With Western Washington University Police reporting 10 stolen bikes, e-bikes and e-scooters in April, students are doubting the security of bike racks on campus.
Amid the ongoing rise in theft, students who haven’t already experienced losses are searching for preventative solutions. Considering Western’s expansive commuter-bike infrastructure, Campus Safety and Security and the Active Transportation Department are working to ensure they can recover stolen bikes and prevent future incidents.
Otis Bowser, a first-year Western student who had their bike stolen the night of April 19, said they are now directly aware of theft.
“I’m taking more steps to keep it from getting stolen,” Bowser said, now using a replacement bike placed in a new location with a stronger lock.
Sadie Alford, a second-year student and mountain-biking enthusiast at Western, said safety concerns have prevented her from riding in Bellingham.
“I’ve hardly been on my bike at all in the two years I’ve lived here,” Alford said.
Alford said her friends’ experiences with theft and the exposed nature of bike racks on campus reinforce her fear. Similarly, first-year student Morgan Morel refused to bring a mountain bike from her hometown to Western due to security concerns.
“I saw a bike that had been locked to a bike rack, but it was only the frame left,” Morel said. “Wheels, brakes, gears, suspension and seat were all gone.”
Bike theft is common in Bellingham, according to University Police Chief Katy Potts. To prevent theft, the police rely mostly on routine safety patrols and reported student concerns.
Potts said that bike thefts were reduced from 2024 to 2025 by raising awareness of possible risks on campus. University police are likely to employ more regular patrols and awareness campaigns to fight the April increase.
To prevent bike theft, the police encourage students to report unsafe conditions like dimly lit bike racks, broken infrastructure or overgrown bushes to the WWUPD email. This helps catch overlooked areas.
Potts also recommends that students always park bikes in pedestrian-heavy areas closer to the center of campus, reducing risk by improving visibility. This, in conjunction with a well-placed U-Lock and a spot in the bike registry, is the best bet for preventing theft.
The WWU Bike Registry records students’ bikes based on make, model and serial number. Andrea Reiter, director of Active Transport at Western and overseer of the registry, says this is the best way to recover a stolen bike.
Western uses the Bike Index program, which cross-references with other registries across the country and in Canadian provinces. Reiter said the university chose Bike Index in hopes of tracking bikes across the U.S.-Canada border.
Reiter said a 2024 survey conducted by the Active Transport department named bike theft as a major deterrent for students to bike in Bellingham. She hopes to bridge this gap.
“Biking is an affordable transportation mode,” Reiter said. “Combining biking and bus riding, you can get a lot further into the community.”
To encourage safer bike storage, the Active Transport department is providing free U-locks to students who register their bikes with Western, as well as a trade-in service for less secure cable locks to be replaced.
With May 15 being National Bike to Work and School Day, Reiter hopes students can overcome safety concerns to partake in campus activities. The Active Transportation department will host a Celebration Station in Red Square with free information and bike-related favors.
Still unsure of campus bike racks, Alford decided her best option was to move off campus for secure bike storage.
“I’m excited to get back into biking now that I will have a spot to store my bike,” Alford said. “One where I know it will be safe.”
Gray Pendell Jones (he/him) is a campus life reporter. He is a pre-major on the environmental studies/journalism track, happy for the opportunity to work with a dedicated team of reporters at The Front. Gray enjoys rock climbing, backpacking and catching a quick sunset on the beach. Originally born in Albuquerque, he is still searching for good Mexican food in Bellingham. You can reach Gray at graypj.thefront@gmail.com.
