Multi-modal (bike, bus, ferry, plane, train)
travel in Seattle, King County & the Northwest
 

If you are an environmentally-minded visitor to Seattle, King County, or other parts of the Northwest, some part of your journey will probably involve a variety of modes of transportation.  Here is a collection of tips and links to make any transitions go more smoothly.

We have provided some price information for comparison purposes, but season, inflation, fuel-surcharges and greed change these faster than we can keep track of them. Consider this information only advisory. Feel free to email changes at ibike @ibike.org (remove the space).

Boats & Bikes /Buses & Bikes / Planes & Bikes / Trains & Bikes / Rental Bike Locations

[Note: Bicyclists are required to wear a helmet in Seattle and King County.]

Planes & Bikes

For many visitors their first stop in the area is Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SeaTac Airport).  It is not the most pleasant place to bicycle out of but it is possible and the local governments give you some aid in route finding (information on leaving SeaTac by bus is in under Buses & Bikes):

The airport is also served by low emission vehicle (LEV) Prius taxis, but we aren't aware of any that are equipped with bike racks.  If you are only one person and one bike, there rear seats fold down and will accommodate most bike boxes and cases.  If  you are traveling with a folding bike, like a Bike Friday, several travelers should be able to share a taxi.

Buses & Bikes

All transit agencies (there is at least one for each county -- see below) in the region have a front rack that carry two bikes. There is no additional charge for a bicycle. If the bike rack is full, you will have to wait for the next bus.  In most areas these racks are rather lightly used.

Metro Transit (Seattle and King Co. buses and street cars) and Sound Transit Regional Express (rail, light rail and buses in the Everett-Seattle-Tacoma region) are the primary service providers for Seattle and King County.  Complete bus schedules and other information is available on their websites.

SeaTac Airport is served by Metro buses #194, #174, #140, Sound Transit buses #560 and #574, and Central Link Light Rail.  Buses arrive at and leave from the Sea-Tac Airport baggage claim area near door number 6. Departure times are shown on information signs at the bus stop.  Metro routes #194 is the most direct service to downtown Seattle. Metro #140 serves Burien and Renton; #174 runs from downtown to Federal Way; #194 uses the freeway more from downtown to Federal Way; Sound Transit #560 comes to and go to Bellevue on the eastside of Lake Washington; ST #574 serves Pierce Co. via Federal Way, Tacoma, and Lakewood.

Other transit agencies in the region are:

Green Tortoise, Offers seasonal, leisurely, bus service along the west coast and to national parks across the nation..

Greyhound, http://www.greyhound.com, serves Seattle from the north, east and south.  The Greyhound bus station is located at the north end of downtown at 8th and Stewart.  Bike boxes are sold for $10. A charge of $20 - $30 (depending on the distance traveled) will be charged for any baggage larger than the 62 inch limit.  See Greyhound's "Baggage Information," http://www.greyhound.com/travel_information/baggage.shtml.

Grey Line of Seattle, http://www.graylineofseattle.com, provides connecting bus shuttle service between SeaTac International Airport and several major Seattle hotels (passenger $8.50).  Bike should be able to fit in the luggage compartment, but we have no information on bicycle policies.

Shuttle Express, http://www.shuttleexpress.com, provides door-to-door shared-ride-van service between SeaTac International Airport and locations in King Co (Seattle), Pierce Co. and Snohomish Co., from $24 one way.  Luggage capacity is limited so bikes might be problematic.  We have no information on bicycle policies.

Private door-to-door options are: town cars / limousines (STILA) from ~$35 one way (stationed at the Airport, picks up passengers on the third floor of the Parking Garage.), and taxi cabs (STITA) from ~$30 one way (available on the third floor of the Parking Garage; sedans, station wagons and large vans are available.)  No information on bicycle policies.

Bellair Airporter Shuttle, http://www.airporter.com/shuttle/, has service from SeaTac to Cle Elum, Ellensburg and Yakima, and Marysville, Stanwood, Mount Vernon, Bellingham, Blaine, Anacortes, and Oak Harbor.  Sample fare: Seattle to Anacortes $33 one way / bicycles $10.

Capital Aeroporter, http://www.capair.com, from SeaTac Airport provide shuttle services to the major cities and towns in Pierce, Thurston, Grays Harbor, Lewis and Mason Counties. Sample fare: SeaTac to Olympia $41 one way / bicycles are $5.

Grey Line Express offers shuttle service between SeaTac and Tacoma, Olympia, Centralia, Longview, Everett, Mt. Vernon, Bellingham, and Vancouver BC, Canada.  No information on bicycle policies.

Olympic Bus Service, http://www.olympicbuslines.com, provides service between Port Townsend/Sequim and Seattle/SeaTac via Kingston-Edmonds (passengers $39-$49 one way / bicycle $10 - maximum two per van.).

Quick Shuttle, http://www.quickcoach.com/schedule.htm, offers service between SeaTac, Seattle, Bellingham, Vancouver Airport and Vancouver BC (Canada).  Sample fare: Seattle to Vancouver $42 one way.  No information on bicycle policies.

Boats & Bikes

All of the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) Washington State Ferries (WSF) crossing Puget Sound and serving the San Juan Islands accommodate bicycles -- there is virtually no limit.  There is an extra charge.  The charge varies depending upon the run.  The Fauntleroy-Vashon/Southworth, Seattle-Bremerton and Seattle-Bainbridge Island serve Seattle.  For more information see http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/bike/travel.htm.

The Victoria Clipper, http://www.victoriaclipper.com, sails daily between Seattle and Victoria. It Seattle dock is at the north end of the main waterfront.  Each boat will take a couple of bikes.  There is a $10 surcharge.  Other ferries that serve Vancouver Island are M.V. Coho, http://www.cohoferry.com  (passenger $13.50 / bicycles $5.25)  and Victoria Express, http://www.victoriaexpress.com (passenger $12.50 / bicycle $5), from Port Angeles, Washington and B.C. Ferries, http://www.bcferries.com, from the British Columbia mainland.

The State of Alaska's Marine Highway System, http://www.akferry.org, offers ferry service between Bellingham WA and Alaska.

Trains & Bikes

The main passenger train service in the area is north-south, serving British Columbia and Oregon. There is service east from Seattle to Spokane and beyond.  If your travels include the train, the Seattle Amtrak station is at the south end of the downtown, just north of the highly visible football stadium.  Not all trains take bikes. To sort out the particulars of using the train go to Amtrak: Bringing Your Bike Onboard.

There is also commuter train service between Tacoma, Seattle and Everett, operated by Sound Transit.  The service is limited and tailored to the travel patterns of commuters.

Other Links

Free bicycle maps for Washington State

Washington State / British Columbia Bike Tour

Regional Background Information and Links

   

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