BC Cycle Tourism Society

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 Gabriola Island to Kimberley.

For scale
As the crow flies570 km
Biking whole wayWe can't compute the bike route from the ferry dock but it may be rideable: please consult other sources.
By car962 km ยท 12 h 04 m

We found four ways to get you there, ferries doing the heavy lifting.

๐ŸŽ’ 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 · six legs⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule
Halfway across the province, no car required.
CarrierRideYour bike
โ›ด๏ธBC FerriesNanaimo Harbour โ€“ Descanso Bay (Gabriola)Descanso Bay (Gabriola Island) โ†’Nanaimo Harbour5.4 kmRoll on, free โ€” no reservation neededE-bikes OK โ€” no charging on board
๐ŸšฒTravel the short hop from Nanaimo Harbour to Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way), about 0.9 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, A.C. Taxi, Yellow Cab Nanaimo might help.
โ›ด๏ธHulloHullo (Nanaimo โ€“ Vancouver)Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way) โ†’CXH (Vancouver)61 kmBook online ahead โ€” 6 bike spots per sailing, 1 per guest$19.99 one way โ€” $25 in personNo e-bikes โ€” no trailers, 80 in / 50 lb max
๐ŸšฒTravel 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.
๐ŸšSkyTrainTransLinkVancouver Canada Place โ†’Pacific Central Station (Vancouver)Roll on, free โ€” 2 bikes per carAvoid rush hourE-bikes OK
๐ŸšŒEbusVancouver โ€“ Calgary (Hwy 1)or Rider Express (Vancouver โ€“ Calgary (Hwy 1))Pacific Central Station (Vancouver) โ†’Golden568 kmRides in the hold โ€” bagged or cloth-wrapped (no plastic), or boxed$30 per bike
Runs the same Highway 1 corridor as Rider Express, so compare schedules and fares.
๐ŸšŽBC Transit36 Golden โ€“ Cranbrook Connector (Health Connections)Golden โ†’Cranbrook223 kmFront rack, no fee โ€” 2 bikes, first come; space not guaranteedE-bikes under 25 kg only โ€” lithium battery off the bike and carried on board
Health Connections bus: medical patients get priority. You must call ahead to book a seat. Runs Tuesday and Thursday only.
๐ŸšฒTravel the short hop from Cranbrook to 12th Ave N at Kootenay (SB) (Cranbrook), about 1.4 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, Key City Cabs Ltd., Star Taxi might help.
๐ŸšŽBC Transit22 KC Commuter12th Ave N at Kootenay (SB) (Cranbrook) โ†’Kimberley Conference Centre26 kmFront rack, no fee โ€” 2 bikes, first come; space not guaranteedE-bikes under 25 kg only โ€” lithium battery off the bike and carried on board
๐ŸšฒYou arrive at Kimberley Conference Centre.
Option two · eight legs⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule
A little bit of everything.
CarrierRideYour bike
โ›ด๏ธBC FerriesNanaimo Harbour โ€“ Descanso Bay (Gabriola)Descanso Bay (Gabriola Island) โ†’Nanaimo Harbour5.4 kmRoll on, free โ€” no reservation neededE-bikes OK โ€” no charging on board
๐ŸšฒTravel the short hop from Nanaimo Harbour to Downtown Nanaimo Exchange, about 0.6 km.
๐ŸšŽBC Transit20/20A Hammond Bay / Doveror the 25 Ferry ShuttleDowntown Nanaimo Exchange โ†’Departure Bay (Nanaimo)3.3 kmFront rack, no fee โ€” 2 bikes, first come; space not guaranteedE-bikes under 25 kg only โ€” lithium battery off the bike and carried on board
โ›ด๏ธBC FerriesHorseshoe Bay โ€“ Departure BayDeparture Bay (Nanaimo) โ†’Horseshoe Bay53 kmRoll on, free โ€” no reservation neededE-bikes OK โ€” no charging on board
๐ŸšŽTransLink257 Horseshoe Bay ExpressHorseshoe Bay โ†’Stadium-Chinatown (Vancouver)17 kmRack on the bus, free2 bikes โ€” first come, first servedE-bikes OK
๐ŸšSkyTrainTransLinkStadium-Chinatown (Vancouver) โ†’Pacific Central Station (Vancouver)Roll on, free โ€” 2 bikes per carAvoid rush hourE-bikes OK
๐ŸšŒEbusVancouver โ€“ Calgary (Hwy 1)or Rider Express (Vancouver โ€“ Calgary (Hwy 1))Pacific Central Station (Vancouver) โ†’Golden568 kmRides in the hold โ€” bagged or cloth-wrapped (no plastic), or boxed$30 per bike
Runs the same Highway 1 corridor as Rider Express, so compare schedules and fares.
๐ŸšŽBC Transit36 Golden โ€“ Cranbrook Connector (Health Connections)Golden โ†’Cranbrook223 kmFront rack, no fee โ€” 2 bikes, first come; space not guaranteedE-bikes under 25 kg only โ€” lithium battery off the bike and carried on board
Health Connections bus: medical patients get priority. You must call ahead to book a seat. Runs Tuesday and Thursday only.
๐ŸšฒTravel the short hop from Cranbrook to 12th Ave N at Kootenay (SB) (Cranbrook), about 1.4 km.
๐ŸšŽBC Transit22 KC Commuter12th Ave N at Kootenay (SB) (Cranbrook) โ†’Kimberley Conference Centre26 kmFront rack, no fee โ€” 2 bikes, first come; space not guaranteedE-bikes under 25 kg only โ€” lithium battery off the bike and carried on board
๐ŸšฒYou arrive at Kimberley Conference Centre.
Option three · six legs⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule
Same as Option one, but a coach bus instead of the city bus.
CarrierRideYour bike
โ›ด๏ธBC FerriesNanaimo Harbour โ€“ Descanso Bay (Gabriola)Descanso Bay (Gabriola Island) โ†’Nanaimo Harbour5.4 kmRoll on, free โ€” no reservation neededE-bikes OK โ€” no charging on board
๐ŸšฒTravel the short hop from Nanaimo Harbour to Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way), about 0.9 km.
โ›ด๏ธHulloHullo (Nanaimo โ€“ Vancouver)Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way) โ†’CXH (Vancouver)61 kmBook online ahead โ€” 6 bike spots per sailing, 1 per guest$19.99 one way โ€” $25 in personNo e-bikes โ€” no trailers, 80 in / 50 lb max
๐ŸšฒTravel the short hop from CXH (Vancouver) to Vancouver Canada Place, about 0.8 km.
๐ŸšSkyTrainTransLinkVancouver Canada Place โ†’New WestminsterRoll on, free โ€” 2 bikes per carAvoid rush hourE-bikes OK
๐ŸšŒMountain Man Mike'sKaslo โ€“ VancouverNew Westminster โ†’1680 Hwy 3A/6 (Nelson)495 kmBikes acceptedCall for a quote โ€” fee and packaging arranged with the booking agent
Runs once a week; hop-on hop-off along the way.
๐ŸšŒMountain Man Mike'sKaslo โ€“ Calgaryor Mountain Man Mike's (Kaslo โ€“ Cranbrook โ€“ Calgary (weekly)) (doesn't run every day)1680 Hwy 3A/6 (Nelson) โ†’Cranbrook162 kmBikes acceptedCall for a quote โ€” fee and packaging arranged with the booking agent
Mountain Man Mike's: Runs once a week, continuing east into Alberta.
Mountain Man Mike's: The only ground service between Cranbrook and Calgary; weekly, eastbound Monday and westbound Tuesday.
๐ŸšฒTravel the short hop from Cranbrook to 12th Ave N at Kootenay (SB) (Cranbrook), about 1.4 km.
๐ŸšŽBC Transit22 KC Commuter12th Ave N at Kootenay (SB) (Cranbrook) โ†’Kimberley Conference Centre26 kmFront rack, no fee โ€” 2 bikes, first come; space not guaranteedE-bikes under 25 kg only โ€” lithium battery off the bike and carried on board
๐ŸšฒYou arrive at Kimberley Conference Centre.
Option four · six legs✈ the splurge⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule
Fly most of the way, then let transit finish the trip.
CarrierRideYour bike
โ›ด๏ธBC FerriesNanaimo Harbour โ€“ Descanso Bay (Gabriola)Descanso Bay (Gabriola Island) โ†’Nanaimo Harbour5.4 kmRoll on, free โ€” no reservation neededE-bikes OK โ€” no charging on board
๐Ÿ›ฉ๏ธHarbour AirVancouver Harbour โ€“ Nanaimo HarbourNanaimo Harbour โ†’CXH (Vancouver)60 kmFront wheel must come off$20 handling fee โ€” bike weight counts toward your baggage allowanceNot on the Twin Otter โ€” other floatplanes are fine; confirm when booking
๐ŸšฒTravel the short hop from CXH (Vancouver) to Vancouver Canada Place, about 0.8 km.
๐ŸšSkyTrainTransLinkVancouver Canada Place โ†’Vancouver Airport (YVR) (Richmond)Roll on, free โ€” 2 bikes per carAvoid rush hourE-bikes OK
โœˆ๏ธFlair AirlinesVancouver (YVR) โ€“ Calgary (YYC)Vancouver Airport (YVR) (Richmond) โ†’Calgary AB683 kmRides in the hold โ€” boxed, bagged, or wrappedBike feeReserve bike spotNo e-bikes
๐ŸšŒMountain Man Mike'sKaslo โ€“ Cranbrook โ€“ Calgary (weekly)Calgary AB โ†’Cranbrook353 kmBikes acceptedCall for a quote โ€” fee and packaging arranged with the booking agent
The only ground service between Cranbrook and Calgary; weekly, eastbound Monday and westbound Tuesday.
๐ŸšฒTravel the short hop from Cranbrook to 12th Ave N at Kootenay (SB) (Cranbrook), about 1.4 km.
๐ŸšŽBC Transit22 KC Commuter12th Ave N at Kootenay (SB) (Cranbrook) โ†’Kimberley Conference Centre26 kmFront rack, no fee โ€” 2 bikes, first come; space not guaranteedE-bikes under 25 kg only โ€” lithium battery off the bike and carried on board
๐ŸšฒYou arrive at Kimberley Conference Centre.
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: Kimberley to Gabriola Island (best: bus + SkyTrain + ferry)

Connections from Gabriola Island: Chemainus (best: ferry + bus) · Maple Ridge (best: ferry + SkyTrain + bus) · Williams Lake (best: ferry + SkyTrain + bus) · Whitehorse, YT (best: ferry + SkyTrain + plane)

Connections from Kimberley: Kaslo (best: bus) · Summerland (best: bus) · New Westminster (best: bus + SkyTrain) · Whitehorse, YT (best: bus + plane)

Check out BC Bike Stops in Gabriola Island and Kimberley