Bellingham Bike Parade

Celebrate Bike Everywhere Month by re-enacting historic bike ride and photograph:
Bike parade May 1, down Holly Street to Waypoint Park

The public is invited to re-create history by participating in the Bellingham Bike Parade. The parade will be held on Sunday, May 1, 2022, and will kick off a month of celebrations for Bike Everywhere Month.

On May 1, 1948, an estimated 800 Whatcom County youth rode their decorated bikes down Holly Street in a May Day bike parade in downtown Bellingham.  Local photographer Jack Carver memorialized the event with his photo, taken from the corner of Railroad Avenue and East Holly Street. This photo is part of the Whatcom Museum Photo Archives collection.

“As this wonderful photo shows, we have a long history of celebrating the joy of biking in Bellingham,” Bellingham Mayor Seth Fleetwood said. “Bicycling as a transportation option is important now as we work to reduce vehicle trips and create a clean energy future. This year’s bike parade celebrates the vibrancy of our past while calling attention to the important work we’re doing to ensure future generations have safe, accessible and clean transportation options.”

Participants should meet at 12:30 p.m. at the Whatcom Educational Credit Union (WECU) parking lot located at 600 East Holly Street. The ride will begin at 1:00 p.m. and will travel down Holly Street to Waypoint Park with a Bellingham Police Department escort. Participants are invited to enjoy the park, try out the cycle path and pump track, purchase food from food trucks, and listen to live music at Kulshan Trackside.

The ride will take place rain or shine. Bike decorations and costumes are encouraged. All ages are welcome. Riders will be required to wear helmets, and to follow all rules of the road.

The parade is sponsored by City of Bellingham, Downtown Bellingham Partnership, WECU, Whatcom Smart Trips, Western Washington University, and Whatcom Transportation Authority.  It kicks off Bike Everywhere Month and encourages community feedback on updates to city-wide bicycle and pedestrian plans happening this spring and summer.

For more information, please call (360) 788-9316.