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 and ferries can carry you and your bike from Galiano Island to Saanich.

For scale
As the crow flies48 km
Biking whole way60 km Β· 3 h 13 m
By car57 km Β· 1 h 40 m

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

πŸŽ’ 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
Just one connection.
CarrierRideYour bike
⛴️BC FerriesSwartz Bay – Southern Gulf IslandsSturdies Bay (Galiano Island) β†’Swartz Bay (North Saanich)23 kmRoll on, free β€” no reservation neededE-bikes OK β€” no charging on board
🚎BC Transit70 Swartz Bay / Downtownor the 72 Swartz Bay / Downtown (via Saanichton)Swartz Bay (North Saanich) β†’Douglas St at Pandora Ave (Victoria)29 kmFront rack, no fee β€” 2 bikes, first come; space not guaranteedE-bikes under 25 kg only β€” lithium battery off the bike and carried on board
🚲Travel the short hop from Douglas St at Pandora Ave (Victoria) to Douglas St at Kelvin Rd (Saanich), about 2.5 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, Bluebird Cabs, Sidney Taxi might help.
🚲You arrive at Douglas St at Kelvin Rd (Saanich).
Option two · two legs⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule
The same idea as Option one, on different routes.
CarrierRideYour bike
⛴️BC FerriesSwartz Bay – Southern Gulf IslandsSturdies Bay (Galiano Island) β†’Swartz Bay (North Saanich)23 kmRoll on, free β€” no reservation neededE-bikes OK β€” no charging on board
🚎BC Transit76 Swartz Bay / UVicSwartz Bay (North Saanich) β†’Royal Oak Exch Bay H (Saanich)21 kmFront rack, no fee β€” 2 bikes, first come; space not guaranteedE-bikes under 25 kg only β€” lithium battery off the bike and carried on board
🚲At the far end, Central Saanich is about 5.5 km from Royal Oak Exch Bay H (Saanich). Ride it, or take a local bus or taxi.
Option three · two legs
Same as Option one, but a coach bus instead of the city bus.
CarrierRideYour bike
⛴️BC FerriesSwartz Bay – Southern Gulf IslandsSturdies Bay (Galiano Island) β†’Swartz Bay (North Saanich)23 kmRoll on, free β€” no reservation neededE-bikes OK β€” no charging on board
🚌Wilson's Transportation (BC Connector)BC Ferries Connector β€” Vancouver / VictoriaSwartz Bay (North Saanich) β†’Douglas St at Pandora Ave (Victoria)29 kmRides in the hold β€” bagged or boxed$42 per bike β€” 50 lb maxReserve bike spot β€” recommended
⛴️ Downtown to downtown via the Tsawwassen–Swartz Bay ferry crossing.
🚲Travel the short hop from Douglas St at Pandora Ave (Victoria) to Douglas St at Kelvin Rd (Saanich), about 2.5 km.
🚲You arrive at Douglas St at Kelvin Rd (Saanich).
Option four · three legs
Option one, plus a ferry at the start.
CarrierRideYour bike
⛴️BC FerriesSwartz Bay – Southern Gulf IslandsSturdies Bay (Galiano Island) β†’Swartz Bay (North Saanich)23 kmRoll on, free β€” no reservation neededE-bikes OK β€” no charging on board
🚲Travel the short hop from Swartz Bay (North Saanich) to Brentwood Bay, about 13 km.
⛴️BC FerriesBrentwood Bay – Mill BayBrentwood Bay β†’Deloume Park & Ride (Mill Bay)12 kmRoll on, free β€” no reservation neededE-bikes OK β€” no charging on board
Daily, with fewer sailings on Sundays.
🚎BC Transit66 CVX Cowichan - Victoria ExpressDeloume Park & Ride (Mill Bay) β†’Hwy 1 & Tillicum (Saanich)32 kmFront rack, no fee β€” 2 bikes, first come; space not guaranteedE-bikes under 25 kg only β€” lithium battery off the bike and carried on board
🚲You arrive at Hwy 1 & Tillicum (Saanich).
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: Saanich to Galiano Island (best: bus + ferry)

Connections from Galiano Island: Duncan (Cowichan Valley) (best: ferry + bus) · Abbotsford (best: ferry + bus + SkyTrain) · Armstrong (best: ferry + bus + SkyTrain) · New Hazelton (best: ferry + bus + SkyTrain)

Connections from Saanich: Salt Spring Island (best: bus + ferry) · Qualicum Beach (best: bus) · Port Hardy (best: bus + rental car) · Prince Rupert (best: bus + rental car + ferry)

Check out BC Bike Stops in Galiano Island and Saanich