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 and ferries can carry you and your bike from Duncan (Cowichan Valley) to Pender Island.
For scale
As the crow flies28 km
Biking whole way43 km · 2 h 39 m
By car44 km · 1 h 43 m
We found six ways to get you there, ferries doing the heavy lifting.
🎒 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 · three legs
City bus to Victoria, city bus to Swartz Bay, then a ferry into Otter Bay.
CarrierRideYour bike
🚎BC Transit66 CVX Cowichan-Victoria ExpressDuncan →Douglas St at Pandora Ave (Victoria)46 kmFront rack, no fee — 2 bikes, first come; space not guaranteedE-bikes under 25 kg only — lithium battery off the bike and carried on board
🚎BC Transit70 Swartz Bay / Downtownor the 72 Swartz Bay / Downtown (via Saanichton)Douglas St at Pandora Ave (Victoria) →Swartz Bay (North Saanich)29 kmFront rack, no fee — 2 bikes, first come; space not guaranteedE-bikes under 25 kg only — lithium battery off the bike and carried on board
⛴️BC FerriesSwartz Bay – Southern Gulf IslandsSwartz Bay (North Saanich) →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 two · three legs
The same idea as Option one, on different routes.
CarrierRideYour bike
🚎BC Transit66 CVX Cowichan - Victoria ExpressHwy 1 & Boys Rd (North Cowichan) →Legislature Exch (Belleville St) Bay G (Victoria)46 kmFront rack, no fee — 2 bikes, first come; space not guaranteedE-bikes under 25 kg only — lithium battery off the bike and carried on board
🚲Travel the short hop from Legislature Exch (Belleville St) Bay G (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 (North Saanich)29 kmFront rack, no fee — 2 bikes, first come; space not guaranteedE-bikes under 25 kg only — lithium battery off the bike and carried on board
⛴️BC FerriesSwartz Bay – Southern Gulf IslandsSwartz Bay (North Saanich) →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 · four legs⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule
Option one, plus a city bus at the start.
CarrierRideYour bike
🚎BC Transit8 Mill Bay via Telegraph Rd/Duncan via Shawnigan Lkor the 9 Mill Bay via Shawnigan Lk/Duncan via Telegraph RdDuncan →Deloume Park & Ride (Mill Bay)17 kmFront rack, no fee — 2 bikes, first come; space not guaranteedE-bikes under 25 kg only — lithium battery off the bike and carried on board
🚎BC Transit99 SVX Shawnigan Lake - Victoria ExpressDeloume Park & Ride (Mill Bay) →Douglas & Finlayson - Mayfair (Victoria)28 kmFront rack, no fee — 2 bikes, first come; space not guaranteedE-bikes under 25 kg only — lithium battery off the bike and carried on board
🚲Travel the short hop from Douglas & Finlayson - Mayfair (Victoria) to Douglas St at Pandora Ave (Victoria), about 1.9 km.
🚎BC Transit70 Swartz Bay / Downtownor the 72 Swartz Bay / Downtown (via Saanichton)Douglas St at Pandora Ave (Victoria) →Swartz Bay (North Saanich)29 kmFront rack, no fee — 2 bikes, first come; space not guaranteedE-bikes under 25 kg only — lithium battery off the bike and carried on board
⛴️BC FerriesSwartz Bay – Southern Gulf IslandsSwartz Bay (North Saanich) →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 · three legs
Same as Option one, but a ferry instead of the city bus.
CarrierRideYour bike
🚎BC Transit66 CVX Cowichan - Victoria Expressor the 8 Mill Bay via Telegraph Rd/Duncan via Shawnigan Lk or the 9 Mill Bay via Shawnigan Lk/Duncan via Telegraph RdDuncan →Deloume Park & Ride (Mill Bay)17 kmFront rack, no fee — 2 bikes, first come; space not guaranteedE-bikes under 25 kg only — lithium battery off the bike and carried on board
⛴️BC FerriesBrentwood Bay – Mill BayDeloume Park & Ride (Mill Bay) →Brentwood Bay12 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
Daily, with fewer sailings on Sundays.
🚲Travel the short hop from Brentwood Bay to Swartz Bay (North Saanich), about 13 km.
⛴️BC FerriesSwartz Bay – Southern Gulf IslandsSwartz Bay (North Saanich) →Otter Bay (Pender Island)14 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
🚲You arrive at Otter Bay (Pender Island).
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Option five · three legs
Same as Option one, but a coach bus instead of the city bus.
CarrierRideYour bike
🚎BC Transit66 CVX Cowichan - Victoria ExpressHwy 1 & Boys Rd (North Cowichan) →Legislature Exch (Belleville St) Bay G (Victoria)46 kmFront rack, no fee — 2 bikes, first come; space not guaranteedE-bikes under 25 kg only — lithium battery off the bike and carried on board
🚲Travel the short hop from Legislature Exch (Belleville St) Bay G (Victoria) to Douglas St at Pandora Ave (Victoria), about 1.3 km.
🚌Wilson's Transportation (BC Connector)BC Ferries Connector — Vancouver / VictoriaDouglas St at Pandora Ave (Victoria) →Swartz Bay (North Saanich)29 kmRides in the hold — bagged or boxed$42 per bike — 50 lb maxReserve bike spot — recommended
⛴️ Downtown to downtown via the Tsawwassen–Swartz Bay ferry crossing.
⛴️BC FerriesSwartz Bay – Southern Gulf IslandsSwartz Bay (North Saanich) →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 six · three legs
Another way: same as Option one, but a coach bus instead of the city bus.
CarrierRideYour bike
🚎BC Transit66 CVX Cowichan-Victoria ExpressDuncan →Douglas St at Pandora Ave (Victoria)46 kmFront rack, no fee — 2 bikes, first come; space not guaranteedE-bikes under 25 kg only — lithium battery off the bike and carried on board
🚌Wilson's Transportation (BC Connector)BC Ferries Connector — Vancouver / VictoriaDouglas St at Pandora Ave (Victoria) →Swartz Bay (North Saanich)29 kmRides in the hold — bagged or boxed$42 per bike — 50 lb maxReserve bike spot — recommended
⛴️ Downtown to downtown via the Tsawwassen–Swartz Bay ferry crossing.
⛴️BC FerriesSwartz Bay – Southern Gulf IslandsSwartz Bay (North Saanich) →Otter Bay (Pender Island)14 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
🚲You arrive at Otter Bay (Pender Island).
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.
Explore more
Heading back: Pender Island to Duncan (Cowichan Valley) (best: ferry + bus)
Connections from Duncan (Cowichan Valley): Galiano Island (best: bus + ferry) · Squamish (best: bus + ferry) · Armstrong (best: bus + ferry + SkyTrain) · Prince Rupert (best: bus + rental car + ferry)
Connections from Pender Island: North Cowichan (Chemainus & Crofton) (best: ferry + bus) · Abbotsford (best: ferry + bus + SkyTrain) · Enderby (best: ferry + bus + SkyTrain) · New Hazelton (best: ferry + bus + SkyTrain)
Check out BC Bike Stops in Duncan (Cowichan Valley) and Pender Island