The London Borough of Bromley currently has 76 people on its waiting list for bike storage as the mode of transport soars in popularity across London.
Cycle hangars have emerged as an increasingly popular way to store bicycles for residents who may not have access to private parking.
The domed sheds take up the equivalent of one car parking space and are allocated to residents using a waiting list system.
Transport for London (TfL) city planner Jolyon Cox said: “Cycling is an increasingly popular mode of transport across London but is held back by available cycle parking space.
“Residents who are in shared flats or live above shops find it particularly hard to safely store their bicycles.
“TfL is actively encouraging local authorities around London to address this issue through the installation of cycle hangars.”
According to the latest TfL statistics, there were 3,800 cycle hangars in London in 2022 which allowed for cycle parking space for 22,000 Londoners.
This represented a 215% increase in the quantity of cycle hangars in London from 2017 when the number stood at approximately 1,800.
A survey by TfL in 2021 found nearly half of Londoners were actively considering taking up cycling, but had nowhere to securely store a bicycle at home.
The lack of cycle parking was found to disproportionately affect some minority groups, particularly people living on low incomes who are more likely to live in high-density housing, as well as disabled people and people of Black, Asian and other minority ethnic backgrounds.
As of 2023, TfL has a commitment to step up its support to London boroughs, with the aim of installing 42,000 secure bicycle parking spaces by 2030.
That is the equivalent to 7,000 new cycle hangars.
Feature image: Free to use from Shutterstock
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