More than 2,000 Edinburgh cyclists on waiting list for 'bike storage hangers'

West End community councillor Paul Hancock says there are just 12 bike hangar spaces for the entire neighbourhood.
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


Edinburgh's cycle hangars have protected resident bikes from theft and weather for years, but data shows that a huge backlog has left thousands of cyclists stuck on the waitlist.

According to recent data, there are over 2,300 people on the waitlist for a bicycle hangar in Edinburgh.

An additional 1,066 residents have requested a bike hangar to be installed in their area, meaning over 3,300 locals are awaiting a hangar space.

The hangars were first trialled in 2014 as part of the Council’s Secure On-street Cycle Parking project, which began installing 180 hangars in 2020.

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The facilities allow residents to lock their bicycles in a secure metal shelter, removing them from the street where they are vulnerable to theft and the elements.

Bicycle theft has been an issue in Edinburgh for some time, with 4,022 bikes reported stolen between January 2020 and December 2022.

However, with thousands still waiting for hangar spaces, residents around the capital are in need of secure bike storage.

Each hangar stores six bikes, meaning an additional 560 hangars would need to be installed to meet the demand between the waitlist and the requests.

Some hangars are in higher demand than others. There are 130 people on the waitlist for the hangars on St Stephen Street in Stockbridge - which can house just 12 bikes despite the road hosting hundreds of residential flat units.

Other hotspots like Dudley Avenue in Leith see 73 residents queueing for their chance at a hangar space.

The pile-up points to a shortage of public bike storage. The city’s 180 hangars are scattered around the city, but some crowded residential areas have just one hangar - or even none at all.

In the West End, Morrison Circus is the only street with bike hangars, offering secure storage for 12 bicycles.

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West End community councillor Paul Hancock pointed out that the neighbourhood lacks this supporting infrastructure despite the massive CCWEL project introducing a two-mile segregated cycle path that travels through the West End.

He said: “You would’ve thought CCWEL bisecting the community would have provided storage for residents, but it didn't. It seems counterintuitive.

“We have a need for cycle storage because we’re effectively tenement flats. There is no place to store bikes securely.”

In 2022, the West End community council requested the installation of 22 hangars in 17 different West End locations, but Paul claims that hangars were installed in just the one location on Morrison Circus.

Paul continued: “You can put bikes in the stair, but they are vulnerable. Hangars are secure.

“There is an increased move for people to use electric bikes, but they can’t always be carried up stairs to a flat because they’re too heavy.

“And if you want to reduce car use, there needs to be more hangars.”

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Transport and Environment Convener, Councillor Stephen Jenkinson said: "We are committed to increasing secure on-street cycle parking that is accessible and in convenient locations for our residents.

"Bike storage can be a real issue for Edinburgh residents living in accommodation with little space, such as tenements. Providing secure, well-located cycle parking is essential to encourage more people across the capital to cycle around the city for everyday journeys and exercise.

"We are rolling out cycle hangars as part of our Secure On-street Cycle Parking project, and the next stage of the project will also include non-standard hangars suitable for larger bikes and cargo bikes.

"The scheme is being extended across the city, providing even more support for the increasing numbers of residents we’re seeing who choose to cycle and helping us meet our longer-term goal of being a carbon-neutral city.

"We completed Phase 1 in 2023 which saw 180 hangars installed across the city. Phase 2 is currently underway, which will see another 200 hangars installed. These are being installed in two stages: the first began in summer this year, and the second in 2025. Upon completion, Edinburgh will have the largest network of on-street cycle sheds in the UK outside of London.

"We look forward to seeing this scheme rolled out across the city, making it easier and safer for more people to store their bikes and start cycling in the future.

“Residents wishing their street to be considered for future phases of the project can email cycle.hangars@edinburgh.gov.uk