SR-520 Bicycle Demonstration Project

Through the end of 2008, King County Metro Transit and Sound Transit are 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.

Free rides are only available on out-of-service buses that travel in either direction between Evergreen Point and Montlake.

The purpose of the project is to help alleviate cross-lake overloads and to provide additional bike rack capacity on regularly scheduled SR-520 bus service for bicyclists who are taking longer trips.

Customers are advised not to plan cross-lake trips that are dependent on an out-of-service bus, but rather know that these buses are options if they are operating during a time when a customer wants to make the specific type of trip described above. Customers should always be prepared to ride a regularly scheduled in-service bus and pay a regular fare, as out-of-service buses do not operate at all times.

Passengers at Evergreen Point or Montlake should look for out-of-service buses with destination signs that display

• To Terminal,
• To Bellevue Base, or
• To East Base.

The free ride applies at all times but only to riders who board an out-of-service bus

• eastbound on SR-520 at the Montlake Freeway Station and exit at Evergreen Point Freeway Station, or
• southbound on Montlake Blvd E at the SR-520 on-ramp and exit at Evergreen Point Station, or
• westbound at Evergreen Point Station and exit at the Montlake Freeway Station or northbound on Montlake Blvd E at E Shelby St.

No other trips or stops are eligible for a free ride. Please pay a regular fare on all regularly scheduled in-service buses.

All customers who board any bus at locations prior to, or ride beyond the above stops are required to pay a regular Metro or Sound Transit fare.

Out-of-service buses do not operate on a fixed schedule.

• Their availability and frequency vary throughout the day, and there are fewer of them on weekends.
• Their schedules are not published, posted or guaranteed.
• They are not displayed in the online Trip Planner or in Tracker.
• Metro's Rider Information staff cannot tell you when an out-of-service bus will operate at any location or time.
• Metro cannot guarantee or track any specific out-of-service trip, as these buses may be called to other areas as needed or otherwise delayed.

In general, the majority of out of service buses are

• eastbound between Montlake and Evergreen Point during weekday morning peak commuting hours, and
• westbound between Evergreen Point and Montlake during weekday morning and afternoon peak commuting hours.

Transit Information & Trip Planning

For other information about bus service, call Metro Rider Information at 206-553-3000, TTY users call 206-684-1739 or use our online Trip Planner.