You need a valid permit, visitor voucher or short stay parking session in place to park in the borough.
If you do not have a valid permit, voucher or short stay parking session in place, you could receive a penalty charge notice (PCN) from our enforcement team.
Introducing full motorcycle permit charges over 3 years
We base motorcycle parking permit charges on your bike’s emissions.
We’re gradually introducing full motorcycle permit prices for residents, estate residents and businesses over 3 years:
in 2024 we applied a 100% discount (permits were free)
in 2025 we’re applying a 50% discount
from 2026 onwards we will charge the full price for permits
Discounts are only available for applications submitted during the relevant implementation year. They are non-transferable and we can only apply one discount per vehicle each year.
Motorcycle virtual Blue Badge
We understand that displaying a Blue Badge on a motorcycle can be difficult. To help with this, we have introduced a trial virtual Blue Badge that provides the same parking benefits as the physical one.
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.
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 have converted all existing solo motorcycle bays into dedicated shared-use solo motorcycle bays.
To use the bays:
zone permit holders need to have a valid on-street resident or business permit in place
visitors to the borough need to have a valid short-stay parking session 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. From this review, we decided to add more bays in areas with high usage and demand.
These areas include:
outside train stations
public amenities
locations with access into the city
Solo motorcycle bays work on a first-come, first-served basis. Parking spaces cannot be guaranteed. Motorcyclists travelling to Hackney or within the borough should note that availability may vary, particularly during peak hours or in high-demand areas
Use our interactive map to see the locations of all motorcycle bays in the borough.
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.
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 how much parking stress there is on an estate. If your estate is at full capacity we will not give you an estate parking permit, but you will still be able to apply for an on-street resident permit.
Motorcycle users cannot park on:
the pavement
double and single yellow lines
red routes
Businesses
Businesses using a motorcycle for business use will need to apply for a business permit.
You can have up to 5 permits regardless of having other vehicle permits.
Each business permit can have up to 3 vehicles assigned to it, but only one vehicle can use the permit at any time.
Motorcycle users cannot park on:
the pavement
double and single yellow lines
red routes
Disabled riders
If you’re a disabled rider who lives in Hackney you need to apply for either one of the following:
If you’re a Blue Badge holder wishing to ride and park outside of your home parking zone, you’ll need to secure your Blue Badge to your motorcycle. You must do this to park where Blue Badge holders are permitted.
If you are a Blue Badge holder visiting the borough and facing challenges displaying your Blue Badge on a motorcycle, you may be eligible for our virtual blue badge scheme. We want to hear what motorcycle Blue Badge riders think of motorcycle access and accessibility in the borough.
If you’re visiting family or friends using your motorcycle you need to 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. Make sure you familiarise yourself with your parking bay location requirements.
Since we introduced motorcycle charges in Hackney, we have installed 24 new dedicated shared-use motorcycle bays across the borough, adding to the previous 51.
This will make sure 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. You will need to buy a valid short stay parking session in order to park. There will also be a maximum time limit for parking in these bays
Prices for parking in solo motorcycle bays will be heavily discounted. Charges are:
80% lower for most solo motorcycles than the price for cars
90% lower for riders of fully electric motorcycles
We will phase in the charges over the next 3 years to give riders time to adapt.
You will need to have a valid short-stay parking session in place to use the dedicated shared-use solo motorcycle bays. Maximum stays will not apply.
Motorcycle users cannot park on:
the pavement
double and single yellow lines
red routes
Healthcare professionals
Healthcare professionals who use a motorcycle to provide services to residents in their community must apply for a community support permit.
Delivery drivers
Couriers and delivery drivers can continue making deliveries without being charged.
Vehicles may be exempt if they can show that they are loading or unloading. They may also be exempt on all single and double yellow lines without loading restrictions. This will enable riders to make deliveries and pick up food and goods from local businesses.
In some locations, we have brought in extended time-loading restrictions for motorcycles in locations where riders may need to wait for longer periods.
If there are any locations where maximum loading restrictions are creating problems in waiting for orders, get in touch with our parking policy team by emailing parking.policy@hackney.gov.uk.
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.
Once you’ve received your parking permit, it’s important to make sure you park in the parking spaces available for your permit.
Pavement parking, legally known as ‘footway parking’, is not allowed 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.
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.
Motorcycle parking charges – Traffic Order TT164
By introducing motorcycle charges, we aim 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.
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.