Islington is expanding its dockless bike parking infrastructure and plans to implement a mandatory bay system to address concerns about bikes obstructing pavements.

The Environment, Climate and Transport Scrutiny Committee heard on Tuesday, 25 November 2025, that the council has been working to install designated parking bays for hire bikes. As of September 2025, 147 bays had been installed, with a target of 250 bays by Spring 2026. The council also intends to roll out a system of mandatory parking in bays, with fines for users who park outside of designated areas.

Two hire bike companies, Lime Bike and Forest Bike, currently operate in Islington. The council is working closely with these operators to manage concerns, improve GPS systems, and address issues at specific locations. The council is also pressing them to resolve issues as a priority as soon as they are notified. They are also working with the council to improve the accuracy of their GPS systems to ensure bikes are parked correctly within bays. Both operators use AI to analyse end-of-ride photos to ensure bikes are parked correctly.

The council has been lobbying the Department for Transport (DfT) for powers to regulate the operation of hire bikes across London. The government's proposed English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill would give local leaders direct influence over on-street micromobility schemes, such as dockless bikes, through a new requirement for operators to obtain a licence from licencing authorities .

The expansion of designated parking bays is part of a broader effort to promote active travel in Islington. The committee reviewed the Active Travel Programme, following up on recommendations made by the Environment and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee in January 2024. According to the Public Reports Pack, the recommendations covered a range of topics, including footway renewal, reporting issues, decluttering, hire bike parking, active travel webpages, partnership work, infrastructure, public health, crossing times, interactions, and enforcement.

The council responded that it has taken a phased approach to secure rapid roll out of bays, building on the 10 pilot bays installed in February 2024. The council anticipates completing the full network of at least 250 bays in early 2026.

Each bay is marked with Cycle Hire Only , has white lines and bollards at each corner. While the network is being built, each bay will have a 100m geofenced Exclusion Zone around it. Users cannot park inside these Exclusion Zones. The hire bike companies' apps guide users to the nearest bay and show the Exclusion Zones. Once bay coverage has been delivered to the required density across the borough, the council intends to roll out a system of mandatory parking in bays. This will mean that all hire bike users who park outside of bays will face a warning followed by increasing fines from the operators, and ultimately a ban from their service. The specific fine amounts have not been disclosed. The result should be improved pavement access for pedestrians as compliance with the new parking system beds in. The fixed parking locations of bikes should also make for greater reliability for users.