First on, first off: A motorcyclist’s guide to Washington State Ferries

Riding a motorcycle may be the best way to enjoy the state’s ferry system.

There’s no feeling quite like it: Cruising around Puget Sound on a motorbike, and on a whim you think, ‘How about a ferry ride?’

So you turn your freedom machine toward the nearest ferry dock. No reservation booked and no need to check when the next boat arrives. It doesn’t matter: You’re almost certainly guaranteed a spot — and at about half of the cost as all those “cagers” waiting in their cars.

You glide smugly past a long line of cars as you're ushered to the front of the line to a waiting area emblazoned with big, clear letters: MOTORCYCLES.

Like mobster Henry Hill whisked to his front-row table at the Copacabana nightclub in Goodfellas, there’s a “right this way,” VIP treatment to riding a motorcycle on Washington State Ferries.

With an early start, an ambitious rider can easily hop on four or five ferries in one day to criss-cross Puget Sound.

The well-known adage repeated by longtime riders is simple: first on, first off. After cyclists and walk-on passengers at some docks, motorcycles are the first vehicles to board the ferry and the first to get off.

“It’s just awesome riding onto a ferry,” said Monica “Mac N Jack” Lear, who takes her gunship grey Harley to Vashon Island from Point Defiance.

“It’s just like riding: You feel the breeze, the ferry’s open, you’re out there on the water and get to see everything.”

Lear said she likes chatting with the other riders onboard. Sometimes people ask to take photos of their kids sitting in the saddle.

But not everyone loves watching Lear and the other riders skip the car line.

“You do get a little mean mugged from a lot of the cagers,” she said. “But that’s just how it is, those are the rules.”

Lear said she flashes grumpy drivers the peace sign and parks in the front, ready to be first onto the island.

This special treatment from the state ferry system isn’t just because motorcycles are cooler than cars, though that is true.

“It’s because they’re a lot faster to offload and we can group them all together,” said Matt Talley, a traffic attendant at Colman Dock in downtown Seattle.

It’s safer to keep all motos together, Talley said, and not mixed in with large vehicles.

His one plea to motorcycle riders is for them to slow down a bit when driving off the boats.

“Sometimes they take the turns pretty quick,” he said. “I’ve seen some people take a spill because they were leaning pretty hard.”

If you arrive at the dock while the ferry has already started boarding, not to worry. Almost always, late-arriving motorcycles wait until all cars board and then ferry staff will slip you on at the end, usually tucking you into one side of the boat.

As long as the ferry is still at the dock, you’re basically guaranteed to get on if you’re on two wheels.

On stormy days, ferry crews will also help motorcyclists by protecting them from salty waves.

“We will pull the motorbikes off to the side under the overhead of the cabin deck,” said deckhand Stephen Koch, “so they can have some shelter and not be blasted by the rain and the wind.”

First-class status on the ferries is an added perk for riders in the Pacific Northwest, along with winding, island roads and first dibs at the galley food while cars and trucks are still loading onto the boat.

Many experienced moto commuters keep their ferry pass in an armband to quickly flash at the toll booth.

William Almond bought his motorcycle, a 300cc CFMoto, just to speed up his commute from Kingston to Everett.

"The bike gives me a lot of freedom,” Almond said at the Edmonds dock. “Cars sometimes have to wait two or three hours, depending on the time of year and day, but I never have to worry about that as a motorcyclist.”

He’s also received some nasty looks from car drivers like Lear has.

“They feel like you’re cheating,” Almond said. “Some people will try to stop you. But I’m just doing what I’m supposed to.”

There should be more motorcycles on the ferries, he said, “especially for people going back and forth for work daily."

“You’re saving a lot of gas on a bike and we can cram a lot more people on the ferry, so higher capacity,” he said. “For the daily commute that the majority of people do, a motorcycle is the best way to go.”

Boarding a ferry on a motorcycle is roughly the same process at most terminals:

• Riders go through toll booths to either buy a ticket or have a purchased ticket scanned.
• Ask the toll booth employee where to go next. Motorcycle staging areas are in front of the car holding lanes but which lane to take from the toll booth can differ depending on the terminal. At a packed Mukilteo dock, I’ve been told to carefully drive up the passenger walking path when all other lanes were full.
• Park your bike in the staging area and make friends with the other riders. All bikers love having their bikes complimented.
• When it’s time to board, bicyclists ride on first and then a ferry employee will tell motos to go for it.
• Ride carefully onto the ferry: Decks can be wet and slippery.
• Drive all the way to the very front of the boat. Staff on board will point to where to park and how to line up with other bikes. Remember to park in gear as the boat does jostle around a bit when out on the water.

Here are some tips — and riding suggestions — for some of my favorite ferries.

Anacortes

The gateway to the San Juans. Motorcyclists first go through toll booths along with cars and then to the designated staging area in front of the holding lanes. Bathrooms and snacks are directly ahead to the left (watch out for vehicles deboarding the ferry) and to the right, riders can walk down to the beach along a path while waiting for their boat to arrive.

Bainbridge Island

Great for day trips and views of the Seattle skyline. This popular terminal has frequent sailings and is a good backup option if the Bremerton ferry is delayed. Riders go through the toll booths and then to the staging area with bicyclists in front of the holding lanes.

Clinton

Whidbey Island is a biker’s paradise. So many great rides as long as you stick to roads with unique names: Bob Galbreath to Langley, Mutiny Bay, Smugglers Cove, South Honeymoon Bay, and Madrona Way out of Coupeville are all gems on two-wheels. Keep going north across Deception Pass Bridge, a landmark on every Washington rider’s bucket list.

Coupeville

One of the smallest ferry terminals you’ll see, but a good pit stop after exploring Whidbey or Fort Casey. This dock does not have an overhead gangway so just like in Friday Harbor, motorcyclists board after all walk-on passengers.

Edmonds

A lot of commuters ride bikes on this Edmonds-Kingston route. Strongly recommend buying a ticket online before getting to the dock. Skip the toll booth altogether, ride across the train tracks, and directly to the Washington State Ferry shack on the right. There a staff member will scan your ticket and send you to the staging area in front, where public bathrooms and views of the beach await you.

Fauntleroy

If there is no line, go through the booth. If there is a line of waiting cars up the hill, skip it and head down the exit lanes (when the boat is not offloading). The intersection at the dock can get busy during rush hour so keep an eye out for commuters hurrying home.

Friday Harbor

This can be a trickier spot for motorcyclists because the staging area is pretty small and tucked up close to cars deboarding the ferry. Look for directions from the traffic attendant at the top of the hill. Riding around San Juan Island is a dream: grab lunch at Roche Harbor, wind your way through madrone trees near Lime Kiln Point State Park, and take a selfie at the beautiful Cattle Point overlook.

Kingston

Leading to the Kingston toll booths there are multiple lanes for the ferry and local traffic, so watch out for drivers who might weave in and out. Next to the staging area is a public park, cute marina, public bathrooms, and vending machines.

Mukilteo

The waiting line here can stretch back for miles — if you’re in a car. Thankfully motorcyclists can ride all the way down to just before the toll booth. A red light will stop you before you take a slight left into the ferry terminal.

Point Defiance/ Tahlequah/ Vashon Island/ Southworth

Ride into Tacoma on the curvy State Route 509 with stops at Dash Point and Browns Point Lighthouse, grab fish ‘n’ chips somewhere along the delightful Ruston Way, and then take in clear views of Mount Rainier on the ferry to Vashon Island. Take the Vashon Highway to the other ferry dock at the north end of the island and keep your trip meandering: Hop on the very short ferry ride to Southworth. From there, head out to Hood Canal, the Bremerton ferry, Bainbridge Island, or further north to Kingston.