Courtenay (Comox Valley) to Pender Island with a bike

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 rental cars can carry you and your bike from Courtenay (Comox Valley) to Pender Island.

For scale

As the crow flies152 km

Biking whole way238 km · 12 h 06 m

By car191 km · 3 h 16 m

We found five 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 · five legs📱 schedule erratic — check the Poparide app

A transport smorgasbord: carpool, ferries, SkyTrain, and city bus.

CarrierRideYour bike

🚲First, get from Courtenay (Comox Valley) to Courtenay, about 5.4 km. Ride it, or take a local bus or taxi.

🚗PoparideIsland Hwy rideshare (Nanaimo - Courtenay)Courtenay →Downtown Nanaimo Exchange97 kmOnly 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).

🚲Travel the short hop from Downtown Nanaimo Exchange to Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way), about 1 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, A.C. Taxi, Yellow Cab Nanaimo might help.

⛴️HulloHullo (Nanaimo – Vancouver)Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way) →CXH (Vancouver)61 kmBook online ahead — 6 bike spots per sailing, 1 per guest$19.99 one way — $25 in personNo e-bikes — no trailers, 80 in / 50 lb max

🚲Travel 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.

🚝SkyTrainTransLinkVancouver Canada Place →Bridgeport (Richmond)Roll on, free — 2 bikes per carAvoid rush hourE-bikes OK

🚎TransLink620 Bridgeport Station / Tsawwassen Ferryor the 900 Bike Bus (seasonal)Bridgeport (Richmond) →Tsawwassen (Delta)22 kmRack on the bus, free2 bikes — first come, first servedE-bikes OK

The 620 is year-round, roughly hourly, timed to sailings, with two bike-rack spots. On busy summer ferry days the seasonal 900 Bike Bus can carry an extra 10 bikes.

⛴️BC FerriesTsawwassen – Southern Gulf IslandsTsawwassen (Delta) →Otter Bay (Pender Island)27 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

Sailing times vary a lot by routing: some trips are about 50 minutes, others run 2 to 3 hours via Swartz Bay. Check the specific sailing before you book.

🚲You arrive at Otter Bay (Pender Island).

Option two · five legs📱 schedule erratic — check the Poparide app

A carpool saves the day.

CarrierRideYour bike

🚲First, get from Courtenay (Comox Valley) to Courtenay, about 5.4 km. Ride it, or take a local bus or taxi.

Only book rides that say they permit bicycles (bike icon on the listing).

🚲Travel the short hop from Downtown Nanaimo Exchange to Bay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch, about 0.5 km.

🚎BC Transit70 NCX Nanaimo - Cowichan ExpressBay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch →Duncan46 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK

🚎BC Transit66 CVX Cowichan - Victoria ExpressDuncan →Legislature Terminal (Victoria)54 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK

🚲Travel the short hop from Legislature Terminal (Victoria) to Douglas St at Pandora Ave (Victoria), about 1.3 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, Bluebird Cabs, Sidney Taxi might help.

🚎BC Transit70 Swartz Bay / Downtownor the 72 Swartz Bay / Downtown (via Saanichton)Douglas St at Pandora Ave (Victoria) →Swartz Bay (Victoria)29 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK

⛴️BC FerriesSwartz Bay – Southern Gulf IslandsSwartz Bay (Victoria) →Otter Bay (Pender Island)14 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

🚲You arrive at Otter Bay (Pender Island).

Option three · five legs📱 schedule erratic — check the Poparide app

The same idea as Option two, on different routes.

CarrierRideYour bike

🚲First, get from Courtenay (Comox Valley) to Courtenay, about 5.4 km. Ride it, or take a local bus or taxi.

Only book rides that say they permit bicycles (bike icon on the listing).

🚲Travel the short hop from Downtown Nanaimo Exchange to Bay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch, about 0.5 km.

🚎BC Transit70 NCX Nanaimo - Cowichan ExpressBay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch →Duncan46 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK

🚎BC Transit66 CVX Cowichan-Victoria ExpressDuncan →Douglas St at Pandora Ave (Victoria)46 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK

⛴️BC FerriesSwartz Bay – Southern Gulf IslandsSwartz Bay (Victoria) →Otter Bay (Pender Island)14 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

🚲You arrive at Otter Bay (Pender Island).

Option four · six legs

A one-way rental fills in the missing piece.

CarrierRideYour bike

🚲First, get from Courtenay (Comox Valley) to Comox Airport (YQQ), about 5.4 km. Ride it, or take a local bus or taxi.

🚙National Car & Truck Rental (Vancouver Island)One-way rental: Comox – NanaimoComox Airport (YQQ) →Downtown Nanaimo88 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

🚲Travel the short hop from Downtown Nanaimo Exchange to Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way), about 1 km.

🚲Travel the short hop from CXH (Vancouver) to Vancouver Canada Place, about 0.8 km.

🚝SkyTrainTransLinkVancouver Canada Place →Bridgeport (Richmond)Roll on, free — 2 bikes per carAvoid rush hourE-bikes OK

The 620 is year-round, roughly hourly, timed to sailings, with two bike-rack spots. On busy summer ferry days the seasonal 900 Bike Bus can carry an extra 10 bikes.

⛴️BC FerriesTsawwassen – Southern Gulf IslandsTsawwassen (Delta) →Otter Bay (Pender Island)27 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

Sailing times vary a lot by routing: some trips are about 50 minutes, others run 2 to 3 hours via Swartz Bay. Check the specific sailing before you book.

🚲You arrive at Otter Bay (Pender Island).

Show three moreShow fewer

Option five · seven legs📅 seasonal

A long haul, but it all connects.

CarrierRideYour bike

🚲First, get from Courtenay (Comox Valley) to Little River (Comox), about 7.7 km. Ride it, or take a local bus or taxi.

⛴️BC FerriesWestview – Little River (Comox)Little River (Comox) →Westview (Powell River)30 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

🚲Travel the short hop from Westview (Powell River) to Powell River, about 0.4 km.

🚌Sunshine Coast ConnectorLangdale – Powell RiverPowell River →Langdale (Gibsons)106 kmReserve bike spot — rack space is limited$20 bike · $40 e-bikeNo box needed — rack on the bus

Includes the Earls Cove–Saltery Bay ferry leg.

⛴️BC FerriesHorseshoe Bay – LangdaleLangdale (Gibsons) →Horseshoe Bay16 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

🚌Squamish ConnectorSquamish – VancouverHorseshoe Bay →Vancouver Canada Place16 kmBook aheadMax 2 bikes per tripSome buses have an outside rack — otherwise carried in the luggage hold$15 each wayNo e-bikes

Bikes welcome May to September; check schedule outside that window.

🚝SkyTrainTransLinkVancouver Canada Place →Bridgeport (Richmond)Roll on, free — 2 bikes per carAvoid rush hourE-bikes OK

The 620 is year-round, roughly hourly, timed to sailings, with two bike-rack spots. On busy summer ferry days the seasonal 900 Bike Bus can carry an extra 10 bikes.

⛴️BC FerriesTsawwassen – Southern Gulf IslandsTsawwassen (Delta) →Otter Bay (Pender Island)27 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

Sailing times vary a lot by routing: some trips are about 50 minutes, others run 2 to 3 hours via Swartz Bay. Check the specific sailing before you book.

🚲You arrive at Otter Bay (Pender Island).

Not an option · four legs🚫 not possible with a bike

Two coach buses, a city bus, and a ferry.

🚫 This chain exists, but Island Link and West Coast Trail Express does not carry bikes, so it cannot work with yours. We show it so you can see where the connection breaks.

CarrierRideYour bike

🚲First, get from Courtenay (Comox Valley) to Courtenay, about 5.4 km. Ride it, or take a local bus or taxi.

🚌Island LinkIsland Express BusCourtenay →Downtown Nanaimo Exchange97 kmDoes not carry bikes

🚌West Coast Trail ExpressJuan de Fuca Trail routeor Island Link (Victoria Express Bus)Downtown Nanaimo Exchange →Douglas St at Pandora Ave (Victoria)157 kmDoes not carry bikes

Runs May 1 to September 30.

⛴️BC FerriesSwartz Bay – Southern Gulf IslandsSwartz Bay (Victoria) →Otter Bay (Pender Island)14 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

🚲You arrive at Otter Bay (Pender Island).

Not an option · five legs🚫 not possible with a bike

A coach bus, two ferries, a SkyTrain, and a city 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.