London council backs down after years of opposition to motorcycle parking plans

One London borough council has backed down from its plans to charge motorcycles to park.

19 Mar 2026

Several motorcycles parked int eh same space as one car. - Save London Motorcycling

Hackney Council has backed down on plans to charge motorcyclists as much as car drivers to park in the borough.

Hackney’s plans first emerged in 2020 and initially would have seen motorcycle riders forced to pay as much as £12,500 per year to park their bike in the borough, substantially threatening people who live and work in Hackney who rely on two-wheelers to commute.

However, after years of campaigning against the proposals by motorcycling organisations such as Save London Motorcycling, the council has dramatically cut the proposed charges. A permit to park in Hackney will cost £38 per year for most bikers, and the daily rate has been set between £1.20–£2.50, while electric bikes will be able to park in Hackney free of charge.

“This entire episode was avoidable,” said a Save London Motorcycling spokesperson.

“The Council chose confrontation instead of common sense, and as a result taxpayers have funded years of legal costs defending a pointless policy that was always clearly excessive, unjustified, and reckless.

“The Labour administration in Hackney were completely politically isolated on this issue and yet repeatedly chose not to listen to the overwhelming majority of riders and residents who opposed their plans.

“The decision to punish some of the poorest workers with unsustainable costs was entirely political.

“This episode is symptomatic of a bunker-mentality Council, unbound by reason, evidence or common sense, with no real regard for its most economically vulnerable residents. Residents deserve better.”

National Motorcyclists Council Executive Director Craig Carey-Clinch added the NMC’s congratulations to Save London Motorcycling on the effectiveness of their campaign.

“This was a tough and technically detailed campaign with a successful result given the scale of the original charging proposals,” he said in an NMC statement.