BC Cycle Tourism Society
My bike and I are in and we’d like to be in .
We show what transit connections accept bikes. Check with the operator for prices, schedules, and reservations.
Same place twice. You’re already there, so enjoy the ride.

Good news: buses, ferries, trains, rental cars and flights can carry you and your bike from Alert Bay to Port Alberni.

For scale
As the crow flies214 km
Biking whole way342 km · 22 h 41 m
By car357 km · 4 h 36 m

We found three ways to get you there, ferries doing the heavy lifting.

Note: Most carriers carry only a handful of bikes, and summer weekends fill up fast. Reserve where you can. Where you can't, go early or have a backup plan.
Option one · four legs⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule
One long leg does most of the travelling.
CarrierRideYour bike
⛴️BC FerriesPort McNeill – Sointula – Alert BayAlert Bay (Cormorant Island) →Port McNeill14 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
🚎BC Transit1/2 Port McNeill - Port HardyPort McNeill →Port Hardy33 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK
Five trips a day on weekdays, two on Saturday, and no service on Sunday.
🚲Travel the short hop from Port Hardy to YZT (Port Hardy), about 10 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, Waivin Flags Taxi might help.
🚙BudgetOne-way rental: Port Hardy – Nanaimoor National Car & Truck Rental (One-way rental: Port Hardy – Nanaimo) (counter a short ride away on the 20/20A Hammond Bay / Dover)YZT (Port Hardy) →Downtown Nanaimo298 kmOne-way between BC Budget branches — bookable onlineBike rides inside — SUV or minivan, seats folded, wheels offConfirm one-way and vehicle when booking
🚙BudgetOne-way rental: Port Alberni – NanaimoDowntown Nanaimo →Port Alberni64 kmOne-way between BC Budget branches — bookable onlineBike rides inside — SUV or minivan, seats folded, wheels offConfirm one-way and vehicle when booking
🚲Travel the short hop from Port Alberni to Port Alberni, about 0.8 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, Alberni District United Cabs Association, United Cabs'S #5 might help.
🚲You arrive at Port Alberni.
Option two · five legs⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule📱 schedule erratic — check the Poparide app
A little bit of everything.
CarrierRideYour bike
⛴️BC FerriesPort McNeill – Sointula – Alert BayAlert Bay (Cormorant Island) →Port McNeill14 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
🚎BC Transit1/2 Port McNeill - Port HardyPort McNeill →Port Hardy33 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK
Five trips a day on weekdays, two on Saturday, and no service on Sunday.
🚲Travel the short hop from Port Hardy to YZT (Port Hardy), about 10 km.
🚙National Car & Truck Rental (Vancouver Island)One-way rental: Port Hardy – Nanaimoor Budget (One-way rental: Port Hardy – Nanaimo)YZT (Port Hardy) →Downtown Nanaimo295 kmOne-way between Island branches — no drop chargeBike rides inside — SUV or minivan, seats folded, wheels offConfirm one-way and vehicle when booking
🚲Travel the short hop from Downtown Nanaimo to Departure Bay (Nanaimo), about 1.3 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, A.C. Taxi, Yellow Cab Nanaimo might help.
🚎BC Transit20/20A Hammond Bay / DoverDeparture Bay (Nanaimo) →Downtown Nanaimo Exchange3.3 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK
🚗PoparideHwy 4 rideshare (Nanaimo - Port Alberni - Ucluelet - Tofino)Downtown Nanaimo Exchange →Port AlberniOnly some rides take bikes — look for the bicycle icon on the listingSchedule is variable — check Poparide for driver-listed dates and times
Only book rides that say they permit bicycles (bike icon on the listing).
🚲You arrive at Port Alberni.
Not an option · five legs🚫 not possible with a bike⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule
A ferry, two city buses, a rental car, and a coach bus.
🚫  This chain exists, but Island Link does not carry bikes, so it cannot work with yours. We show it so you can see where the connection breaks.
CarrierRideYour bike
⛴️BC FerriesPort McNeill – Sointula – Alert BayAlert Bay (Cormorant Island) →Port McNeill14 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
🚎BC Transit1/2 Port McNeill - Port HardyPort McNeill →Port Hardy33 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK
Five trips a day on weekdays, two on Saturday, and no service on Sunday.
🚲Travel the short hop from Port Hardy to YZT (Port Hardy), about 10 km.
🚙National Car & Truck Rental (Vancouver Island)One-way rental: Port Hardy – Nanaimoor Budget (One-way rental: Port Hardy – Nanaimo)YZT (Port Hardy) →Downtown Nanaimo295 kmOne-way between Island branches — no drop chargeBike rides inside — SUV or minivan, seats folded, wheels offConfirm one-way and vehicle when booking
🚲Travel the short hop from Downtown Nanaimo to Departure Bay (Nanaimo), about 1.3 km.
🚎BC Transit20/20A Hammond Bay / DoverDeparture Bay (Nanaimo) →Downtown Nanaimo Exchange3.3 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK
🚌Island LinkTofino Express BusDowntown Nanaimo Exchange →Port Alberni64 kmDoes not carry bikes
🚲You arrive at Port Alberni.
Not an option · five legs🚫 not possible with a bike⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule
A ferry, a city bus, a rental car, and two coach buses.
🚫  This chain exists, but Island Link does not carry bikes, so it cannot work with yours. We show it so you can see where the connection breaks.
CarrierRideYour bike
⛴️BC FerriesPort McNeill – Sointula – Alert BayAlert Bay (Cormorant Island) →Port McNeill14 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
🚎BC Transit1/2 Port McNeill - Port HardyPort McNeill →Port Hardy33 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK
Five trips a day on weekdays, two on Saturday, and no service on Sunday.
🚲Travel the short hop from Port Hardy to YZT (Port Hardy), about 10 km.
🚙National Car & Truck Rental (Vancouver Island)One-way rental: Campbell River – Port HardyYZT (Port Hardy) →YBL (Campbell River)170 kmOne-way between Island branches — no drop chargeBike rides inside — SUV or minivan, seats folded, wheels offConfirm one-way and vehicle when booking
🚲Travel the short hop from YBL (Campbell River) to Campbell River, about 8.3 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, Bee-Line Taxi might help.
🚌Island LinkIsland Express BusCampbell River →Downtown Nanaimo Exchange138 kmDoes not carry bikes
🚌Island LinkTofino Express BusDowntown Nanaimo Exchange →Port Alberni64 kmDoes not carry bikes
🚲You arrive at Port Alberni.
Option five · six legs✈ the splurge⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule
Fly most of the way, then let transit finish the trip.
CarrierRideYour bike
⛴️BC FerriesPort McNeill – Sointula – Alert BayAlert Bay (Cormorant Island) →Port McNeill14 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
🚎BC Transit1/2 Port McNeill - Port HardyPort McNeill →Port Hardy33 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK
Five trips a day on weekdays, two on Saturday, and no service on Sunday.
🚲Travel the short hop from Port Hardy to YZT (Port Hardy), about 10 km.
✈️Pacific Coastal AirlinesVancouver – Port HardyYZT (Port Hardy) →Vancouver Airport (YVR) (Richmond)343 kmRides in the hold — small aircraft, limited spaceAbout $105 per directionNo e-bikes
🚝SkyTrainTransLinkVancouver Airport (YVR) (Richmond) →Vancouver Canada PlaceRoll on, free — 2 bikes per carAvoid rush hourE-bikes OK
🚲Travel the short hop from Vancouver Canada Place to CXH (Vancouver), about 0.8 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, Black Top Cabs, Maclure'S Cabs might help.
🛩️Harbour AirVancouver Harbour – Nanaimo HarbourCXH (Vancouver) →Nanaimo Harbour60 kmFront wheel must come off$20 handling fee — bike weight counts toward your baggage allowanceNot on the Twin Otter — other floatplanes are fine; confirm when booking
🚲Travel the short hop from Nanaimo Harbour to Downtown Nanaimo, about 1.2 km.
🚙BudgetOne-way rental: Port Alberni – NanaimoDowntown Nanaimo →Port Alberni64 kmOne-way between BC Budget branches — bookable onlineBike rides inside — SUV or minivan, seats folded, wheels offConfirm one-way and vehicle when booking
🚲Travel the short hop from Port Alberni to Port Alberni, about 0.8 km.
🚲You arrive at Port Alberni.
Route facts last checked July 2026. We check that every leg here carries bikes, but policies and seasons change. Check times and book with the operator. Something wrong or out of date? Tell us and we'll fix it.
Explore more

Heading back: Port Alberni to Alert Bay (best: rental car + bus + ferry)

Connections from Alert Bay: Port Hardy (best: ferry + bus) · Ocean Falls (best: ferry + bus) · Vancouver (best: ferry + bus + rental car) · New Hazelton (best: ferry + bus)

Connections from Port Alberni: Hornby Island (best: rental car + carpool + bus) · Vancouver (best: rental car + ferry) · Bella Coola (best: rental car + ferry) · Calgary, AB (best: rental car + ferry + SkyTrain)

Check out BC Bike Stops in Alert Bay and Port Alberni