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Bikes and transit

Use a bike to connect to your bus, train, streetcar or boat!

Bikes and transit together will give you more ways to get to the places you want to go, when you want to go there. Whether for work, school, errands or fun you can bring your bike on transit or park it at transit to get just about anywhere in King County and beyond.

Quick Links

Use a bus bike rack

Learn how to safely load and unload a bike onto bus racks with our step-by-step guide.

Types of bikes on buses

Find out if your bike will fit on the bus bike racks

Secure bike parking options

Learn how to get access to on-demand lockers and Sound Transit's bike cages for secure bike parking.

Find bike parking locations

Find a convenient locker or bike cage to store your bike while using transit.

Bikes on other transit services

Learn how to use your bike with other transit agencies (eg, Link Light Rail, Seattle Streetcar, Ferries, etc)

Report a lost bike

Report a missing bike to Metro's Lost and Found in person, by phone or fill out a form online.

Maps and resources

Find classes, maps and other resources, including how to register your bike.

FAQ

Search our most frequently asked questions

How to load bikes on transit

Bicycles are welcome anytime on buses, light rail, commuter trains, street cars, passenger ferries, and vanpools at no extra charge.

Buses

King County Metro and Sound Transit buses carry three bikes on front racks. Load or unload your bike at any regular bus stop.

Other agencies in the region also carry 2 or 3 bikes per bus. Most e-bikes are too heavy for bus bike racks, while cargo bikes are too long. See our types of bikes for limits on size, weight, types of bikes and accessories.

How to use the bus bike racks

Boats

King County Water Taxis and Kitsap Fast Ferries have racks for 10-26 bikes depending on the vessel. Washington State Ferries has designated space on the car deck to tie up bikes (requires a small fee). Bicycle racks are also available at most terminals.

Trains

Just roll your bike aboard Sound Transit's Link Light Rail and Sounder Commuter train or the Seattle Streetcar. Park in the designated areas or stand with your bike.

Vanpools

Racks can be installed at no charge on Metro vanpools upon request.

Metro Flex

Request one of our vehicles with a bike rack when booking your trip. Tap the + button after the 'Traveling alone?' prompt. Select 'Add a bike' from the list of options.

Learn more about Metro Flex

Other Metro services

Services that use small vehicles or vans carry 2 or 3 bikes. Metro's regular rack loading instructions and rules apply for size, weight, type of bike and accessories. Please contact the specialized services, including DART and Trailhead Direct for more details.

Secure bike parking

If you don’t need to take your bike along, park it where you catch your bus or train.

Metro and Sound Transit have racks, lockers or cages at most transit centers, park & rides and rail stations. Bike lockers are secure and weather-protected for your bike (or scooter) and related gear.

How to park your bike securely

Find bike parking locations

Maps and resources

Bike Index

Register your bicycle or search for a stolen bike

Bike Works

Full-service bicycle shop in Columbia City offering repairs, classes, camps, and volunteer opportunities for all ages.

The Bikery

Volunteer-based non-profit bike shop offering classes, rides and other community programs

Cascade Bicycle Club

Find a class on riding or maintenance or learn more about community ride programs

City of Bellevue

Resources for the City of Bellevue, including bike maps, parking, bike share and other amenities

City of Redmond

Find bicycle maps for the City of Redmond, find a local bicycling class or watch educational videos on safety basics

City of Seattle

Learn more about Seattle's Bicycle and Pedestrian Program and planned improvements

Commute Seattle

How to incorporate biking into your commute and resources for safety, maintenance and gear

Seattle Bike Web Map

Explore Seattle's bike lanes, bicycle facilities and related amenities on an interactive map

General FAQ

Many cities publish detailed bike maps of their bike routes, and there are regional and state maps as well. Various apps also can help you plan bike travel. You may want to use some time when traffic is light to try several different ways to bike to your usual destination. If you work for a large employer, you may have a commute program that includes bike resources and a buddy who'll ride with you.

See our list of maps and resources

Metro is actively planning improvements in how bikes and transit work together. Metro's long-range plan, METRO CONNECTS, envisions significant growth in biking and walking as ways that people will reach transit as described in the plan's Connecting to Transit section. Metro coordinates its bike and pedestrian planning with local cities and Sound Transit, and serves on the Puget Sound Regional Council’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee.

Metro has been awarded grants to help several of King County’s cities build safe bike and walk connections to transit, and in the coming years, Metro will add more bike parking at transit locations.

Follow the directions on our Lost and Found page. If the bike is found it will be tagged and you’ll get a case number with instructions on where and how to pick it up. Bikes will be held for 10 days. Once you have a case number, you may authorize someone else to make the pickup for you. Remember that Metro is not responsible for your property.

Report a lost bike

First, contact our Lost and Found to see if it’s been found.

Report a lost bike

Also, register your bike on BikeIndex.org, file a police report in the city where you think the theft occurred, check re-sale shops and sites like Goodwill, Craigslist or OfferUp, and post on Twitter, neighborhood blogs and other sites where neighbors and police may be able to keep an eye open for your bike. Remember that Metro is not responsible for your property.

 

The policy for scooters inside the bus is the same as the policy for bikes: only those that can be folded are permitted. Folding bicycles and folding scooters are allowed on the bus, provided they can be safely stowed out of the aisle. The customer must ensure that wheels and other frame extrusions such as pedals are stored in one compact form and do not pose a danger to customers.

In any case, the bus driver’s judgment prevails if the bus is crowded or if the item is causing an issue of safety or discomfort to passengers.

As of June 22, 2019, the service to carry extra bikes on SR 520 out-of-service buses had to end because the Montlake freeway stops on SR 520 (eastbound and westbound) closed permanently for long-term WSDOT construction.

When construction finishes in several years, new transit stops will be located on a future Montlake lid over the freeway. If you travel SR 520 on Metro or Sound Transit buses—with or without a bike—please check Trip Planner in this area.

Learn more about SR 520 Montlake construction

For additional questions, see the Bike Rack FAQ and Bike Parking FAQ.

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