March 19, 2026
The National Motorcyclists Council (NMC) has welcomed the news that Hackney Council has been forced to significantly scale back its unsustainable proposals for motorcycle parking charges. This followed sustained political pressure and legal action from the local community. This was spearheaded by grassroots campaign group Save London Motorcycling (SLM), with support from the NMC, the British Motorcyclists Federation (BMF) and the Trail Riders Fellowship (TRF).
The Council's original policy, first proposed in 2020, would have seen riders facing charges of up to £12,500 per year (£50 a per day). This was part of an explicit intention to preventing motorcycle commuter parking in the London borough. Instead, as a result of action by SLM the motorcycle lobby and the local community, the Council has slashed daily rates to just £1.20–£2.60 depending on location, cut residents’ motorcycle parking permit costs down to just £38 for most, and introduced free parking for electric motorcycles. This was agreed via an out of court settlement.
NMC Executive Director Craig Carey-Clinch said: “This was a tough and technically detailed campaign with a successful result given the scale of the original charging proposals. The NMC and its members the BMF and TRF were very happy to support SLM as each stage of the campaign unfolded. We strongly welcome the outcome and congratulate Save London Motorcycling on its success. A clear message has been sent to other local authorities who may be entertaining thoughts of imposing disproportionate motorcycle parking charges.”
This outcome leaves Camden exposed as the most expensive place in London to own a motorcycle, where residents are currently forced to pay a minimum of £146 per year for a petrol permit, and where even zero-emissions electric motorcycles face charges of £110 a year.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
1. Hackney Council’s Original Proposals
• Charges for motorcycles & scooters were originally proposed at the same rates as cars, up to £6 per hour. For a commuter parking 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, this would have added up to over £12,500 per year.
• After sustained political pressure this was reduced to around £10 per day, working out to £2,300 over a year. Even this rate was over 20 times more than any other London Borough, and more than the impact of the cost of living crisis on an entire household according to the Resolution Foundation
• Charges would have even applied to electric motorcycles despite those vehicles being zero emission.
• The Council decided charges would be phased in over 3 years, however the final resident permit charges for motorcycles would still be the same rates as cars
• Full details can be read in the 2023 TMO which was legally challenged by SLM on the basis that the Council had;
o Failed to properly conduct its EQIA, specifically with regard to impact on disabled riders and members of the Jewish community
o Improperly exercised its powers under the Section 122 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act, specifically with regard to its responsibility to balance its duties to provide parking against supposed benefits from restricting it
o Failed to evidence those supposed benefits, specifically of the environmental benefit which was claimed to be the reason for the policy, and provided no evidence that the policy would not be environmentally detrimental by encouraging motorcyclists to use more polluting means of transport
2. The Settlement Reached Out of Court
• Solo motorcycle bays will be charged between £1.20 and £2.60 for a working day depending on the location. Block-booking rates will be available discounted 25% for a monthly pass, and 50% for a yearly pass, working out to around £150 to £340 per year.
• Residents permits will be reduced by half, still banded by emissions but no longer charged the same as cars. For example a 125cc motorcycle will be charged £37.50 per year (around 10p per day) and an 800cc bike £65. Residents with larger bikes will be able to reduce this further if they can show their bike’s emissions actually place them in a lower price band.
• Charges for zero-emission (e.g. electric) motorcycles will be scrapped entirely. With the potential for alternative fuels to replace petrol as well, this secures a future for free motorcycle parking.
3. Full details can be found in the TMO amendment which gives effect to the settlement
4. For further information please contact Craig Carey-Clinch on craig@uknmc.org | 07979 757484
(Photo: Save London Motorcycling)
