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 rental cars can carry you and your bike from Duncan (Cowichan Valley) to Port Alberni.
For scale
As the crow flies95 km
Biking whole way149 km · 9 h 17 m
By car138 km · 1 h 41 m
We found four ways to get you there.
🎒 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 · two legs
Fill in the gap with a rental car.
CarrierRideYour bike
🚎BC Transit70 NCX Nanaimo - Cowichan ExpressDuncan →Bay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch46 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 Bay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch to Downtown Nanaimo, about 1 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, A.C. Taxi, Yellow Cab Nanaimo might help.
🚙BudgetOne-way rental: Port Alberni – NanaimoDowntown Nanaimo →Port Alberni64 kmOne-way between BC Budget branches — bookable onlineBike rides inside — SUV or minivan, seats folded, wheels offConfirm one-way and vehicle when booking
🚲Travel the short hop from Port Alberni to Port Alberni, about 0.8 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, Alberni District United Cabs Association, United Cabs'S #5 might help.
🚲You arrive at Port Alberni.
Option two · two legs📱 schedule erratic — check the Poparide app
Same as Option one, but a carpool instead of the rental car.
CarrierRideYour bike
🚎BC Transit70 NCX Nanaimo - Cowichan ExpressDuncan →Bay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch46 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 Bay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch to Downtown Nanaimo Exchange, about 0.5 km.
🚗PoparideHwy 4 rideshare (Nanaimo - Port Alberni - Ucluelet - Tofino)Downtown Nanaimo Exchange →Port Alberni64 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).
🚲You arrive at Port Alberni.
Option three · two legs📱 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 Exchange47 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 Downtown Nanaimo, about 0.6 km.
🚙BudgetOne-way rental: Port Alberni – NanaimoDowntown Nanaimo →Port Alberni64 kmOne-way between BC Budget branches — bookable onlineBike rides inside — SUV or minivan, seats folded, wheels offConfirm one-way and vehicle when booking
🚲Travel the short hop from Port Alberni to Port Alberni, about 0.8 km.
🚲You arrive at Port Alberni.
Option four · two legs📱 schedule erratic — check the Poparide app
Same as Option two, but a carpool instead of the city bus.
CarrierRideYour bike
🚗PoparideHwy 1 rideshare (Victoria - Duncan - Nanaimo)Duncan →Downtown Nanaimo Exchange47 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).
🚗PoparideHwy 4 rideshare (Nanaimo - Port Alberni - Ucluelet - Tofino)Downtown Nanaimo Exchange →Port Alberni64 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).
🚲You arrive at Port Alberni.
Show three moreShow fewer
Not an option · two legs🚫 not possible with a bike
City bus to Bay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch, then a coach bus into Port Alberni.
🚫 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 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 Bay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch to Downtown Nanaimo Exchange, about 0.5 km.
🚲You arrive at Port Alberni.
Not an option · three legs🚫 not possible with a bike
City bus to Legislature Exch, coach bus to Nanaimo, then a coach bus into Port Alberni.
🚫 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 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.
🚌Island LinkVictoria Express Busor West Coast Trail Express (Juan de Fuca Trail route) (seasonal) or West Coast Trail Express (West Coast Trail route) (seasonal)Douglas St at Pandora Ave (Victoria) →Downtown Nanaimo Exchange92 kmDoes not carry bikes
🚲You arrive at Port Alberni.
Not an option · four legs🚫 not possible with a bike⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule
Two city buses and two coach buses.
🚫 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 Transit36 Ladysmith-Duncan ExpressCowichan Commons (North Cowichan) →Duncan3.3 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 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
🚌Island LinkVictoria Express BusDouglas St at Pandora Ave (Victoria) →Downtown Nanaimo Exchange92 kmDoes not carry bikes
🚲You arrive at Port Alberni.
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: Port Alberni to Duncan (Cowichan Valley) (best: rental car + bus)
Connections from Duncan (Cowichan Valley): Galiano Island (best: bus + ferry) · Denman Island (best: bus + carpool + ferry) · Armstrong (best: bus + ferry + SkyTrain) · Prince Rupert (best: bus + rental car + ferry)
Connections from Port Alberni: Hornby Island (best: rental car + carpool + bus) · Saturna Island (best: rental car + ferry + SkyTrain) · West Kelowna (best: rental car + ferry + SkyTrain) · Calgary, AB (best: rental car + ferry + SkyTrain)
Check out BC Bike Stops in Duncan (Cowichan Valley) and Port Alberni