Beginning this Saturday, February 6, bike riders will now be allowed to load and unload their bicycles at any downtown bus stop during any time of the day.  The change is in response to increased demand for linking bus and bike trips and making travel that way more convenient.  Previously, bikes were restricted from being loaded during peak hours in busy downtown.  The new policy will be a one-year experiment for King County Metro Transit to evaluate the safety and operations of the changes before making it permanent.

As a reminder to bicyclists, and to ensure the success of the new policy, Metro has these tips:

• Always alert the bus driver prior to loading or unloading a bike
• Make sure the driver acknowledges you before stepping in front of a bus
• Be aware of traffic around you when loading and unloading your bike
• Use caution in stepping up and down from high curbs

For more information on taking bikes on Metro buses, click here. 

Beginning this Thursday, December 24, through Friday, January 1, Metro Transit will operate on a reduced bus schedule.  This is due to the fact that Metro typically sees 20-40 percent fewer weekday riders during the holidays.  The schedule changes are as follows through next week:

• Thursday, December 24, and Monday-Thursday, December 28-31 - Reduced Weekday Schedule
• Friday, December 25 (Christmas) and Friday, January 1 (New Year’s Day) - Sunday Schedules 

For those traveling around the UW area, Metro is on the “When No UW” schedule through December 31.