Taking Your Bike on a Bus or VanPool

Metro's entire bus fleet is equipped with two-position bike racks.* Metro's bike racks are easy to use, and there is no additional fare for using them.

What Kind of Bikes are Allowed on the Bus Bike Racks?

Allowed: Conventional, single seat, two wheeled bikes. Both wheels must fit into the bike rack wheel slots, and the support arm/hook must fit over the top of the bike wheel.

Metro's two-position bike racks accommodate tire sizes from 20" - 29" , up to a 44" wheelbase, and tire widths up to 2.35".

An increasing number of buses will soon have three-position racks. The three-position racks accommodate bikes with wheel sizes from 16" - 29" in diameter, up to a 46" wheelbase, and tire widths up to 3".

The weight limit on the bus bike racks is 55 pounds per loadable position.

Not allowed: Tandem, recumbent, three wheeled, solid wheeled, and gas-powered bikes.

Are Bikes Allowed Inside the Bus?

Metro does not permit conventional bicycles inside buses for safety reasons.

Folding bikes are allowed inside the bus, provided they fit in the space underneath the seat and can be kept out of the aisle.

Where You Can Load Your Bike

UPDATE: NEW Ride Free Area (RFA) BIKE LOADING POLICY

This is a one year demonstration project

Effective February 7, 2009, bicycles may be loaded and unloaded anywhere in the Ride Free Area (RFA) during off-peak hours, including Saturdays, Sundays and major holidays. The only restriction for bicycle loading on surface streets in the RFA is Monday through Friday during peak hours (6 - 9 a.m. and 3 - 7 p.m.) at each route's first and last RFA stop.

• Bicycles may be loaded or unloaded at any Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel station during all hours the tunnel is open.
• King County Metro Transit and Sound Transit are currently sponsoring a demonstration project that allows bicyclists and other transit customers to ride free across the SR-520 Evergreen Point Bridge on out-of-service Metro and Sound Transit buses.

Tips for a Safe Bus-Bike Trip

For a safe trip when you travel with your bike on a Metro bus, please:

1. Verbally communicate to the driver that you will be loading a bike before using the bicycle rack as the driver may not see you.
2. Always load your bike from the curb side of the bus.
3. Sit near the front of the bus and watch your bike. Metro is not responsible for stolen bikes.
4. Alert the driver again before taking your bike off the rack.

How to Use the Bus Bike Racks

Loading

1. As the bus approaches, have your bike ready to load.
2. Talk to the driver before stepping in front of the bus with your bike. Make sure the driver acknowledges your desire to load.
3. Remove any bicycle accessories, including panniers, that could fall off or prevent safe operation of the bus.
4. Squeeze the rack handle upwards to release the folded bike rack.
5. Lift your bike onto the rack, fitting the wheels into the slots. Each slot is labeled for front and rear wheels. Please load your bike into the outside slot first, if vacant.
   
   
   Note: If there is already a bike in the outside slot of a three-position rack, there is a special way to load the middle slot:
   
   
   • a. Stand at the centerline of the bus.
     
     
   • b. Turn the bike at a 90-degree angle to the rack (parallel with the curb), with the rear wheel closest to the bus.
     
     
   • c. Lift the rear wheel into the rack.
     
     
   • d. The third bike can be loaded from the curb.
6. Pull out and raise the support arm over the top of the front wheel. (When using the new three-position bike rack, push the black knob at the end of the support arm to pull the arm out and up over the tire.)
   
   
   
   Make sure the support arm is resting on the tire or fender and is placed as close as possible to the bicycle's frame.
   
7. Be sure to sit near the front of the bus and keep an eye on your bike.

Unloading

1. Raise the support arm off the tire. Move the support arm down and out of your way.
2. Lift your bike out of the rack.
3. If there isn't another bike in the rack, return the bike rack to the folded position. Reach underneath the rack to grab the handle. Squeeze and raise.

If you forget to retrieve your bike, or the driver pulls away before you've unloaded it, please call The Bicycle Alliance at 206-903-8075. Allow a day or two before calling because the bicycle will go through a process of identification and delivery before it is available. The bike will only be held for a period of 30 days. Unclaimed bicycles are given away to local charities.

Bicycles left on the bus can be claimed at Bikestation Seattle, 311 Third Ave. S., Seattle, WA, 98104. Bikestation Seattle is located ½ block from King Street Station in Pioneer Square.

Bikestation Seattle is open from 9 am - 5 pm Monday through Friday.

Taking Your Bike on a Metro VanPool

Metro provides free installation of a bicycle rack on vanpools at the request of riders in a pool. The racks are fitted to the rear of the vehicles and hold either two or four bicycles.

If you are interested in finding out more or are in a vanpool and want a rack installed, contact Rideshare Operations at 206-684-1928.

Read the history of bike racks