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, rental cars and flights can carry you and your bike from Duncan (Cowichan Valley) to Denman Island.
For scale
As the crow flies118 km
Biking whole way155 km · 9 h 30 m
By car140 km · 1 h 46 m
We found four 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📱 schedule erratic — check the Poparide app
Make some friends in a carpool.
CarrierRideYour bike
🚎BC Transit70 NCX Nanaimo - Cowichan ExpressDuncan →Bay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch46 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK
🚲Travel the short hop from Bay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch to Downtown Nanaimo Exchange, about 0.5 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, A.C. Taxi, Yellow Cab Nanaimo might help.
🚗PoparideIsland Hwy rideshare (Nanaimo - Courtenay)Downtown Nanaimo Exchange →Courtenay97 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).
🚎BC Transit10 Fanny Bay / Deep Bay / Downtown CourtenayCourtenay →Buckley Bay20 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK
Only two trips on Sundays.
⛴️BC FerriesBuckley Bay – Denman WestBuckley Bay →Denman Island West2.5 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
🚲You arrive at Denman Island West.
Option two · six legs⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule
A one-way rental fills in the missing piece.
CarrierRideYour bike
🚎BC Transit70 NCX Nanaimo - Cowichan ExpressDuncan →Bay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch46 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK
🚲Travel the short hop from Bay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch to Downtown Nanaimo Exchange, about 0.5 km.
🚎BC Transit20/20A Hammond Bay / DoverDowntown Nanaimo Exchange →Departure Bay (Nanaimo)3.3 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK
🚲Travel the short hop from Departure Bay (Nanaimo) to Downtown Nanaimo, about 1.3 km.
🚙National Car & Truck Rental (Vancouver Island)One-way rental: Comox – NanaimoDowntown Nanaimo →Comox Airport (YQQ)88 kmOne-way between Island branches — no drop chargeBike rides inside — SUV or minivan, seats folded, wheels offConfirm one-way and vehicle when booking
🚎BC Transit11 Airport via Powell R. Ferry / DowntownComox Airport (YQQ) →Courtenay8.3 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK
One loop serves both the Little River ferry terminal and Comox airport; about 5–7 trips a day, and Sunday service is unconfirmed.
🚎BC Transit10 Fanny Bay / Deep Bay / Downtown CourtenayCourtenay →Buckley Bay20 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK
Only two trips on Sundays.
⛴️BC FerriesBuckley Bay – Denman WestBuckley Bay →Denman Island West2.5 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
🚲You arrive at Denman Island West.
Option three · four legs⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule📱 schedule erratic — check the Poparide app
Same as Option one, but a carpool instead of the city bus.
CarrierRideYour bike
🚗PoparideHwy 1 rideshare (Victoria - Duncan - Nanaimo)Duncan →Downtown Nanaimo ExchangeOnly 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).
🚗PoparideIsland Hwy rideshare (Nanaimo - Courtenay)Downtown Nanaimo Exchange →Courtenay97 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).
🚎BC Transit10 Fanny Bay / Deep Bay / Downtown CourtenayCourtenay →Buckley Bay20 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK
Only two trips on Sundays.
⛴️BC FerriesBuckley Bay – Denman WestBuckley Bay →Denman Island West2.5 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
🚲You arrive at Denman Island West.
Not an option · four legs🚫 not possible with a bike⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule
Two city buses, a coach bus, and a ferry.
🚫 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 Transit70 NCX Nanaimo - Cowichan ExpressDuncan →Bay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch46 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK
🚲Travel the short hop from Bay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch to Downtown Nanaimo Exchange, about 0.5 km.
🚎BC Transit10 Fanny Bay / Deep Bay / Downtown CourtenayCourtenay →Buckley Bay20 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK
Only two trips on Sundays.
⛴️BC FerriesBuckley Bay – Denman WestBuckley Bay →Denman Island West2.5 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
🚲You arrive at Denman Island West.
Show three moreShow fewer
Not an option · five legs🚫 not possible with a bike⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule
Two city buses, two coach buses, and a ferry.
🚫 This chain exists, but West Coast Trail Express and 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 Transit66 CVX Cowichan - Victoria ExpressHwy 1 & Boys Rd (North Cowichan) →Legislature Terminal (Victoria)46 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 Transit10 Fanny Bay / Deep Bay / Downtown CourtenayCourtenay →Buckley Bay20 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK
Only two trips on Sundays.
⛴️BC FerriesBuckley Bay – Denman WestBuckley Bay →Denman Island West2.5 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
🚲You arrive at Denman Island West.
Not an option · five legs🚫 not possible with a bike⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule
Another way: two city buses, two coach buses, and a ferry.
🚫 This chain exists, but West Coast Trail Express and 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 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 Transit10 Fanny Bay / Deep Bay / Downtown CourtenayCourtenay →Buckley Bay20 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK
Only two trips on Sundays.
⛴️BC FerriesBuckley Bay – Denman WestBuckley Bay →Denman Island West2.5 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
🚲You arrive at Denman Island West.
Option seven · six legs✈ the splurge⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule
The long way round, but it works.
CarrierRideYour bike
🚎BC Transit66 CVX Cowichan - Victoria ExpressHwy 1 & Boys Rd (North Cowichan) →Legislature Terminal (Victoria)46 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK
🚲Travel the short hop from Legislature Terminal (Victoria) to Victoria Harbour, about 0.7 km.
🛩️Harbour AirVancouver Harbour – Victoria HarbourVictoria Harbour →CXH (Vancouver)98 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
🛩️Harbour AirVancouver Harbour – ComoxCXH (Vancouver) →Comox Harbour138 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 Comox Harbour to Comox Mall Bay B, about 0.4 km.
🚎BC Transit1 Comox Mall / Anfield Centre via N.I.C.Comox Mall Bay B →Anfield Centre (Courtenay)4 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK
🚲Travel the short hop from Anfield Centre (Courtenay) to Courtenay, about 2.9 km.
🚎BC Transit10 Fanny Bay / Deep Bay / Downtown CourtenayCourtenay →Buckley Bay20 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK
Only two trips on Sundays.
⛴️BC FerriesBuckley Bay – Denman WestBuckley Bay →Denman Island West2.5 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
🚲You arrive at Denman Island West.
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.
Connections from Duncan (Cowichan Valley):Galiano Island(best: bus + ferry) · Abbotsford(best: bus + ferry + SkyTrain) · Kelowna(best: bus + ferry + SkyTrain) · Prince Rupert(best: bus + rental car + ferry)