New2view's Blog   Life on The Blue Marble

Ride your bicycle to the Canadian border and bus to Bellingham, a great low-cost day trip!

Summer bike riding isn’t just healthy, it can also be a mini adventure.  Starting from the city of White Rock at the South end of Surrey B.C., you can reach the Peace Arch border crossing in 15 minutes – less if your one of those hot-shot racing cyclists.

Just make sure you have your passport in a safe pocket, and a little travel money or credit card.  Ride past that border car lineup and divert to a new U.S. border facility at Peace Arch crossing. 

Park your bike and present yourself at the inside counter, it usually takes only a couple of minutes to show I.D., and answer questions about the purpose of your trip, such as ‘day-tripping’ to Bellingham for shopping’ etc.

Once past customs, you may want to take a brief ride around the border city of Blaine, Washington. There’s an excellent beach-park and fishing wharf to the South.  Just turn right immediately behind the border crossing area.

To continue on to Bellingham you need to carefully observe the bus schedule.* Catch the 75A to Bellingham from right in front of Blaine City Hall at 6:50 or 7:50 a.m. * (check schedule)  Its located  just three blocks from the border area; turn left past the Chevron gas Station, and its right across the lane from the library.  The same 75 * Bellingham/WWU (Western Washington University) bus returns from Bellingham ‘Bay Square’ bus depot at 5:09 and 6:09 p.m.* (check schedule), making for a nice day’s outing.  Bus fare is only $1 – $3 depending on age etc. (check WTA info) * each way, and don’t forget you need cash; U.S. coins or bills.

These WTA (Washington Transit Authority) buses have three bike carrier bars on the front, and the driver will assist you with mounting if needed.  The 75 * travels down the I-5 corridor, and you can be in Bellingham choosing your lunch cafe in about 90 minutes.*

There are many inexpensive places to eat in this unassuming historical town.  My favorite is an eclectic, all-Mexican food joint right across the wide (car parking) street from the bus depot in the heart of town.  Its very popular with the University crowd also. After that you could cruise the downtown core for antique or pawn shops.

Another alternative to the Bellingham outing is the quaint, slightly more upscale town of Lynden.  To get there you can transfer to the 25x * at the Cordata transit station, half-way down I-5 to Bellingham from Blaine, or you could take the same bus starting out from Bellingham.

Lynden certainly is worthy of a separate day trip also.  Its very comfortable for bikes, with wide, tree-lined boulevards and many small shops.  Its more tourist oriented than Bellingham, featuring a Dutch theme throughout, with mini-malls and Euro decor.   Of course rubber-necking from bicycles offers better views in any environment.

I highly recommend you take your time and enjoy these Northern Washington towns by ‘B & B’ (bike and bus)!

* Washington Transit Authority (WTA) schedule as of July 2025