Lambeth residents face the longest waitlist for secure cycle parking in London as bike thefts rise year-on-year, new data reveals.
Almost 14,000 applicants are waiting for spaces in Lambeth Council’s lockable on-street cycle hangars, Freedom of Information (FOI) responses show.
The figure is 80% higher than the 7,755 outstanding applications for hangar space in Haringey – which has the second-longest waitlist in London.
Sophie Gordon, campaigns manager at charity Cycling UK, said a lack of access to secure bike storage stops people from cycling and disproportionately affects lower income groups.
Gordon added: “Hangar space is really important. People might not appreciate it if they live in a house with somewhere to store their bike, but it’s difficult to carry a bike up two flights of stairs to a flat.
“Cycle theft is also quite an off-putting factor for many people who want to cycle, especially if you’re on a low income you’re more likely to worry about being able to afford to replace a bike.”
YouGov research commissioned by Cycling UK and published in April shows that 28% of UK drivers are cycling and walking more due to rising fuel costs caused by the war in Iran.
But a 2024 report by charity Walk Wheel Cycle Trust showed that 32% of people on a low income or not in employment in the UK do not have access to safe bike storage.
The report said this “equates to 3.7 million people who are locked out of cycling, despite being those who need it most”.
Sophie Mosselmans, 24, agreed that finding bike storage was the “absolute top priority” in her recent flat-hunt, because cycling provides both a convenient mode of transport and a boost to her physical and mental wellbeing.
She said: “It’s an absolute no brainer. I can cycle to work in 15 minutes but it’d take an hour on public transport. It’d be a waste of time to travel any other way.
“I also enjoy the exercise, and I find travelling on busy public transport stressful.
“But we need way more secure storage. Without it, I’ve had to leave my bike in the corridors of my flats, with the handlebars blocking the way, which leads to arguments and disputes with flatmates.”
Lambeth has the fourth-highest total number of hangars in London at 828 and the fifth-highest number of hangar spaces per 1,000 residents at 16, the FOI data reveals.
But 41% of Lambeth households own at least one bike, making it the central London borough with the second-highest bike ownership after Islington, according to Transport for London data.
The borough also ranks highly for the number of bike thefts reported each month, according to data published by the Metropolitan Police.
A total of 102 bikes were reported stolen in May 2026 – more than double the average 41 bike thefts reported by London councils each month.
Lambeth’s figure is a small drop from the 104 thefts reported in the borough in April, but a 24% increase on the 82 thefts reported in May 2025.
Arthur, 27, had two bikes stolen from outside his flat in six months while on Lambeth’s hangar waitlist.
He said: “I saw it had been taken when I tried to leave for work one morning. I felt like crying. It wasn’t even an expensive bike, but it was just so annoying.
“I’d insured them, but the insurance process is a real pain. I’ve had to do interviews with company investigators and the police, which would’ve been avoided if I had a hangar space.”
Robert, 27, chose not to replace his bike after it was stolen in nearby Southwark.
He said: “It was quite a traumatic experience. I just stood there horrified for about 30 seconds before realising I’d have to get the bus to work or I’d be late.
“It really reframed my experience of that area and London more generally. I’m a lot more cautious these days, and more scared of strangers.
“But it’s never going to happen to me again, because I’m never going to have a bike again.”
The government announced its third cycling and walking investment strategy last week, which set new targets for 55% of short journeys in towns and cities will be walked, wheeled or cycled by 2035.
The Department for Transport said a record £4.5 billion is projected to be invested over next five years for thousands of new routes and safer crossings connecting homes with schools, high streets and local services in England.
It also pledged to “improve cycle parking and connectivity at rail stations”.
But in November, the Greater London Authority proposed reducing requirements for developers to include cycle parking at new-builds in order to boost housebuilding viability.
Arthur said prioritising residential bike parking is essential for London boroughs to reach their active travel targets.
He added: “Councils always reference installing bike lanes to make cycling more appealing, which is great. But these waiting lists are so, so long.
“As long as you can’t get a space in a hangar, you’re not going to be inspired to buy a bike.”
But Cycling UK’s Gordon is optimistic about the future of bike storage.
She said: “Having somewhere to store a bike is one factor that puts people off cycling, and worrying about busy roads is another factor.
“As other improvements happen in cities, more cycle tracks are built and speed limits are reduced, it’ll become more appealing to cycle.
“With more people wanting to cycle and saying they want somewhere safe to keep a bike, councils will have more reason to listen.
“Hopefully it creates a self-reinforcing circle to make all these improvements at the same time.”
A spokesperson for Lambeth Council said: “Lambeth has always been a borough that champions active travel, aiming to improve health and air quality through infrastructure and behavioural change initiatives. Encouraging cycling – as well as wheeling and walking – is a central element of this approach.
“Cycling is exceptionally popular in Lambeth, with relatively low levels of car ownership in the borough. We have one of the largest bike hangar programmes in London. The council’s housing team have also been working on providing spaces by repurposing disused spaces on estates.
“The waiting lists for hangars reflect the very high demand for cycling parking in Lambeth, and the financial constraints affecting the delivery of bike hangars to meet this.
“The council historically has not done enough to get those lists down, and reducing the number of people waiting for a bike hangar will now be a priority going forwards.”
Feature image credit: Natasha Norris
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