Questions people ask

What is Bunk-a-Biker?

Bunk-a-Biker is a worldwide community of motorcycle riders who offer to host traveling riders at their personal properties for free. It's like inviting a friend over that you just haven't met yet. The idea isn't for a free place to stay, it's for building and promoting an uplifting, positive, and supportive community where you can meet your fellow bikers.

How much does it cost to use Bunk-a-Biker?

Bunk-a-Biker is free and always will be. Bunk-a-Biker's rules are that there should be no monetary exchange between hosts and guests so that we can promote friendships developing amongst the members. If you want to do something for your hosts, gifts of local souvenirs, a 6 pack of beer, a bottle of wine, dinner, notes, thank you/Christmas cards, and other thoughtful gifts are usually appreciated.

How does Bunk-a-Biker run without charging the members?

BaB is supported through premium memberships, donations via the website donate buttons/Patreon/BuymeaCoffee, paid sponsor ads, affiliate links, and merch. We do everything we can to earn money on a volunteer basis so that the members will never have to pay for access.

What is the Strike List? What do you do to ban members from the community?

The Strike List is a list of people that we highly recommend that you not host. Very few have been banned from the community since Zee built BaB up in 2019, but the reasons why that someone has been banned are listed next to their name so that each host can decide for themselves. Anyone banned will have their information stored in our database to try to prevent them from joining again.

Why doesn’t Bunk-a-Biker have a rating system?

The reason that we choose to not employ a rating system is that people often don't fairly review. It would be upsetting to a host who generously opens their homes to help a rider out only to receive a bad rating because they had clutter or didn't provide dinner. Any rating you submit through the email prompts are for admin use only.

Why don’t we do a registration system or record driver’s licenses to vet the hosts/guests?

The main reason we don't ask for personal information such as IDs is that there’s a lot of laws around safeguarding private information that’s stored online. It is a huge risk to ask for that kind of information. Beyond that, we want the guests and hosts to decide for themselves whether someone is acceptable to be in their homes or whether they're comfortable enough to walk into a host's home.

Can Bunk-a-Biker help if I break down?

Absolutely! You are welcome to text or call hosts in your area for help and you might even find a place to stay, too. You can also go to the Facebook groups to post about needing help as we have many more members there than we have hosts.

Is Bunk-a-Biker a club? Does Bunk-a-Biker allow club members to use their community?

Bunk-a-Biker is not a club, it is a community of all types of people and riders. We allow club members to be a member so long as they follow the same rules as everyone else, which can be found

Why is my pin not showing up on the map?

When you initially set up a pin, the admin has to approve it. It can take a few days so please be patient.

What happens if I see a pin that has something inappropriate on it or they're trying to charge to stay with them?

Please use the "report this pin" button to let us know. We will look into it.

Can I be a host if I don’t ride or own a bike anymore?

Absolutely, you can be a host! Many hosts can’t ride due to age or health, but you're still welcome to be a part of this community.

What do I do if a potential guest/bunker does not answer my questions?

If a potential guest/bunker is not forthcoming about themselves, we would recommend you not allow them to stay with you. If the potential guest is not okay sending you a photo of themselves/their bike, telling you about themselves, telling you about their trip, or anything else, it has usually been a sign of deceit. Please listen to your instincts when it comes to meeting people in person and do not do it if you feel uncomfortable.

Can I use BaB if I’m not traveling on a bike?

We prefer people to be riding when using Bunk-a-Biker. If you're hauling bikes in a multi-wheel rig or are in a car, you can directly contact hosts to see if they are willing and able to accommodate you. Some will say no, some may say yes. Honesty in this situation is required.

Can I use Bunk-a-Biker if I am traveling with pets or kids?

All of Bunk-a-Biker's hosts are different so if you are traveling with pets or kids, reach out to the hosts you are wanting to meet and let them know your situation. If they have the ability and willingness to host you with your pets and/or kids then they will let you know.

Is it safe to use Bunk-a-Biker as a solo woman?

Bunk-a-Biker is equal to all members and we only want you to consider staying with a host if it is something that you are comfortable doing regardless of your gender, age, what type of bike you ride, your race, etc. We welcome all. The owner of BaB is a woman who often travels solo and stays with hosts throughout the community. There's many other solo women travelers on Bunk-a-Biker and you can join the Facebook groups to connect with them. Any issues that get reported are investigated, but BaB has remarkably few issues for a community of 75,000+.

How can I use Bunk-a-Biker if I don't plan my rides?

If you are a spontaneous rider then we would recommend that you pursue hotels instead of engaging with our community. Hotels are open 24 hours a day, but our hosts are people with lives, jobs, families, and hobbies of their own. If you would like to meet people and be welcomed into their homes as a part of their family for the night, you will have to alter your riding style to be a little more planned so you can contact and arrange a stay.

Can I use Bunk-a-Biker if I can't guarantee if I can make it in the agreed time due to a medical condition or other reason?

The most important thing about Bunk-a-Biker is communication. If you have a medical condition that could affect your ability to arrive to a host's house on the agreed upon day/time, let your host know when you start the conversation with them. If the host can't accommodate an unsure arrival, they will tell you. If it happens that you can't make it, just make sure to let them know as soon as you know. So long as you communicate you will not be in trouble or accused of a "No Call, No Show."

How far in advance should I contact my hosts?

If there is information on the host pin on the map about when they want to be contacted, please listen to the guidelines that host provided. If the pin does not provide any information, we recommend 1-3 days in advance. You can request the same day, but some hosts can't accommodate last minute requests. On the reverse side, most people do not know what they will be doing a month or months from today so they likely can't guarantee they will be available in the future.