The City of Bellingham will install interim safety improvements to the Holly Street bike lanes the week of July 21, weather permitting. These updates follow the completion of a bike lane pilot project and are informed by community input and data analysis aimed at improving safety and connectivity for all users.
Installation is expected to take one to two days. Temporary lane closures will occur during construction. Drivers and bikers are advised to expect traffic delays, consider alternate routes, and use caution when traveling through the area.
Key changes include replacing the existing parking-protected bike lanes with standard buffered bike lanes, similar to those already in place on the upper section of Holly Street. This change relocates parked vehicles back next to the sidewalk, improving visibility for all users and reducing conflicts between turning vehicles and people biking.
Additional modifications include intersection upgrades, striping adjustments and traffic calming features to support safer pedestrian and bicycle crossings. More details and background are available on the Holly Street Bike Lane Pilot Project webpage.
These interim improvements are expected to remain in place until construction of the final Holly Street corridor, which is still several years away. When pilot project results were shared, the community was informed that near-term safety upgrades would be installed and maintained until the long-term capital project is designed and built. Feedback collected this summer will help shape the corridor’s permanent design.
“We’ve listened carefully to community feedback and analyzed our pilot data,” said Public Works Director Joel Pfundt. “These adjustments to the Holly Street corridor reflect our commitment to creating a vibrant space that serves all modes of travel, balancing diverse needs for a safer, more connected downtown.”
Results from the pilot project
The 2024 pilot project aimed to close a long-standing gap in Bellingham’s bike network. Prior to the pilot, Holly Street was identified as one of the most challenging segments for cyclists due to high traffic volumes and limited bike infrastructure.
Pilot data showed:
- Holly Street is the busiest bike corridor in downtown Bellingham, with 45 percent more ridership than the next highest route.
- Nearly 90 percent of cyclists used the new bike lanes during the pilot.
- Vehicle travel times increased by an average of 40 seconds during peak hours—remaining under 3 minutes for the corridor’s 10 signalized intersections.
- Vehicle speeds decreased to 15–19 mph, lowering the risk of severe collisions.
Community input and design updates
Public input and observed traffic patterns highlighted safety concerns with the parking-protected bike lanes, particularly reduced visibility and increased turning conflicts. In response, the City made initial design changes in late 2024 and will now replace the current configuration with standard buffered lanes to improve sightlines and safety.
This approach reflects the City’s commitment to a data-driven and community-informed process.
What’s next?
The design phase for the final, permanent Holly Street corridor is now underway. This will cover its entire length, from Ellis Street to Broadway Avenue. Our process will evaluate the interim improvements from the pilot project (Ellis Street to Bay Street) and integrate those learnings with design for the remaining sections (Bay Street to Broadway Avenue) that haven’t yet received major upgrades.
Community members are invited to help shape this final design by sharing feedback through our survey at Engage Bellingham. Input submitted by September 30, 2025, will inform decisions about future priorities, including bike lane design, parking, traffic flow, and placemaking.
