Hackney Council’s bike hangar initiative has hit 1000 as part of a scheme to help local residents store their cycles safely.

Caroline Woodley, the mayor of Hackney, said in a statement: “This week we installed our 1000th cycle hangar in Hackney, as part of our commitment to more than double the number of hangars in the borough by 2026….We know that for many residents – especially those who live in flats – having somewhere safe to store your bike is so important.”

The Hackney Cycling Campaign also commended the developments, noting its importance to help promote the increased use of cycles by residents in the borough.

An HCC Spokesperson told EastLondonLines: “The importance of secure cycle storage is often highlighted by our members, and it enables more people to own and use bikes in Hackney.”

Storage has become increasingly important as bike theft is one of the most common crimes in London.

According to data from UK police cited by CrimeRate, Hackney & Tower Hamlets rank 1st and 10th in the top 10 boroughs with the highest number of cycle thefts in 2024.

Across the UK, the number of cycle thefts incidents reported to police so far this year are approximately 57,905, which is a significant decrease from last year, where reported incidents of cycle theft totalled over 60,000.

Cycling has also been presented as a more environmentally friendly mode of travel, due to efforts to combat the effects of climate change locally, which Mayor Woodley noted. She says that the initiative is working on: “…creating a greener, healthier Hackney.”

Hackney’s efforts to encourage residents to cycle more had the borough dubbed ‘London’s Capital of Cycling’ last year.

David Wray, the director of Grease Monkey, the contractor that Hackney Council are working with, said about the collaboration: “Grease Monkey is honoured to be part of this historic benchmark and to work in partnership with a council leading the way for cyclists and tackling issues such as transport poverty; encouraging cycling for the overall health benefits; and changing the transport landscape and culture across the Borough and throughout London by providing secure start and end points for daily cycle journeys across the city.”

Hackney Council hopes to have over 1,300 new hangars, and 8,000 hangar spaces installed in the borough by 2026.

The HCC spokesperson told Eastlondonlines: “[…] We welcome the installation of the 1000th hangar in Hackney and are pleased that the council remain committed to rolling out more hangars. Here’s to the next 1000 hangars!”