Motorcyclists have reacted in shock after they were suddenly fined for parking in bays that were previously free.

After Islington Council passed a revised ‘fees and charges motion’ last year, a new charge of £1 a day was brought in for its motorcycle bays from February.

But campaign group Save London Motorcycling said many were not warned of the changes, leading to many incurring hefty fines.

Emilio, who works in Clerkenwell, was shocked to discover he had been fined £80 for parking his motorcycle in its usual spot.

He said: “I’ve used the parking bays around Clerkenwell over the years, but had no idea there were charges coming into effect.

“It's unfair to expect the public to be aware of completely new charges for something that used to be free with no warning”.

A Freedom of Information (FOI) request seen by Islington Gazette showed that 1,201 motorcyclists were issued a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) for parking without payment of the parking charge in 2023.

This is compared to 320 motorcyclists who were fined for the same reason in the whole of 2022.

Save London Motorcycling warned the move might push motorcyclists to park outside the bays, leaving them at greater risk of theft.

It said that after backlash from motorcyclists, the council has now agreed to remove the £1 a day charge for Islington residents with a parking permit.

The charge still remains in place for non-residents and residents who have not purchased a valid Islington resident motorcycle parking permit, costing £61.20 a year.

A spokesperson for Save London Motorcycling said: “This is a brazen subversion of democracy by a council who clearly feel unaccountable to their residents.

“They implemented a policy with major flaws that left thousands of residents and workers at increased risk of bike theft.

But they added: “The council are now talking to us about their charges and we’re obviously very happy that they’re beginning to engage with us on this.”

An Islington Council spokesperson said: “As part of our pioneering approach to tackling climate change, we have simplified the on-street parking charge system to encourage a reduction in non-essential motor vehicle use in general on our local streets.

"The revised parking charges for all motor vehicles now more accurately reflect their impact on the environment, including air quality.

“We are in contact with both Save London Motorcycling and the Motorcycle Action Group about their concerns. Motorcycle parking in short-stay bays and resident permit bays was already charged for, either via RingGo or by purchasing a permit.

"The new £1 daily charge for dedicated motorcycle parking bays for visitors ensures we have a consistent approach across all types of on-street motorcycle parking, and aligns them with our policy for all other motor vehicles across the borough."