Cycle to campus for a free, sustainable and healthy commute option with convenient parking and easy access around WashU. Use WashU Rides to join a “bikepool,” explore bike routes and find dedicated bike paths or lanes.

Find Campus Bike Paths, Racks & Fixit Stations

A Gold-level Bicycle Friendly University

The League of American Bicyclists has named WashU a Gold-level Bicycle Friendly University, recognizing our efforts to promote and enable safe, accessible bicycling on the Danforth Campus, a collaboration of multiple WashU departments and teams.

Explore our interactive campus bike map

Biking map for Danforth Campus

Register Your Bike for Free

If you are a Danforth Campus student, faculty or staff member, please register your bike. If you are not part of the Danforth Campus, you can learn how to purchase a Project 529 registration sticker on the Project 529 website. It is fast, easy and mobile-friendly.

  1. Register your bike by visiting Project529.com/washu (must enter/washu). If your lost or stolen bike is found, you will be contacted through this account. If you have not received your sticker, leave the “529 Shield” field blank.
  2. Open the confirmation email from Project 529 and follow the instructions to create your password. The link expires after 72 hours. If you don’t receive the confirmation email or need help creating your password, contact Project 529 at support@project529.com. Be sure to check your spam/junk folder.
  3. To receive your registration sticker, visit the University Services Center. Please be ready to show your confirmation email.
  4. Log in and add your Shield ID to your Project 529 account to finalize registration.
  5. Attach the sticker to your bike frame in a highly visible location.
    • Lightly clean and dry the area where you’ll place the sticker.
    • NOTE: Once the sticker is applied, it cannot be moved. Do not attach the sticker somewhere that comes to a point since it will cause it to wear more quickly.

Rentals, Tune Ups and Safety Gear

  • Get discounts on safety gear
  • Attend a free bike tune-up and commuter fair hosted by Parking & Transportation and the Office of Sustainability.
  • Use the Active Commuter Hub, which offers members a place to shower, change, store clothes, and prepare for the day.
  • Use Bear Bikes: A WashU student-owned-and-operated company on the South 40 offers bike rentals, repairs and storage.
  • Find bike tune-up stations across the Danforth Campus, which offer tools to perform basic bike repairs and maintenance. Find instructions at the bike tune-up stations.

Want to keep your bike? Park and lock it correctly!

  • Lock both your frame and rear wheel to a bike rack with a sturdy U-Lock, not a cable lock that can be easily cut.
  • Use a long, sturdy cable lock to lock both wheels to the U-Lock for added security.
  • Always park at a bike rack and never at railings, ramps, trees, benches or anywhere that blocks pedestrian and/or vehicular access. Your bike can be impounded for impeding access and posing a safety risk.

Bike racks are for daily commuters only. Bikes parked at a rack for more than two weeks without moving will be removed to make space for others. Only individuals living on campus can park for more than two weeks at a bike rack near their residence hall.

Under the WashU Police Department (WUPD) Lock-In-Place program, which aims to reduce bike theft, WUPD staff may lock your bike to a rack if you don’t properly secure it yourself. To unlock your bike, please follow WUPD’s instructions on the U-Lock.

  • Keep a three-foot distance from pedestrians. 
  • Walk your bicycle when paths are crowded.
  • Yield to pedestrians; they have the right-of-way.
  • Keep right and pass on the left. Before passing, give an audible signal, such as “to your left” or ringing a bike bell.
  • Obey all the same traffic laws, signs and lights that apply to motor vehicles.
  • Gear up for your own safety. Helmet, lights, and reflectors are must-haves when riding on streets. 
  • Always use lights and reflective materials from dusk to dawn—a white front light, a red back light/reflector and reflective material/lights visible from each side of the bike.
  • Be sure you can hear any warnings or dangers: Don’t use earbuds/headphones in both ears.

If you believe your bike is lost or was stolen from campus, contact WashU PD at 314-935-5555. If it was stolen off campus, contact the local police department.

You can also mark your bike missing or stolen and start an alert in your 529 Garage account or on the 529 Garage app. An alert lets you print or email your saved bike information directly to a police officer or insurance agent.

The university encourages the use of bikes due to their many benefits and prioritizes the safety of our campus community. With this in mind, our Bike Policy was created to reduce hazards and create a safe, enjoyable environment for all individuals on campus. We encourage all community members to adhere to and help enforce this policy. View the Campus Bike Policy.

Regional Resources & Biking Tips

Local Laws

Have questions?

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