Facilities
Bike Parking
If you bring your own bike to campus, you need to know where to park it. There are around 2,400 bike parking spaces all over campus which you can find on BU Maps. Worried about leaving your bike outside? Register it for automatic access to the following secure bike rooms:
Name | Location | Details |
---|---|---|
Warren Towers | 700 Commonwealth Ave | southwest corner of building |
Data Sciences | 665 Commonwealth Ave | east side of building |
Kilachand Center (CILSE) | 610 Commonwealth Ave | door faces Morse Auditorium |
South Campus | 504 Park Drive | accessible via alley |
10 Buick St | enter via Buick St elevator lobby | |
West Campus | 32 Harry Agganis Way | |
Howard Thurman Center | 808 Commonwealth Ave | facing Booth Theater |
Residents of the following dorms have automatic access to resident-only bike rooms located in their building:
Name | Location |
---|---|
Student Village 2 | 33 Harry Agganis Way |
Kilachand Honors College | 91 Bay State Road |
Myles Standish Hall | 610 Beacon Street |
Danielsen Hall | 512 Beacon Street |
various brownstones |
Sheltered bike parking can be found at:
Name | Location | Details |
---|---|---|
Hariri Building | 595 Commonwealth Ave | next to front door |
The Towers | 140 Bay State Road | west of front door |
LAW | 765 Commonwealth Ave | basement |
LAW Auditorium Building | 767 Commonwealth Ave | surrounding building |
Booth Theater Plaza | 820 Commonwealth Ave | behind Howard Thurman Center |
10 Buick Street Garage | 10 Buick Street | northwest corner of garage |
890 Commonwealth Ave Garage | 890 Commonwealth Ave | only accessible during building hours |
65 Pilgrim Road Garage | 65 Pilgrim Road | Fenway Campus |
Cummington Mall | Behind Photonics |
We can help you identify other options based on your destination.
Tire Pumps and Repair Stations
When you need some air in your tires or minor DIY maintenance, stop by one of our pumps or repair stations:
Location | Details | Pump | Tools | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
George Sherman Union | 775 Commonwealth Ave, near bank | ■ | ■ | open to public |
Marciano Commons | 100 Bay State Road, near sidewalk | ■ | ■ | open to public |
Pilgrim House (Fenway Campus) | 37 Pilgrim Road, in courtyard | ■ | ■ | open to public |
Rich Hall | 277 Babcock St, plaza facing field | ■ | open to public | |
Parking & Transportation Services | 1019 Commonwealth Ave, lobby | ■ | open during business hours | |
West Campus Bike Cage | 32 Harry Agganis Way | ■ | apply for access | |
Warren Towers Bike Room | behind 700 Commonwealth Ave | ■ | ■ | apply for access |
Kilachand Center Bike Room | 610 Commonwealth Ave | ■ | apply for access | |
South Campus Bike Room | 504 Park Ave | ■ | apply for access | |
StuVi2 Bike Room | 33 Harry Agganis Way | ■ | StuVi2 residents only |
Showers
Want to bike, walk or run to BU but worried about getting sweaty on the way? No problem! BU employees have access to free showers at several locations on campus:
- Track and Tennis Center, 100 Ashford Street – locker rooms are to the left when you enter – show your BU ID and let the attendant know you are a bike/walk/run commuter
- 25 Buick Street – first floor near Accounts Payable department
- Howard Thurman Center, 808 Commonwealth Ave – second floor
- Center for Computing and Data Science – basement level
- Yawkey Student Center, 100 Bay State Road – basement level near Facilities
- 200 Riverway (Fenway Campus) – second floor
Don’t forget, you can also use the showers at FitRec if you are a member!
Helmets and Lights
We want you to be safe! Free helmets, lights, and bells are available to anyone who incorporates bicycling into their commute to BU. Just stop by BUCK at 1019 Commonwealth Ave, Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm.
Discounted Bluebikes memberships
Boston University students, faculty, and staff are eligible for a discounted annual Bluebikes membership of only $73.50 (normally $129)– this allows you unlimited free rides (up to 45 minutes), and with over 4,000 bikes throughout Arlington, Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett, Newton, Revere, Somerville, and Watertown this can be a great addition to your commute or bike to meetings. You can use Bluebikes for the entire trip or pick up a bike near your transit stop.
Get physically and mentally prepared
If you need to build up to a bike commute, check out the supportive Employee Wellness programs offered by FitRec; you might find a workshop or training program that will help address your concerns. If you think your only option is to bike on busy main streets, you may be very surprised to learn about alternatives. Tell us where your commute begins and ends, and we can provide suggestions on routes that involve less or no vehicle traffic.
Bike Safety Classes
For tips on safe cycling in the city, maintaining your bike, becoming a year-round bike commuters, or learning to fix a flat tire, check our website for classes throughout the year, and let us know if there is a particular topic you’d like us to cover.
We also offer a 1-credit “Urban Bicycling” class every fall through FitRec!
Combine Your Options
Think you have to fully commit to bicycling, walking, running or taking transit for your commute? You might get the best of all worlds by combining your options into multi-modal travel. Here are a few ideas:
Park&Pedal – a great program that identifies Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) locations where you can park your car – for FREE – and then bike (or walk or run) the remaining few miles to your office. Some Park&Pedal lots are even located near Hubway stations so you don’t have to bring your own bike. Check out the map of Park&Pedal locations, and let us know how we can help you figure out a good plan.
Pedal & Park – rather than drive and bike, you can bike and take transit. The MBTA has installed cages for more secure bike parking at several commuter rail and subway stations, so you can bike to the station instead of driving or using additional transit services – visit their site for all the locations and to register your CharlieCard for free access to these bike cages.
Bikes on the T – why leave your bike behind if you could take it with you? The MBTA allows cyclists to bring bikes on the subway and commuter rail outside of peak travel time (except the Green Line); folding bikes are allowed anytime when they are folded up. Almost all MBTA buses are also now equipped with bike racks, a great option for surprises like a sudden change in weather or a flat tire, or if there are parts of your route that aren’t great for cycling.
Personalized Assistance – Does the idea of putting bikes on buses and combining driving and bicycling seem like too much? Don’t be nervous, just let us know how we can help you!
Abandoned Bikes
Have you seen the same bike locked to the same rack, day after day, rusting into the ground or slowly being cannibalized for parts? Let us know! We’ll try to identify the owner and begin the process of removing the bike to free up space for other cyclists. Report abandoned and damaged bikes here!