BC Cycle Tourism Society

To and Fro: moving your bike around British Columbia

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 and flights can carry you and your bike from Bowen Island to Armstrong.

For scale
As the crow flies319 km
Biking whole way505 km ยท 34 h 19 m
By car485 km ยท 5 h 16 m

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

๐ŸŽ’ Riding a coach? Most BC coach operators want your bike bagged or boxed. Our field note walks through packing it, including an inexpensive packable bike bag we like: How to bike-and-bus in BC ›
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 · five legs⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule
Grab a window seat, the scenery's included.
CarrierRideYour bike
โ›ด๏ธBC FerriesHorseshoe Bay โ€“ Snug Cove (Bowen)Snug Cove (Bowen Island) โ†’Horseshoe Bay3.7 kmRoll on, free โ€” no reservation neededE-bikes OK โ€” no charging on board
๐ŸšŽTransLink257 Horseshoe Bay ExpressHorseshoe Bay โ†’Downtown Vancouver (Dunsmuir at Cambie)19 kmRack on the bus, free2 bikes โ€” first come, first servedE-bikes OK
๐ŸšŒRider ExpressVancouver โ€“ Calgary (Hwy 1)Downtown Vancouver (Dunsmuir at Cambie) โ†’Hudson Ave NE & 6 St NE (Salmon Arm)391 kmRides in the hold โ€” bagged, wrapped, or boxed$50 per bike โ€” non-refundable
๐ŸšŽBC Transit41 Salmon Arm-EnderbyHudson Ave NE & 6 St NE (Salmon Arm) โ†’Enderby19 kmFront rack, no fee โ€” 2 bikes, first come; space not guaranteedE-bikes under 25 kg only โ€” lithium battery off the bike and carried on board
๐ŸšŽBC Transit60 Enderby/VernonEnderby โ†’Armstrong12 kmFront rack, no fee โ€” 2 bikes, first come; space not guaranteedE-bikes under 25 kg only โ€” lithium battery off the bike and carried on board
๐ŸšฒYou arrive at Armstrong.
Option two · four legs
The coach takes care of the long stretch.
CarrierRideYour bike
โ›ด๏ธBC FerriesHorseshoe Bay โ€“ Snug Cove (Bowen)Snug Cove (Bowen Island) โ†’Horseshoe Bay3.7 kmRoll on, free โ€” no reservation neededE-bikes OK โ€” no charging on board
๐ŸšŽTransLink257 Horseshoe Bay ExpressHorseshoe Bay โ†’Downtown Vancouver (Dunsmuir at Cambie)19 kmRack on the bus, free2 bikes โ€” first come, first servedE-bikes OK
๐ŸšŒRider ExpressVancouver โ€“ Calgary (Hwy 1)Downtown Vancouver (Dunsmuir at Cambie) โ†’Kamloops301 kmRides in the hold โ€” bagged, wrapped, or boxed$50 per bike โ€” non-refundable
๐ŸšŒEbusKamloops โ€“ Kelowna (via Salmon Arm)Kamloops โ†’Armstrong121 kmRides in the hold โ€” bagged or cloth-wrapped (no plastic), or boxed$30 per bike
๐ŸšฒYou arrive at Armstrong.
Option three · four legs
The same idea as Option two, on different routes.
CarrierRideYour bike
โ›ด๏ธBC FerriesHorseshoe Bay โ€“ Snug Cove (Bowen)Snug Cove (Bowen Island) โ†’Horseshoe Bay3.7 kmRoll on, free โ€” no reservation neededE-bikes OK โ€” no charging on board
๐ŸšŽTransLink257 Horseshoe Bay ExpressHorseshoe Bay โ†’Downtown Vancouver (Dunsmuir at Cambie)19 kmRack on the bus, free2 bikes โ€” first come, first servedE-bikes OK
๐ŸšŒRider ExpressVancouver โ€“ Calgary (Hwy 1)Downtown Vancouver (Dunsmuir at Cambie) โ†’Hudson Ave NE & 6 St NE (Salmon Arm)391 kmRides in the hold โ€” bagged, wrapped, or boxed$50 per bike โ€” non-refundable
๐ŸšŒEbusKelowna/Salmon Arm โ€“ GoldenHudson Ave NE & 6 St NE (Salmon Arm) โ†’Armstrong31 kmRides in the hold โ€” bagged or cloth-wrapped (no plastic), or boxed$30 per bike
๐ŸšฒYou arrive at Armstrong.
Option four · five legs📅 seasonal
A ferry, three coach buses, and a SkyTrain.
CarrierRideYour bike
โ›ด๏ธBC FerriesHorseshoe Bay โ€“ Snug Cove (Bowen)Snug Cove (Bowen Island) โ†’Horseshoe Bay3.7 kmRoll on, free โ€” no reservation neededE-bikes OK โ€” no charging on board
๐ŸšŒSquamish ConnectorSquamish โ€“ VancouverHorseshoe Bay โ†’Vancouver Canada Place16 kmBook aheadMax 2 bikes per tripSome buses have an outside rack โ€” otherwise carried in the luggage hold$15 each wayNo e-bikes
Bikes welcome May to September; check schedule outside that window.
๐ŸšSkyTrainTransLinkVancouver Canada Place โ†’Pacific Central Station (Vancouver)Roll on, free โ€” 2 bikes per carAvoid rush hourE-bikes OK
๐ŸšŒEbusVancouver โ€“ KelownaPacific Central Station (Vancouver) โ†’Kelowna (Orchard Park Mall)331 kmRides in the hold โ€” bagged or cloth-wrapped (no plastic), or boxed$30 per bike
๐ŸšŒEbusKamloops โ€“ Kelowna (via Salmon Arm)or Ebus (Kelowna/Salmon Arm โ€“ Golden)Kelowna (Orchard Park Mall) โ†’Armstrong68 kmRides in the hold โ€” bagged or cloth-wrapped (no plastic), or boxed$30 per bike
๐ŸšฒYou arrive at Armstrong.
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Option five · five legs📅 seasonal
The same idea as Option four, on different routes.
CarrierRideYour bike
โ›ด๏ธBC FerriesHorseshoe Bay โ€“ Snug Cove (Bowen)Snug Cove (Bowen Island) โ†’Horseshoe Bay3.7 kmRoll on, free โ€” no reservation neededE-bikes OK โ€” no charging on board
๐ŸšŒSquamish ConnectorSquamish โ€“ VancouverHorseshoe Bay โ†’Vancouver Canada Place16 kmBook aheadMax 2 bikes per tripSome buses have an outside rack โ€” otherwise carried in the luggage hold$15 each wayNo e-bikes
Bikes welcome May to September; check schedule outside that window.
๐ŸšSkyTrainTransLinkVancouver Canada Place โ†’Pacific Central Station (Vancouver)Roll on, free โ€” 2 bikes per carAvoid rush hourE-bikes OK
๐ŸšŒEbusVancouver โ€“ Kamloopsor Rider Express (Vancouver โ€“ Calgary)Pacific Central Station (Vancouver) โ†’Kamloops301 kmRides in the hold โ€” bagged or cloth-wrapped (no plastic), or boxed$30 per bike
๐ŸšŒEbusKamloops โ€“ Kelowna (via Salmon Arm)Kamloops โ†’Armstrong121 kmRides in the hold โ€” bagged or cloth-wrapped (no plastic), or boxed$30 per bike
๐ŸšฒYou arrive at Armstrong.
Option six · five legs📅 seasonal
Another way: the same idea as Option four, on different routes.
CarrierRideYour bike
โ›ด๏ธBC FerriesHorseshoe Bay โ€“ Snug Cove (Bowen)Snug Cove (Bowen Island) โ†’Horseshoe Bay3.7 kmRoll on, free โ€” no reservation neededE-bikes OK โ€” no charging on board
๐ŸšŒSquamish ConnectorSquamish โ€“ VancouverHorseshoe Bay โ†’Vancouver Canada Place16 kmBook aheadMax 2 bikes per tripSome buses have an outside rack โ€” otherwise carried in the luggage hold$15 each wayNo e-bikes
Bikes welcome May to September; check schedule outside that window.
๐ŸšSkyTrainTransLinkVancouver Canada Place โ†’Pacific Central Station (Vancouver)Roll on, free โ€” 2 bikes per carAvoid rush hourE-bikes OK
๐ŸšŒEbusVancouver โ€“ Calgary (Hwy 1)Pacific Central Station (Vancouver) โ†’Sorrento368 kmRides in the hold โ€” bagged or cloth-wrapped (no plastic), or boxed$30 per bike
Runs the same Highway 1 corridor as Rider Express, so compare schedules and fares.
๐ŸšŒEbusKamloops โ€“ Kelowna (via Salmon Arm)Sorrento โ†’Armstrong55 kmRides in the hold โ€” bagged or cloth-wrapped (no plastic), or boxed$30 per bike
๐ŸšฒYou arrive at Armstrong.
Option seven · seven legs✈ the splurge
Fly most of the way, then let transit finish the trip.
CarrierRideYour bike
โ›ด๏ธBC FerriesHorseshoe Bay โ€“ Snug Cove (Bowen)Snug Cove (Bowen Island) โ†’Horseshoe Bay3.7 kmRoll on, free โ€” no reservation neededE-bikes OK โ€” no charging on board
โ›ด๏ธBC FerriesHorseshoe Bay โ€“ Departure BayHorseshoe Bay โ†’Departure Bay (Nanaimo)53 kmRoll on, free โ€” no reservation neededE-bikes OK โ€” no charging on board
๐ŸšŽBC Transit20/20A Hammond Bay / DoverDeparture Bay (Nanaimo) โ†’Downtown Nanaimo Exchange3.3 kmFront rack, no fee โ€” 2 bikes, first come; space not guaranteedE-bikes under 25 kg only โ€” lithium battery off the bike and carried on board
๐ŸšฒTravel the short hop from Downtown Nanaimo Exchange to Nanaimo Harbour, about 0.6 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, A.C. Taxi, Yellow Cab Nanaimo might help.
๐Ÿ›ฉ๏ธHarbour AirVancouver Harbour โ€“ Nanaimo HarbourNanaimo Harbour โ†’CXH (Vancouver)60 kmFront wheel must come off$20 handling fee โ€” bike weight counts toward your baggage allowanceNot on the Twin Otter โ€” other floatplanes are fine; confirm when booking
๐ŸšฒTravel the short hop from CXH (Vancouver) to Vancouver Canada Place, about 0.8 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, Black Top Cabs, Maclure'S Cabs might help.
๐ŸšSkyTrainTransLinkVancouver Canada Place โ†’Vancouver Airport (YVR) (Richmond)Roll on, free โ€” 2 bikes per carAvoid rush hourE-bikes OK
โœˆ๏ธAir CanadaVancouver (YVR) โ€“ Kelowna (YLW)Vancouver Airport (YVR) (Richmond) โ†’Kelowna Airport288 kmBox or sturdy bag requiredBook ahead for your bikeAbout $50 per directionNo e-bikes
๐ŸšŒEbusKamloops โ€“ Kelowna (via Salmon Arm)Kelowna Airport โ†’Armstrong56 kmRides in the hold โ€” bagged or cloth-wrapped (no plastic), or boxed$30 per bike
๐ŸšฒYou arrive at Armstrong.
Route facts last checked August 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.
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Heading back: Armstrong to Bowen Island (best: bus + ferry)

Connections from Bowen Island: Sechelt (best: ferry + bus) · Victoria (best: ferry + bus) · Enderby (best: ferry + bus) · Haida Gwaii (best: ferry + rental car)

Connections from Armstrong: Sicamous (best: bus) · Pemberton (best: bus + SkyTrain) · Mayne Island (best: bus + SkyTrain + ferry) · Haida Gwaii (best: bus + train + ferry)

Check out BC Bike Stops in Bowen Island and Armstrong