Richmond upon Thames Council is set to consult on installing up to 40 new on-street bikehangars across the borough in response to soaring demand. The move comes as over 1,250 residents are currently on waiting lists for existing secure cycle storage.
The Transport and Air Quality Committee, meeting on Monday 2 February 2026, received an update on the borough's cycle parking programme. The report highlighted the significant waiting list for bikehangars, with some locations having over 50 people on the waiting list alone. Currently, there are 104 bikehangars on Richmond's streets, providing 624 cycle parking spaces.
Councillor Andrée Frieze, Leader of the Opposition, expressed pleasure at the progress of bikehangars, including those designed for cargo bikes. The proposal includes consulting on units specifically designed to accommodate cargo bikes, with the potential to revert to standard configuration if the cargo bike space is no longer needed.
Margo Turner, Principal Transport Planner, explained that while new cycle stands are being installed in town centres and near amenities, specific attention is being paid to areas with high resident demand for bikehangars. Locations for new bikehangars are generally short-listed for consultation on streets with the highest numbers of resident requests, also considering the existing geographical spread and waiting lists of current units. Site visits are undertaken to identify suitable locations that are not directly in front of individual residences, ensuring pavements remain clear of obstructions and utility conflicts. While units can be placed on pavements if space allows, most are installed in existing car parking bays, bays vacated by other uses, or on single yellow lines. Richmond and Twickenham town centres are not currently prioritised for new cycle stands due to ongoing major works, but a GIS-based analysis is identifying potential locations near doctor's surgeries and other community hubs.
The committee was asked to approve the consultation for up to 40 additional bikehangar units. The installation of these bikehangars is subject to the outcome of the consultation and consideration of any representations received. The cost for each unit is approximately £4,000 for purchase and installation, funded through the Capital Programme and supplemented by Transport for London (TfL) grants. The report also notes that the cost for on-street cycle parking stands can vary significantly, ranging from approximately £500 to £10,000 for larger clusters.
Councillor James Chard raised concerns about the interaction between the bikehangar programme and the potential repurposing of vacant car club bays, following Zipcar's withdrawal from the UK market. Officers confirmed that timescales for bikehangar installation are being coordinated with the car club bay review, with a decision on alternative uses for any remaining unoccupied bays expected by the end of summer 2026.
For further details on the council's transport initiatives, refer to the Public reports pack Monday 02-Feb-2026 19.00 Transport and Air Quality Committee.
