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 Summerland.

For scale
As the crow flies307 km
Biking whole way462 km ยท 30 h 12 m
By car487 km ยท 6 h 25 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 · five legs⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule
The coach takes care of the long stretch.
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€“ KelownaPacific Central Station (Vancouver) โ†’West Kelowna319 kmRides in the hold โ€” bagged or cloth-wrapped (no plastic), or boxed$30 per bike
๐ŸšŽBC Transit70 Kelowna / PentictonWest Kelowna โ†’Prairie Valley at Atkinson (Summerland)25 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 Prairie Valley at Atkinson (Summerland).
Option two · seven 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€“ KelownaPacific Central Station (Vancouver) โ†’West Kelowna319 kmRides in the hold โ€” bagged or cloth-wrapped (no plastic), or boxed$30 per bike
๐ŸšŽBC Transit70 Kelowna / PentictonWest Kelowna โ†’Prairie Valley at Atkinson (Summerland)25 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 Prairie Valley at Atkinson (Summerland).
Option three · six legs⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule
Option one, plus a city bus at the finish.
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†’Main & 89th St (Osoyoos)318 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.
๐ŸšŽBC Transit40 Osoyoos / PentictonMain & 89th St (Osoyoos) โ†’Duncan & Main (Plaza) (Penticton)52 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. Weekdays only.
๐ŸšŽBC Transit30 Penticton / Summerlandor the 70 Kelowna / Penticton (doesn't run every day)Duncan & Main (Plaza) (Penticton) โ†’Wharton at Kelly (Summerland)15 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 Wharton at Kelly (Summerland).
Option four · five legs✈ the splurge⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule
The splurge: hop a flight.
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Pacific Coastal AirlinesVancouver โ€“ PentictonVancouver Airport (YVR) (Richmond) โ†’YYF (Penticton)262 kmRides in the hold โ€” small aircraft, limited spaceAbout $105 per directionNo e-bikes
๐ŸšฒTravel the short hop from YYF (Penticton) to Duncan & Main (Plaza) (Penticton), about 2.6 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, Klassic Taxi, Penticton Eco Taxi might help.
๐ŸšŽBC Transit30 Penticton / SummerlandDuncan & Main (Plaza) (Penticton) โ†’Wharton at Kelly (Summerland)15 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 Wharton at Kelly (Summerland).
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: Summerland to Gabriola Island (best: bus + SkyTrain + ferry)

Connections from Gabriola Island: Chemainus (best: ferry + bus) · Victoria (best: ferry + bus) · Vernon (best: ferry + SkyTrain + bus) · Whitehorse, YT (best: ferry + SkyTrain + plane)

Connections from Summerland: Kelowna (best: bus) · Maple Ridge (best: bus + SkyTrain) · Field (best: bus) · Whitehorse, YT (best: bus + plane)

Check out BC Bike Stops in Gabriola Island and Summerland