On Monday 10th June Hackney Council start their plan to drive motorcycles out of the borough with draconian parking charges:

• £10 for all day commuter parking in solo motorcycle bays. Currently these are mostly found around Old Street so commuting is banned in the rest of the borough

• Charging motorcycles and scooters the same as cars for residents and business parking permits

• Residents permits up to £596 a year and business permits up to £1560, rising to £843 and £1800 by 2027

• Residents of ‘car-free’ developments are banned from parking a motorcycle

• Charges apply even for electric motorcycles and scooters.

We believe these charges are unlawful, and will have a further announcement on this soon.

Meanwhile, riders are subject to these punitive anti-bike measures - but there are still things you can do to protect yourself.

If you get a parking ticket you may be able to challenge your ticket if the signage is inadequate. Paint on the road may not be enough if the sign is not legible. There is no charge for challenging, and if the Council refuse to cancel the ticket then you can appeal for free.

Even while parking charges hit you in the wallet you can reduce your risk of losing money through bike theft by covering your bike as the Met police recommend. The best covers can be locked to both the front and back wheel.

Check whether you might be eligible to apply for a Blue Badge which will allow you to continue to park for free. These can be given not just for physical disabilities but for mental health reasons as well.

Help the fightback against charges by parking like a car whenever you're in Hackney. All other boroughs recognise that we take up less space, so we park at right angles to the kerb as a courtesy. We don't have to do this - it is not an enforceable requirement. Hackney Council have broken trust with riders so take up all the space they're making you pay for.

If you would like to get more involved in the campaign, please contact us directly at save.london.motorcycling@gmail.com