Community Transit

Bikes and Buses

Bikes are a great way to get to or from a bus stop or to meet a carpool or vanpool. Every bus and train in the Puget Sound region is equipped with a bike rack. Vanpools can be equipped with racks on request.

Bikes travel free on public transportation on a first-come, first-served basis. If the bike rack is full, the driver may allow you to bring your bike on board the bus. However, safety and room for passengers always take priority over bicycles.

If you only need a bike for part of your trip, many area park & rides have bike racks or lockers for safe, dry storage.

Bike Racks on Buses

Every Community Transit bus is equipped with a bike rack. Bike racks for two bicycles are on the front of most buses; on Swift bus rapid transit, racks for three bikes are inside the bus (note: DART paratransit vehicles are not equipped for bikes).

It is your responsibility to load and unload your bicycle; the bus driver cannot assist you. Bikes may be loaded or unloaded at any bus stop, including in Downtown Seattle.

The front bike rack holds most two-wheeled bicycles with 16-inch or larger diameter wheels. Bikes with child carriers or no-spoke wheels cannot be put on the rack, and some bikes with wide handlebars or long wheelbases won't fit. Mopeds and scooters are not allowed.

Bike Rack Basics

• Before the bus arrives, remove loose items from your bike like water bottles, bike helmets or pumps. Be aware of how baskets and accessories on your bike may block driver views and remove them if possible.
• Wait until the bus stops and make sure the driver sees you before stepping in front of the bus.
• Un-latch the bike rack at the center handle and fold it down toward you.
• Load your bike into the slots labeled for front and rear wheel. If there are no other bikes on board, load your bike in the front slots with the front wheel towards traffic.
• Raise the spring-loaded support arm over the front tire to secure the bike. Make sure the arm rests on the tire as close to the frame as possible without touching the fender or frame.
• Sit near the front of the bus and watch your bike. Community Transit is not responsible for lost or stolen bicycles. For added security, you may lock you wheel to the bike frame — but never lock your bike to the rack.
• At your stop, remind the driver you need to unload your bicycle and exit at the front door.
• Remove the support arm and lift your bike off the rack. If there are no other bikes on board, please fold up the bike rack.
• Move onto the sidewalk or shoulder and wait for the bus to pass before heading on your way.

Bike Rack Basics on Swift

• To load your bike on Swift, enter through the rear door and simply push your bike onto the rack in front of you. Make sure that your front wheel is centered and secure under the roller.
• To remove your bike, pull back firmly and exit with your bike through the rear door.

Bike racks on Swift fit standard bikes with wheels from 20 to 29 inches in diameter and tires up to 3 inches wide. Items that extend to the side or rear may need to be removed to keep the aisle clear and allow other bikes to be loaded.

When the Bike Rack is Full

If the rack is full, bikes may be allowed on board the bus if the driver determines it is safe.

If a driver allows a bike on board, it must be held securely by the bicycle owner at all times and must not block the aisle. Once a bike is secured inside the bus, it should remain there unless otherwise directed by the driver. Bikes that would not otherwise be permitted on the bike rack and excessively dirty bikes are not allowed inside buses.

If there is no space for your bike on the bus, you may quickly lock your bike at the stop, wait for the next bus or ride towards your destination. You might also want to consider leasing a bike locker at a Community Transit park & ride.

Cyclists assume all responsibility for any damage and/or injury that occurs as a result of their bicycle being on Community Transit property.

Lost & Found

Did you forget your bike on a bus? Bicycles and other lost & found items are turned into Community Transit's RideStore by 11:30 a.m. the following business day.

To claim a lost bike, you must call the RideStore at (425) 348-2350 to set a pick-up appointment between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on a weekday. Due to space limitations, bikes are only held for 10 days.

The RideStore is located at the Lynnwood Transit Center, 20110 46th Ave. W, just west of the Interurban Trail. It is open Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Bike Lockers

A bike locker is a secure, weatherproof way to store your bike at a park & ride while you complete your trip on a bus, carpool or vanpool. Bike locker rental is available to the public on a first-come, first-served basis, at a rental rate of $60 per year plus a conditionally-refundable deposit of $50. For more information on Community Transit's bike locker program, contact the Bike Locker Coordinator at bikelockers at commtrans dot org or (425) 348-2332.

Bikes with child carriers, long wheelbases (such as recumbents) or wide handlebars might not fit into bike lockers.

Locker Locations
 

Several park & rides also have bike racks where you may lock and leave your bike:

• Ash Way P&R
• Lake Stevens Transit Center
• Lynnwood Transit Center
• Marysville Cedar & Grove P&R
• McCollum Park P&R
• Mountlake Terrace Transit Center

Bike Maps

• Snohomish County Bike Map (full map - 12.9 MB pdf)
• Interurban Trail Map
• Centennial Trail Map
• King County Bicycling Guidemap

Right click on a section below and "save link/target as" to save and print a pdf map.

Healthy Community Partners

Links & Resources