Biking can make public transit a better option and vice versa. A bike can get you to a transit stop or your final destination faster. Using transit can make a long bike trip more reasonable.
Fortunately public transit in Detroit accommodates bikes.
DDOT
Bike racks are installed on most of the DDOT buses and there is no additional fee to use them. Space on the rack is available on a first-come, first-served basis. DDOT has a Bikes on Buses User Guide that provides more information on this service.
SMART
All SMART Fixed Route buses have bike racks. Like DDOT, there is no additional charge to use them. Note that eBikes are not currently allowed due to their additional weight. For more information, visit their web page on how to use the bike rack or watch their short video.
UM Detroit Connector
The University of Michigan’s Detroit Connector bus service is open to faculty, staff, students, and the general public. The bus service runs between the UM Detroit Center, UM Dearborn, and UM Central Campus in Ann Arbor. Bike storage is available.
Detroit People Mover
Bicycles are allowed on the People Mover. Nearly all of the People Mover stations also have bike racks.
Amtrak
Bicycles are currently allowed on all Amtrak trains in Michigan, including the Wolverine line with stops in Detroit. Reservations are required and space is limited.
Transit Windsor
Transit Windsor Tunnel Bus permanently ends service on August 31, 2025. Special Event bus service ends on December 21, 2025.
What about Ferry Service?
The Detroit/Wayne County Port Authority has been trying to establish international ferry service for years. We have offered our support for this and have explained the benefits of allowing bicyclists on the ferry. They have told us they want to be the primary crossing route for bicyclists. It would be convenient as their port is on the Detroit RiverWalk.
However, ferry service works best when other alternatives aren’t available or are costly. The existing tunnel and bridge and bridge are inexpensive options (though admittedly less convenient for pedestrians and not an option for bicyclists.) Being an international crossing adds additional wrinkles due to customs. That said, getting ferry service established either on a published schedule or for special events is a challenge.
For additional information, listen to the Life in a Border Town podcast “Ferry Service on the Detroit River”.
8 replies on “Bikes and Public Transit”
Bikes now allowed on the Wolverine!
https://www.amtrak.com/alert/wolverine-carry-on-bicycle-service.html
Thanks. We’ve updated the page.
Do the bus bike racks on the Detroit DOT and SMART buses accommodate far tire bikes and e-bikes?
They probably won’t accommodate bikes with tires wider than a typical mountain bike. If an e-bike should be okay so long as it’s the same general size as a non-motorized bike.
DDOT’s “Bikes on Buses” guide is no longer available at the link provided.
Thanks for catching that! We can’t find that document anywhere on the ciyt’s website, so we changed the link to our copy on a shared drive.
Are bikes or unicycles allowed inside a bus
Bikes aren’t typically allowed inside a bus since it affects others getting on and off. They are allowed on the front bike racks, or on larger buses, in the luggage storage area.