A bikehangar is a secure cycle storage unit where you can park your bike. Each hangar has space for six bicycles and measures 2.5 metres x 2 metres. This is equivalent to half a car parking space.

Our aim is to make cycle parking as easy and accessible as car parking, to give customers peace of mind about the safety of themselves and their bikes. 

How we decide where to install hangars

We have given postcodes in the borough a score based on a range of factors, including:

• popularity of cycling and current cycling behaviour described in TfL’s Transport Classification of Londoners. This incorporates a range of factors including:
  • likelihood of changing travel
  • travel mode share
  • changes in behaviour caused by health and fitness
  • census variables (age, income, ethnicity, household composition, car ownership
• distance from existing and planned cycle routes;
• amount of residents and housing

We cross-reference these scores along with the number of requests for bikehangars. We prioritise streets where there is high demand but sometimes we will choose streets to evenly distribute cycle parking, raise awareness of the scheme and encourage people to cycle.

We look at a number of aspects to ensure we select safe and secure locations:

• distance from the most-requested locations
• the proposed location should be overlooked from both sides of the street wherever possible
• whether it is at the end or start of a parking bay 
• if we can put a Bikehangar near a dropped kerb to enable accessibility to roll rather than lift the bicycle 

Consulting with residents and councillors

Once we have chosen a potential site, we contact the residents within the immediate area to let them know we want to install a hangar. We also consult with ward councillors.

We consider all the responses we receive and then we write a report with recommendations. This helps us to decide whether or not to install the hangar.

The hangars are not noisy so they should not cause a nuisance to people who live nearby. There is a hinge mechanism which helps lift the door and close the door so there are no loud bangs. Our provider will send out a starter pack reminding customers to be considerate of their neighbours when using the bikehangars. 

Allocating spaces in the hangars 

Once we have chosen a location, we will give spaces to people who have asked for one on a first come, first served basis. Each resident can have one space; for example, a family of four would be eligible for four spaces.

Safety and security

Whilst the bikehangar programme has a good safety record, we cannot guarantee there will be no thefts. These are often opportunistic; where a customer hasn’t closed a hangar properly but they can also be caused by brute force from someone who is determined to break in. We encourage all customers to be vigilant and we will try to avoid putting hangars in isolated, quiet areas.

We continue to work with our partners to improve security and we always recommend using a gold standard D-lock.

If you do leave your bike in one of the hangars, you do so at your own risk. We are not responsible for any loss, damage and theft of bicycles, locks or other items stored in the hangars.

Hearing from people who would like us to install a bikehangar near their home

As the highway authority, we do not need permission from property owners to install a bikehangar; however, we do take into consideration the views of people living in nearby properties. If you would like to suggest a location near your home we strongly encourage you to discuss this with your neighbours and your landlord if you have one.

Because of the high demand for cycle parking, we will not be able to contact you individually about your request. We will use your request to monitor interest in your area and will contact you if we shortlist your street for a hangar, or if a suitable space becomes available in an existing hangar nearby.