Bicycles And Transit

KAT buses and trolleys have bike racks. Here’s how to use them.

Knoxville Area Transit (KAT) Bike Racks

Is the stormy weather expected to clear by your afternoon commute? Do you want to stay fresh for your morning meeting, but work up a sweat on the way home? Do you want to take the bus to UT but can’t wait for the trolley connection from Knoxville Station? Knoxville Area Transit has the answer for all of these situations.

All KAT buses and trolleys have bike racks on the front.

This KAT video below shows you how simple it is to load your bike on the rack.

Loading your bike

  1. Simply grab the bar on the front of the bike rack and pull down to unfold it.
  2. Lift bike onto the rack, fitting the tires where indicated with marks for front wheels. Use inside slot first.
  3. Pull support arm out and up over the front tire to secure it in place. Use your bicycle lock now to secure your bike to the rack.

Unloading your bike

  1. Before you get off the bus, tell the driver you want to unload your bike.
  2. Pull the support arm out and down over the tire to release it from the rack. If you’ve locked your bicycle to the rack, be sure to unlock it now.
  3. Lift your bike out of the rack and onto the curb. If the rack is empty, fold up the rack to the locked position. Stand clear of the bus.
  4. Signal to the driver when finished.

Safety first

  • For safety reasons, the driver is not allowed to help you load or unload your bicycle.
  • The bike rack is made to hold two bikes. If the rack is full, please wait for the next bus. Bicycles are not allowed inside the bus.
  • Bike may be loaded and unloaded at designated bus stops only.
  • Children under the age of 12 may use racks only if accompanied by a bus-riding adult (age 18 years and over).
  • The tire size of your bicycle must be at least 16″ in diameter. This excludes some children’s bicycles.  

Planning Bike Trips Using KAT

Want help planning a bike route and how to mix in transit to make a longer distance doable? Check out the Knoxville-Knox County Greenways Map for information on which bus routes serve each greenway. Or email Smart Trips for help developing the best mix of bicycle and bus.