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 Field to Gabriola Island.
For scale
As the crow flies578 km
Biking whole wayWe can't compute the bike route from the ferry dock but it may be rideable: please consult other sources.
By car865 km · 10 h 43 m
We found four 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 · four legs
Halfway across the province, no car required.
CarrierRideYour bike
🚌Rider ExpressVancouver – Calgary (Hwy 1)Field →Pacific Central Station (Vancouver)601 kmRides in the hold — bagged, wrapped, or boxed$50 per bike — non-refundable
🚲Travel the short hop from Pacific Central Station (Vancouver) to Main Street-Science World (Vancouver), about 0.2 km.
🚝SkyTrainTransLinkMain Street-Science World (Vancouver) →Waterfront (Vancouver)Roll on, free — 2 bikes per carAvoid rush hourE-bikes OK
🚲Travel 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.
⛴️HulloHullo (Nanaimo – Vancouver)CXH (Vancouver) →Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way)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 Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way) to Nanaimo Harbour, about 0.9 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, A.C. Taxi, Yellow Cab Nanaimo might help.
⛴️BC FerriesNanaimo Harbour – Descanso Bay (Gabriola)Nanaimo Harbour →Descanso Bay (Gabriola Island)5.4 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
🚲You arrive at Descanso Bay (Gabriola Island).
Option two · six legs
Grab a window seat, the scenery's included.
CarrierRideYour bike
🚌Rider ExpressVancouver – Calgary (Hwy 1)Field →Pacific Central Station (Vancouver)601 kmRides in the hold — bagged, wrapped, or boxed$50 per bike — non-refundable
🚲Travel the short hop from Pacific Central Station (Vancouver) to Main Street-Science World (Vancouver), about 0.2 km.
🚝SkyTrainTransLinkMain Street-Science World (Vancouver) →Stadium-Chinatown (Vancouver)Roll on, free — 2 bikes per carAvoid rush hourE-bikes OK
🚎TransLink257 Horseshoe Bay ExpressStadium-Chinatown (Vancouver) →Horseshoe Bay17 kmRack on the bus, free2 bikes — first come, first servedE-bikes OK
⛴️BC FerriesHorseshoe Bay – Departure BayHorseshoe Bay →Departure Bay (Nanaimo)53 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
🚎BC Transit20/20A Hammond Bay / Doveror the 25 Ferry ShuttleDeparture Bay (Nanaimo) →Downtown Nanaimo Exchange3.3 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
🚲Travel the short hop from Downtown Nanaimo Exchange to Nanaimo Harbour, about 0.6 km.
⛴️BC FerriesNanaimo Harbour – Descanso Bay (Gabriola)Nanaimo Harbour →Descanso Bay (Gabriola Island)5.4 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
🚲You arrive at Descanso Bay (Gabriola Island).
Option three · five legs⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule
The coach takes care of the long stretch.
CarrierRideYour bike
🚌Rider ExpressVancouver – Calgary (Hwy 1)Field →Abbotsford536 kmRides in the hold — bagged, wrapped, or boxed$50 per bike — non-refundable
🚲Travel the short hop from Abbotsford to G Ferguson Way at McCallum Rd (Abbotsford), about 0.6 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, Abbotsford Mission Taxi, Central Valley Taxi might help.
🚎BC Transit31 Valley Connectoror the 31X Valley Connector (doesn't run every day)G Ferguson Way at McCallum Rd (Abbotsford) →Junction Mall (Mission)9.1 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 Junction Mall (Mission) to Lougheed Hwy at Haig St (Mission), about 0.3 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, Teco Taxi might help.
🚆West Coast ExpressTransLinkMission City Station →Waterfront (Vancouver)63 kmRoll on, free — 2 bikes per carWeekdays only — peak direction only
Weekdays only, peak direction only: five trains toward Vancouver in the morning, five back in the evening.
🚲Travel the short hop from Vancouver Canada Place to CXH (Vancouver), about 0.8 km.
⛴️HulloHullo (Nanaimo – Vancouver)CXH (Vancouver) →Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way)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 Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way) to Nanaimo Harbour, about 0.9 km.
⛴️BC FerriesNanaimo Harbour – Descanso Bay (Gabriola)Nanaimo Harbour →Descanso Bay (Gabriola Island)5.4 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
🚲You arrive at Descanso Bay (Gabriola Island).
Option four · five legs✈ the splurge
A coach bus, two flights, a SkyTrain, and a ferry.
CarrierRideYour bike
🚌Rider ExpressVancouver – Calgary (Hwy 1)Field →Calgary AB180 kmRides in the hold — bagged, wrapped, or boxed$50 per bike — non-refundable
✈️Flair AirlinesVancouver (YVR) – Calgary (YYC)Calgary AB →Vancouver Airport (YVR) (Richmond)683 kmRides in the hold — boxed, bagged, or wrappedBike feeReserve bike spotNo e-bikes
🚝SkyTrainTransLinkYVR-Airport (Richmond) →Waterfront (Vancouver)Roll on, free — 2 bikes per carAvoid rush hourE-bikes OK
🚲Travel the short hop from Vancouver Canada Place to CXH (Vancouver), about 0.8 km.
🛩️Harbour AirVancouver Harbour – Nanaimo HarbourCXH (Vancouver) →Nanaimo Harbour60 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
⛴️BC FerriesNanaimo Harbour – Descanso Bay (Gabriola)Nanaimo Harbour →Descanso Bay (Gabriola Island)5.4 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
🚲You arrive at Descanso Bay (Gabriola Island).
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: Gabriola Island to Field (best: ferry + SkyTrain + bus)
Connections from Field: Golden (best: bus) · Princeton (best: bus) · Vanderhoof (best: bus) · Whitehorse, YT (best: bus + SkyTrain + plane)
Connections from Gabriola Island: Chemainus (best: ferry + bus) · Victoria (best: ferry + bus) · Williams Lake (best: ferry + SkyTrain + bus) · Whitehorse, YT (best: ferry + SkyTrain + plane)
Check out BC Bike Stops in Field and Gabriola Island