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 Calgary, AB to Ladysmith.
For scale
As the crow flies732 km
Biking whole wayno route found
By carno route found
We found four ways to get you there.
π 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 · four legs
SkyTrain helps connect the dots.
CarrierRideYour bike
πEbusVancouver β Calgary (Hwy 1)or Rider Express (Vancouver β Calgary (Hwy 1))Calgary AB βPacific Central Station (Vancouver)784 kmRides in the hold β 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.
πSkyTrainTransLinkPacific Central Station (Vancouver) βVancouver Canada PlaceRoll on, free β 2 bikes per carAvoid rush hourE-bikes OK
π²Travel 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.
β΄οΈHulloHullo (Nanaimo β Vancouver)CXH (Vancouver) βHullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way)61 kmBook online ahead β 6 bike spots per sailing, 1 per guest$19.99 one way β $25 in personNo e-bikes β no trailers, 80 in / 50 lb max
π²Travel the short hop from Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way) to Bay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch, about 1.4 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, A.C. Taxi, Yellow Cab Nanaimo might help.
πBC Transit70 NCX Nanaimo - Cowichan ExpressBay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch β1st Ave at Hwy 1 (Ladysmith)20 kmFront rack, no fee β 2 bikes, first come; space not guaranteedE-bikes under 25 kg only β lithium battery off the bike and carried on board
π²You arrive at 1st Ave at Hwy 1 (Ladysmith).
Option two · six legs
The coach takes care of the long stretch.
CarrierRideYour bike
πEbusVancouver β Calgary (Hwy 1)or Rider Express (Vancouver β Calgary (Hwy 1))Calgary AB βPacific Central Station (Vancouver)784 kmRides in the hold β 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.
πSkyTrainTransLinkPacific Central Station (Vancouver) βStadium-Chinatown (Vancouver)Roll on, free β 2 bikes per carAvoid rush hourE-bikes OK
πTransLink257 Horseshoe Bay ExpressStadium-Chinatown (Vancouver) βHorseshoe Bay17 kmRack on the bus, free2 bikes β first come, first servedE-bikes OK
β΄οΈBC FerriesHorseshoe Bay β Departure BayHorseshoe Bay βDeparture Bay (Nanaimo)53 kmRoll on, free β no reservation neededE-bikes OK β no charging on board
πBC Transit20/20A Hammond Bay / Doveror the 25 Ferry ShuttleDeparture Bay (Nanaimo) βDowntown Nanaimo Exchange3.3 kmFront rack, no fee β 2 bikes, first come; space not guaranteedE-bikes under 25 kg only β lithium battery off the bike and carried on board
π²Travel the short hop from Downtown Nanaimo Exchange to Bay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch, about 0.5 km.
πBC Transit70 NCX Nanaimo - Cowichan ExpressBay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch β1st Ave at Hwy 1 (Ladysmith)20 kmFront rack, no fee β 2 bikes, first come; space not guaranteedE-bikes under 25 kg only β lithium battery off the bike and carried on board
π²You arrive at 1st Ave at Hwy 1 (Ladysmith).
Option three · four legs
Beautiful BC from a coach window.
CarrierRideYour bike
πEbusVancouver β Calgary (Hwy 1)or Rider Express (Vancouver β Calgary (Hwy 1))Calgary AB βPacific Central Station (Vancouver)784 kmRides in the hold β 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.
πWilson's Transportation (BC Connector)BC Ferries Connector β Vancouver / VictoriaPacific Central Station (Vancouver) βDouglas St at Pandora Ave (Victoria)103 kmRides in the hold β bagged or boxed$42 per bike β 50 lb maxReserve bike spot β recommended
β΄οΈ Downtown to downtown via the TsawwassenβSwartz Bay ferry crossing.
π²Travel the short hop from Douglas St at Pandora Ave (Victoria) to Legislature Exch (Belleville St) Bay G (Victoria), about 1.3 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, Bluebird Cabs, Sidney Taxi might help.
πBC Transit66 CVX Cowichan - Victoria ExpressLegislature Exch (Belleville St) Bay G (Victoria) βDuncan54 kmFront rack, no fee β 2 bikes, first come; space not guaranteedE-bikes under 25 kg only β lithium battery off the bike and carried on board
πBC Transit70 NCX Nanaimo - Cowichan ExpressDuncan β1st Ave at Hwy 1 (Ladysmith)26 kmFront rack, no fee β 2 bikes, first come; space not guaranteedE-bikes under 25 kg only β lithium battery off the bike and carried on board
π²You arrive at 1st Ave at Hwy 1 (Ladysmith).
Option four · four legs✈ the splurge
Two flights, a SkyTrain, and a city bus.
CarrierRideYour bike
βοΈFlair AirlinesVancouver (YVR) β Calgary (YYC)Calgary AB βVancouver Airport (YVR) (Richmond)683 kmRides in the hold β boxed, bagged, or wrappedBike feeReserve bike spotNo e-bikes
πSkyTrainTransLinkVancouver Airport (YVR) (Richmond) βVancouver Canada PlaceRoll on, free β 2 bikes per carAvoid rush hourE-bikes OK
π²Travel the short hop from Vancouver Canada Place to CXH (Vancouver), about 0.8 km.
π©οΈHarbour AirVancouver Harbour β Nanaimo HarbourCXH (Vancouver) βNanaimo Harbour60 kmFront wheel must come off$20 handling fee β bike weight counts toward your baggage allowanceNot on the Twin Otter β other floatplanes are fine; confirm when booking
π²Travel the short hop from Nanaimo Harbour to Bay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch, about 1.1 km.
πBC Transit70 NCX Nanaimo - Cowichan ExpressBay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch β1st Ave at Hwy 1 (Ladysmith)20 kmFront rack, no fee β 2 bikes, first come; space not guaranteedE-bikes under 25 kg only β lithium battery off the bike and carried on board
π²You arrive at 1st Ave at Hwy 1 (Ladysmith).
Route facts last checked October 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: Ladysmith to Calgary, AB (best: bus + ferry + SkyTrain)
Connections from Calgary, AB: Invermere (best: bus) · Clinton (best: bus) · Crofton (best: bus + SkyTrain + ferry) · Whitehorse, YT (best: bus + SkyTrain + plane)
Connections from Ladysmith: Salt Spring Island (best: bus + ferry) · Courtenay (Comox Valley) (best: bus + carpool) · Williams Lake (best: bus + ferry + SkyTrain) · Whitehorse, YT (best: bus + ferry + SkyTrain)
Check out BC Bike Stops in Ladysmith