Changes coming for bicycles pulling trailers onto ferries

Published 1:30 am Monday, July 10, 2017

Bicyclists pulling trailers onto state ferries will soon have to pay like motorcycle drivers under proposed fare changes and increases.

The Washington State Transportation Commission is taking comments on proposed fare increases for Washington State Ferries over the next two years. A public meeting is set for 6 to 8 p.m. July 11 at the Whidbey Telecom Community Media Conference Center, 1651 Main St., Freeland.

On many routes, the changes mean bicycles towing trailers will pay two one-way fees for a round trip, rather than a single round-trip fare paid by walk-on passengers and those riding bicycles without trailers.

For example, on the Edmonds-Kingston route starting Oct. 1, the cost for a round trip would rise to $9.40 for a bicycle without a trailer (passenger fare plus $1 bicycle fee paid once) and to $12.90 for a bicycle with a trailer (two $6.45 one-way fares). In 2018, those costs would go up again, to $9.55 and $13.20 for a round trip.

Electric bicycles also would pay the same rate as motorcycles, with or without a trailer.

Other changes would raise pedestrian fares by 2.5 percent starting Oct. 1 and another 2.1 percent in 2018, and raise vehicle fares by 2.9 percent this year and 2.5 percent in 2018.

Fares have gone up nearly every year since 2007.

Details and more information are at http://tinyurl.com/yas2k5wu.

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