Bicycles

Bike Maps

Trying to plan your next bike route in campus or beyond? Use these bike maps to find the safest and most efficient route.
To view our maps around campus, visit the Bike Maps Page.
Red Square, the Performing Arts Center overlook, and the area between Carver Gym and Fine Arts are walk zones for bikes between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. when class is in session.
To view our bike routes on campus, visit the Campus Bike Map Page.

Tips for Commuting

Bellingham has lots of bike lanes and trails to get around on bike. The City of Bellingham is a Gold level Bicycle Friendly Community and Western Washington University is a Gold level Bicycle Friendly University. 

Learn more about getting around town on the  Traveling By Bike Page.
Find routes to and from your neighborhood to WWU using the Commute Options By Neighborhood Page.

Bike Maintenance and Additional Resources

Is something not working right on your bike? Take it to the Outdoor Center to get help diagnosing what's wrong, learn tips and tricks from experienced bicycle technicians, and gain access to a full shop of tools at a low cost. If you aren't interested in doing it yourself, Bellingham has many local bike shops too.
Have any other bike related questions? This page might be able to help.
→ AS Outdoor Center
→ More Resources

Track Your Trips

Whatcom Smart Trips allows you to track your trips to work or school and get a chance to win cash discounts at local businesses and $500. They also offer free classes if you want to learn to ride a bike or get more comfortable riding on the street.
To sign up, visit their website Smart Trips.

Bike Registration

Western has partnered with Bike Index , who offer a nation-wide registry that allows the University, Community Members, and law enforcement to get your bike back to you if it is stolen. Students and staff are welcome to register their bike.

To register you bike at Western and get your free U Lock, visit the Western Bike Registration Page.

Rent a Bike Locker

A limited number of bike lockers near Carver Gym and Nash Hall are available to rent. View prices and rental details.

Lock Your Bike

We recommend all riders lock their bikes using a u-lock along with a cable or high-quality chain lock to assure both the frame and at least the front wheel are secured to a rack.
For more information on how to keep your bike safe, visit the How To Lock A Bike Page.

Cable Lock Swap

Beginning fall 2023 Transportation Services in partnership with the Outdoor Center have provided a lock swap program free of charge, allowing students to swap their low-security cable locks for higher-security u-locks.
For more information on the program, visit the Bike Lock Swap Page.

Had Your Bike Stolen?

We can help! When your bike is stolen your first step should always be to report the theft to local law enforcement. They can help in retrieving your bike as often as they are the first to spot abandoned bicycles. When reporting a theft make sure that you have all relevant information ready including location and time frame of theft, bike serial number, make and model, etc.

You can report the theft to Western police at their non-emergency line if your bike was stolen on campus or in Bellingham: (360) 650-3068

If your bike was stolen off campus, it is recommended that you also report the theft to Bellingham police's non-emergency line: (360) 676-6911

Your next step should be to add your bike to Bike Index, a national database that helps in retrieving stolen bikes. When registering, ensure you include a photo of you as this makes recovery much easier. Instructions on registration are below.
To register your bike, visit the Register Your Bike Page.

Know the Bike Laws

• Helmets: Washington State doesn't require helmets, and Bellingham/Whatcom County don't either — but we recommend wearing one anyway.
• Riding at night: you need a white front light visible from 500 feet and a red rear reflector. We also recommend adding a red rear light, not just the reflector. The AS Outdoor Center Bike Shop sells lights at low cost, along with local bike shops.
• On the road: cyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as drivers — and can be ticketed for breaking traffic laws just like a car.
• Side by side: you can ride two abreast, but no more than that.
• Lane choice: you can choose the bike lane, shoulder, path, or travel lane — whatever's safest for the ride.
• "Dead Red" law: if a traffic light doesn't detect your bike after a full cycle, you can carefully proceed once it's clear.
• Stop signs — the "Safety Stop": you can either stop fully like a car, or treat the sign as a yield — slow down, make sure it's clear, and go. Either way, you still have to yield to anyone with the right-of-way.

Bike Parking at Residence Halls

All residence halls have bike parking for students.

Indoor + outdoor parking:

• Alma Clark Glass Hall
• Beta Stack 5
• Buchanan Towers
• Edens Hall
• Gamma
• Mathes Hall

Outdoor parking only:

• Beta Stack 1–4, 6–9
• Birnam Wood
• Delta
• Edens North
• Fairhaven
• Kappa
• Nash Hall
• Omega
• Sigma

Don't Leave Your Bike Behind

Bikes locked somewhere they shouldn't be (not a real rack) — or left on a rack or in a bike room after June — get tagged and removed by University Police as abandoned property. Before you head out for the summer, make sure your bike goes with you or gets properly stored.