Best Neighborhoods in Bellingham for Biking

Map of best biking neighborhoods in Bellingham. See Homes for sale in those neighborhoods!

Confession time… I never learned how to ride a bike. Oops. I ran into a mailbox when I was little and still had training wheels and decided I was done. My Mom recalls that I took my devastated self (and bike) and put it back in the garage before coming in and bursting into tears with all my “owies”.

I gave it a good college try, but never had a bike that fit me, and now I don’t have anywhere to store one, so, I am a “Bikeless Wonder” in Bellingham who LOVES to go to Tune Up Festival, Velo Bike Cafe, and watch people and kiddos on the pump track near Trackside just zoom around.

Maybe someday, I’ll have first hand experience. Until then, here is the list of what folks have told me about which neighborhoods are the best for Bikes and from clients I have helped with home searches who are deep into the biking culture were after:

1. Columbia

2. Sunnyland

3. Fairhaven

4. South Hill (warning, NOT flat)

5. Lettered Streets

6. Whatcom Falls Area (hello Galbraith Mountain!)

7. Downtown Bellingham (Coin-toss: if Holly Street is Bike friendly at the time of reading this…)

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Little Diddy About Bellingham Bike Culture

Bellingham is not just “bike-friendly” in the marketing brochure sense. People here genuinely use bikes as transportation. You will see commuters riding year-round in the rain, mountain bikers grabbing coffee before dawn rides, and families hauling kids around in cargo bikes on a Tuesday afternoon.

One gal I did theatre with bikes everywhere and I love seeing her on her bike and folks are always waving at her and it’s just the best.

There is also strong local support for cycling infrastructure and outdoor recreation. Shops like Evil Bikes, Fanatik Bike Co, Alleycat Bike Shop, and Earl's Bike Shop help reinforce that culture throughout the city year round plus specialty events like Tune up and so much more. While I’m not the driver of a bike, I love being along for the ride.