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Riding bikes and scooters in Seattle: FIFA World Cup Guide | #WCSeattle

by on June 9, 2026
Rentable bikes and a scooter parked near the Chinatown-International District light rail station in Downtown Seattle. Photo: SDOT

With the FIFA Men’s World Cup almost here, bikes and scooters can be a practical way to get around Seattle.

For both residents and first-time visitors, they offer a flexible way to travel between watch parties, stadiums, and neighborhoods while connecting easily with light rail, buses, and the streetcar.

This guide explains what you need to know for the World Cup, including changes that could impact your ride on match days, where to park, how riding technology may affect your trip, and how to use the city’s growing bike network.

This story is part of our #WCSeattle series, which also covers how Seattle is preparing for FIFA, the Pioneer Square pedestrian zone plan and a Roadside Chat with SDOT’s head of construction and mobility about the construction pause and our traffic strategy.

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How to rent scooters and bikes

In Seattle you’ll find standing scooters, bicycles, and seated scooters operated by the company Lime.

The easiest way to rent them is by using Lime’s app, available for iOS and Android.

If you do not have a smart phone or credit card, you can text 1 (888) 495-5014 and follow the prompts. Lime has more information on their website.

For more general information about the bike and scooter share program visit seattle.gov/BikeShare.

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Safe riding basics

Before getting into what’s new for the World Cup, here are a few safe riding basics to always keep in mind.

  • Ride in bike lanes or the street — not on sidewalks (Learn more about bike paths)
  • Park in designated corrals or parking valet areas on match days (Learn more about parking)
  • Yield to people walking
  • Ride one person per device
  • Follow traffic signals
  • Keep both hands on the handlebars
  • Wear a helmet

Helmets are a proven safety measure that can help protect you in the event of a crash.

How to wear a helmet

Here’s what to look for to make sure your helmet fits properly:

  • Level on your head, not tilted
  • Straps snug under your chin
  • Two fingers between your eyebrows and the helmet edge

Cascade Bicycle Club has a helpful video about helmet safety. Watch that below.

Links to short videos about helmet safety and fit:

Where to get free helmets

We’re giving away free helmets at select events, including the valet parking locations after matches (read more about valet parking) and at Seattle Customer Service Centers throughout the summer.

For more information on where to get a free helmet, check out seattle.gov/bikeshare.

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Where to park

We’ve added more than 200 new parking areas, known as parking corrals, downtown, along the Waterfront, and near Seattle Center.

These bright, easy-to-spot corrals help keep sidewalks clear and make it simple to end your ride.

A white-and-green shared scooter is parked on a colorful sidewalk mural marked for bike and scooter parking. The mural uses bright orange, purple, blue, yellow, black, and white, and shows a large white bird with an orange beak holding a blue object, with smaller white bird shapes above it. A city street and tall office building are in the background, with tree shadows stretching across the ground.
A colorful new parking corral featuring new public artwork designed by NBBJ. Photo: SDOT
A designated bike and scooter parking area is painted on the street in front of an apartment building. The space includes a metal bike rack, white boundary markings, and painted scooter and bicycle symbols. A white car is parked at the edge of the frame.
 A new corral gives riders a place to park and improves safety by daylighting the intersection. Photo: SDOT

Look for:

  • White boxes on the street or sidewalk with a bike or scooter symbol
  • Bright, colorful boxes on the street or sidewalk that feature local art and have a bike or scooter symbol
  • Signs that say “Scooter and Bike Share Parking”

In some cases, like during special matchday valet parking, the app will show the valet parking areas using a large “P” symbol. More on the valet parking below.

A city street scene shows four white and green scooters parked in a marked parking zone beside a protected bike lane, where a cyclist in a bright yellow jacket rides past.
A person rides a bike past a parking corral with parked Lime scooters in Downtown Seattle. Photo: SDOT

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Matchday riding: Slow zones and valet parking areas

During the six match days in Seattle, some areas near Seattle Stadium (aka Lumen Field) will have slower speeds and temporary valet parking.

Slow zones

Shared bikes and scooters will automatically slow to 8 mph in designated zones. This “autothrottle” helps keep crowds safe and gives everyone more room to move.

You’ll see these zones clearly marked in your scooter share app. Once you ride out of them, your scooter or bike returns to normal speed.

Valet parking areas

Eight valet parking areas will become mandatory parking zones for shared bikes and scooters near the stadium.

This means you will only be able to end your ride at the eight parking valet areas denoted on the map below, which will also appear in the app.

Map of the Pioneer Square Match Day Pedestrian Zone in Seattle. A large blue-shaded pedestrian area surrounds Lumen Field and T-Mobile Park, covering streets from about James Street south to South Atlantic Street. Light rail waiting areas are marked near James Street, near South Jackson Street, and near South Royal Brougham Way. Scooter and bike share parking is marked around Pioneer Square and the stadium area, and a personal bike valet is marked near Railroad Way South. The map also marks bus stops and a taxi lot. One-way southbound traffic is allowed on part of 1st Avenue South and 2nd Avenue Extension South. Street closures usually begin about 4 hours before match start, and no parking restrictions begin at 2 a.m.
A map of the Pioneer Square Game Day Pedestrian Zone. Graphic: SDOT 

RELATED: Pioneer Square to be walkable pedestrian zone for 6 FIFA matches 

Cascade Bicycle Club is also offering bike valet. Read more about that on their website. 

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Technology: AI sidewalk detection and geofencing

Here’s a look at how technology can shape your ride.

New AI sidewalk detection

Lime is rolling out new AI sidewalk detection that can tell when a rider moves onto a sidewalk, as part of our permit requirements. If that happens, you’ll hear a gentle audible alert reminding you to return to the street or bike lane.

This tech helps:

  • Keep sidewalks safe for people walking
  • Reduce conflicts in busy areas
  • Make riding smoother for everyone

Geofencing

Geofencing is a digital boundary that helps guide safe riding. When you enter a special zone like a slow speed area, no-ride zone, or a mandatory parking zone, your scooter or bike automatically adjusts.

You’ll notice:

  • Speed changes
  • Parking guidance
  • Notifications and icons in the app so you know when you enter a special zone

It’s all designed to help you ride confidently without needing to memorize rules.

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Bike paths to stadiums and watch parties

Bike paths connect to light rail stations, stadiums and more throughout Downtown Seattle.

Since 2025, we’ve added more than 13 miles of new protected bike lanes throughout the city and closed key gaps in the bike network. Protected lanes mean you’re separated from traffic, giving you a calm, predictable ride even on busy days.

Map of downtown Seattle showing the all-ages-and-abilities bike network. Solid green lines mark current bike routes. Key bike corridors include the Elliott Bay Trail and Alaskan Way along the waterfront; 2nd Avenue through downtown; Pike Street and Pine Street connecting downtown to Capitol Hill; Broadway on Capitol Hill. Train icons mark light rail stations, and a separate icon marks the monorail station. Elliott Bay is on the left, with the street grid and bike routes extending across downtown Seattle.
A simplified map of Seattle’s City Center Bike Network. You can find an interactive bike map of the whole city on seattle.gov/Bike. Graphic: SDOT 

These paths make it easier to reach:

  • Seattle Stadium (Lumen Field on the map)
  • Seattle Center
  • Westlake Park (near Westlake Station)
  • Pike Place Market (one block west of Pike St and 2nd Ave)
  • Waterfront fan zones (along Alaskan Way)
  • Watch party locations across the city

Riding along bike paths can get you to fan festivals, restaurants and bars, waterfront attractions and so much more.

Skip the parking search and enjoy the freedom of rolling right up to the action.

Two cyclists sit on a bench facing the water during a quiet rest stop, with one road bike upright beside them and another lying in the grass nearby. Across the water, a ferry, a cargo ship, and distant shoreline buildings sit under an blue sky.
Two people sit and enjoy the view from a bench at Mrytle Edwards Park. This is part of the Elliott Bay Trail, a stunning ride along the bay. Photo: SDOT

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Best places to ride: Explore Seattle like a local

Seattle is a world-class city for biking and scooting, and this summer is the perfect time to explore.

Some fan-favorite routes:

  • Pike Place → Seattle Center via Waterfront Park
    • You can get between Pike Place Market and Seattle Center by riding through the new Waterfront Park. Cruise down Alaskan Way, in a section of Elliott Bay Trail, for scenic waterfront views.
  • Elliott Bay Trail
    • The full Elliott Bay Trail is a stunning ride along the water with views of the Olympics. It connects S Royal Brougham Way. Enter from Alaskan Way at Olympic Sculpture Park.
  • 2nd & 4th Avenues
    • North-south protected bike lanes provide backbones through downtown.
  • Broad Street → Seattle Center near Space Needle & Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP)
    • Downtown Seattle’s newest protected bike lane connects the 4th Ave bike lane to Broad Street, near the Space Needle and the MoPOP.
  • Pike and Pine Streets → Capitol Hill
    • Protected bike lanes near Pike Place Market along both Pike and Pine Streets connect to and from the vibrant Capitol Hill neighborhood. Please note, the bike lanes on this route are one-way one-way within downtown.
      • Pike Street travels east, towards Capitol Hill. 
      • Pine Street travels west, towards Pike Place Market. 
Map of the Seattle Center City Bike Network with five featured bike routes shown as dashed colored lines over a downtown Seattle street map. A red dashed line marks a route from Pike Place north along Alaskan Way and the waterfront toward Seattle Center via Waterfront Park. A purple dashed line follows the Elliott Bay Trail along the shoreline. A cyan dashed line runs north to south through downtown along 2nd Avenue and 4th Avenue. A pink dashed line follows Broad Street toward Seattle Center near the Space Needle and MoPOP. A blue dashed line follows Pike Street and Pine Street east from downtown toward Capitol Hill.
Our City Center Bike Network with a few key routes to explore! You can find an interactive bike map of the whole city on seattle.gov/Bike. Graphic: SDOT 

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Summer highlights: Waterfront views, free shuttles

The Waterfront is one of the best places to ride during FIFA.

This award-winning path was honored in a story of Best New U.S. Bike Lanes of 2025. It’s got:

  • Wide paths
  • Beautiful views
  • Easy connections to Pike Place, Belltown, and Seattle Center
  • Tons of food and photo stops

It’s a must-see for visitors and locals alike.

After your ride, you can catch a free waterfront shuttle that stops at some of Seattle’s most popular destinations.

A green King County Metro Waterfront Shuttle is stopped at a curb in downtown Seattle with its front door open. A man carrying a bright orange bag steps off the bus.
A person exits one of the free summer shuttles along Seattle’s waterfront. Services are provided by King County Metro and connect you to major locations throughout downtown, including Pioneer Square, Seattle Stadium and the International District. Photo: SDOT 

The free summer shuttle service connects to:

  • Seattle Center and the Space Needle
  • Olympic Sculpture Park
  • Pike Place Market and Overlook Walk
  • Waterfront Park and the Seattle Great Wheel
  • Pioneer Square
  • Seattle Stadium
  • Chinatown-International District
  • Seattle Ferry Terminal and Pier 50

Service is provided by King County Metro through September 7. Check their website for schedule changes and updates.

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Transit connections: Mix and match your trip

Bikes and scooters pair perfectly with transit. You can:

  • Ride to Link light rail
  • Connect to buses and streetcar
  • Hop off transit and finish the last mile on a scooter
  • Use bike parking at major stations

This combo is often the fastest way to get around on match days.

IMPORTANT: On match days, bicycles will not be allowed on the Link light rail or Sounder trains as ridership will exceed crowding thresholds. Sound Transit is making BikeLink rooms and lockers free on game days!

PRO TIP: Sign up for the Bike & Scoot to Transit program to earn free transit tickets and bike and scooter share ride credits!

Seattle Department of Transportation poster explaining how to earn free rides through bike and scooter share rewards. It gives three steps: connect Lime or Bird accounts in the Transit GO Ticket app to earn points, park at designated transit hubs to earn more points, and activate a transit ticket within 24 hours to unlock bonus points that can be redeemed for bus, light rail, or bike and scooter credits. A final note directs people to seattle.gov/BikeShare for free helmets and more information.
Step-by-step guide to claiming free bike and scooter rides to transit in Seattle as part of the Bike & Scoot to Transit program. Graphic: SDOT

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Seattle, let’s ride!

This summer is going to be unforgettable.

Whether you’re cheering on your team, exploring the city, or soaking up the energy of the World Cup, bikes and scooters are your ticket to a smooth, fun, and flexible experience.

Let’s move together. Let’s celebrate together. Let’s ride!

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For travel tools, video guides, and resources from our regional transit partners, visit FlipYourTrip.org.

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Jeanne Clark contributed to this report.

Filed Under: Bikeshare, Biking, General, Safety, Scooters, SDOT Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,