. So, if you own a car and a motorcycle, you can get a permit for both.
Pavement parking, parking on double and single yellow lines and red routes are not permitted for motorcycle users.
Estate residents
If you live on an estate you must apply for an estate resident permit before 10 June 2024.
You can only get one estate resident permit for a solo motorcycle. This is on top of the one permit we allow for all other vehicles. So, if you own a car and a motorcycle, you can get a permit for both.
Estate resident permits for motorcycles are subject to parking stress on an estate. If your estate is at full capacity we will not issue you an estate parking permit, but you will still be able to apply for an on-street Resident Permit.
Pavement parking, parking on double and single yellow lines and red routes are not permitted for motorcycle users.
Businesses
Businesses using a motorcycle for their business use will need to apply for a business permit before 10 June 2024.
You can have up to five permits regardless of having other vehicle permits. Each business permit can have up to three vehicles assigned to it, but only one vehicle can use the permit at any time.
Pavement parking, parking on double and single yellow lines and red routes are not permitted for motorcycle users.
Disabled riders
If you’re a disabled rider who lives in Hackney you need to apply for either a companion badge if you live in an on-street property, or a free estate resident permit if you live on an estate.
If you’re a blue badge holder wishing to ride and park outside of your home parking zone you will need to display your blue badge. You must do this to park where blue badge holders are permitted. To find out more, visit Where you can park with a blue badge.
Visitors and commuters
If you’re visiting family or friends using your motorcycle you need to ensure you activate an e-visitor voucher to park.
Commuters and other visitors to the borough, need to have a valid pay and display session using RingGo to park in the borough. Ensure you familiarise yourself with your parking bay location requirements.
Ahead of the introduction of charges, we’re adding more solo motorcycle bays. We’re installing 24 new bays across the borough, adding to the existing 51. This will ensure that riders to all parts of the borough have access to convenient, all-day parking at discounted rates.
You can use the RingGo service to park in all shared use parking bays. Pay and display parking bays will require you to buy a valid parking session. Additionally, there will be a maximum time limit for parking in these bays
Prices for parking in solo motorcycle bays will be heavily discounted. Charges will be 80% lower for most solo motorcycles than the price for cars. They will be 90% lower for riders of fully electric motorcycles. In addition, we will phase in the charges over the next 3 years, to give riders time to adapt.
Dedicated shared use solo motorcycle bays will require you to have a valid pay and display parking session in place, maximum stays will not apply.
Pavement parking, parking on double and single yellow lines and red routes are not permitted for motorcycle users.
Healthcare professionals
Healthcare professionals who use a solo motorcycle to provide services to residents in their community must apply for a health and social care permit.
Delivery riders
Couriers and delivery drivers can keep making deliveries without incurring charges. Vehicles are exempt when loading or unloading. They are also exempt on all single and double yellow lines without loading restrictions. This will enable riders to undertake deliveries or and carry out pick ups of food and goods from local businesses.
We have implemented extended time loading restrictions for motorcycles in locations where riders may need to wait for longer periods of time. If there are any locations where maximum loading restrictions are creating problems in waiting for orders, get in touch with us.
Motorcycle parking permit prices
We base motorcycle charges on your bike’s emissions. All resident permits, estate permits and business permits will be free for the first year, and we apply a 50% discount in 2025/26.
Apply for a parking permit
The online parking permit system is now live and open to taking your motorcycle permit applications. A permit will be required from 10 June 2024. Permits bought before 31 March 2025 will be free.
Once you have received your parking permit, it is important to ensure you park in the parking spaces available for your respective permit. Pavement parking, legally known as ‘footway parking’, is prohibited in Hackney. Pavement parking is when you park your vehicle with one or more wheels on or over any part of the road other than the road itself. For more information, see pavement parking.
Dedicated shared use motorcycle bays
Only motorcycles with a valid zone permit, visitor e-voucher, or short stay parking session can park in a dedicated shared use motorcycle bay.
If a solo motorcycle is longer than the width of the bay we ask you to park it as near to a right angle to the bay as possible.
Any other motorists using the bay may receive a penalty charge notice.
We’re converting all existing solo motorcycle bays into dedicated shared-use solo motorcycle bays. Zone permit holders and visitors to the borough can use them.
Zone permit holders need to ensure a valid on street resident or business permit is in place. Visitors to the borough need to ensure a valid short stay parking session is in place.
Dedicated shared use solo motorcycle bays have concessionary short stay parking session prices and no maximum stays.
We have also reviewed where existing dedicated shared use motorcycle bays are in the borough.
We have decided to add more bays in areas with high usage and demand. These areas range from outside train stations, public amenities, and locations with access into the city.
Use our interactive map to see locations of all motorcycle bays in the borough.
We review all requests against the eligibility criteria. Implementation depends on a successful request application.
Lockable motorcycle bays
We provide lockable motorcycle bays in areas of high demand, including:
Clifton Street
Leonard Street
Hoxton Square (Zone B)
Hoxton Street (Zone F)
Downham Road (Zone H)
After implementing the motorcycle charging policy, we will look into adding more lockable motorcycle bays in areas where demand for motorcycle parking is still high.