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 and rental cars can carry you and your bike from Gibsons to Port Alberni.

For scale
As the crow flies96 km
Biking whole way168 km Β· 8 h 27 m
By car164 km Β· 3 h 41 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 · four legs
A one-way rental fills in the missing piece.
CarrierRideYour bike
⛴️BC FerriesHorseshoe Bay – LangdaleLangdale (Gibsons) β†’Horseshoe Bay16 kmRoll on, free β€” no reservation neededE-bikes OK β€” no charging on board
⛴️BC FerriesHorseshoe Bay – Departure BayHorseshoe Bay β†’Departure Bay (Nanaimo)53 kmRoll on, free β€” no reservation neededE-bikes OK β€” no charging on board
🚎BC Transit20/20A Hammond Bay / DoverDeparture Bay (Nanaimo) β†’Downtown Nanaimo Exchange3.3 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 Downtown Nanaimo Exchange to Downtown Nanaimo, about 0.6 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, A.C. Taxi, Yellow Cab Nanaimo might help.
πŸš™BudgetOne-way rental: Port Alberni – NanaimoDowntown Nanaimo β†’Port Alberni64 kmOne-way between BC Budget branches β€” bookable onlineBike rides inside β€” 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 · four legs📱 schedule erratic — check the Poparide app
Same as Option one, but a carpool instead of the rental car.
CarrierRideYour bike
⛴️BC FerriesHorseshoe Bay – LangdaleLangdale (Gibsons) β†’Horseshoe Bay16 kmRoll on, free β€” no reservation neededE-bikes OK β€” no charging on board
⛴️BC FerriesHorseshoe Bay – Departure BayHorseshoe Bay β†’Departure Bay (Nanaimo)53 kmRoll on, free β€” no reservation neededE-bikes OK β€” no charging on board
🚎BC Transit20/20A Hammond Bay / Doveror the 25 Ferry ShuttleDeparture Bay (Nanaimo) β†’Downtown Nanaimo Exchange3.3 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
πŸš—PoparideHwy 4 rideshare (Nanaimo - Port Alberni - Ucluelet - Tofino)Downtown Nanaimo Exchange β†’Port Alberni64 kmOnly some rides take bikes β€” look for the bicycle icon on the listingSchedule is variable β€” 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 · four legs📅 seasonal
Two ferries, a coach bus, and a rental car.
CarrierRideYour bike
⛴️BC FerriesHorseshoe Bay – LangdaleLangdale (Gibsons) β†’Horseshoe Bay16 kmRoll on, free β€” no reservation neededE-bikes OK β€” no charging on board
🚌Squamish ConnectorSquamish – VancouverHorseshoe Bay β†’Vancouver Canada Place16 kmBook aheadMax 2 bikes per tripSome buses have an outside rack β€” otherwise carried in the luggage hold$15 each wayNo e-bikes
Bikes welcome May to September; check schedule outside that window.
🚲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) β†’Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way)61 kmBook online ahead β€” 6 bike spots per sailing, 1 per guest$19.99 one way β€” $25 in personNo e-bikes β€” no trailers, 80 in / 50 lb max
🚲Travel the short hop from Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way) to Downtown Nanaimo, about 1.5 km.
πŸš™BudgetOne-way rental: Port Alberni – NanaimoDowntown Nanaimo β†’Port Alberni64 kmOne-way between BC Budget branches β€” bookable onlineBike rides inside β€” 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 · four legs📅 seasonal📱 schedule erratic — check the Poparide app
Same as Option three, but a carpool instead of the rental car.
CarrierRideYour bike
⛴️BC FerriesHorseshoe Bay – LangdaleLangdale (Gibsons) β†’Horseshoe Bay16 kmRoll on, free β€” no reservation neededE-bikes OK β€” no charging on board
🚌Squamish ConnectorSquamish – VancouverHorseshoe Bay β†’Vancouver Canada Place16 kmBook aheadMax 2 bikes per tripSome buses have an outside rack β€” otherwise carried in the luggage hold$15 each wayNo e-bikes
Bikes welcome May to September; check schedule outside that window.
🚲Travel the short hop from Vancouver Canada Place to CXH (Vancouver), about 0.8 km.
⛴️HulloHullo (Nanaimo – Vancouver)CXH (Vancouver) β†’Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way)61 kmBook online ahead β€” 6 bike spots per sailing, 1 per guest$19.99 one way β€” $25 in personNo e-bikes β€” no trailers, 80 in / 50 lb max
🚲Travel the short hop from Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way) to Downtown Nanaimo Exchange, about 1 km.
πŸš—PoparideHwy 4 rideshare (Nanaimo - Port Alberni - Ucluelet - Tofino)Downtown Nanaimo Exchange β†’Port Alberni64 kmOnly some rides take bikes β€” look for the bicycle icon on the listingSchedule is variable β€” 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 four moreShow fewer
Not an option · four legs🚫 not possible with a bike
Two ferries, a city bus, and a coach bus.
🚫  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 FerriesHorseshoe Bay – LangdaleLangdale (Gibsons) β†’Horseshoe Bay16 kmRoll on, free β€” no reservation neededE-bikes OK β€” no charging on board
⛴️BC FerriesHorseshoe Bay – Departure BayHorseshoe Bay β†’Departure Bay (Nanaimo)53 kmRoll on, free β€” no reservation neededE-bikes OK β€” no charging on board
🚎BC Transit20/20A Hammond Bay / Doveror the 25 Ferry ShuttleDeparture Bay (Nanaimo) β†’Downtown Nanaimo Exchange3.3 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
🚌Island LinkTofino Express BusDowntown Nanaimo Exchange β†’Port Alberni64 kmDoes not carry bikes
🚲You arrive at Port Alberni.
Not an option · four legs🚫 not possible with a bike📅 seasonal
Two ferries 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 FerriesHorseshoe Bay – LangdaleLangdale (Gibsons) β†’Horseshoe Bay16 kmRoll on, free β€” no reservation neededE-bikes OK β€” no charging on board
🚌Squamish ConnectorSquamish – VancouverHorseshoe Bay β†’Vancouver Canada Place16 kmBook aheadMax 2 bikes per tripSome buses have an outside rack β€” otherwise carried in the luggage hold$15 each wayNo e-bikes
Bikes welcome May to September; check schedule outside that window.
🚲Travel the short hop from Vancouver Canada Place to CXH (Vancouver), about 0.8 km.
⛴️HulloHullo (Nanaimo – Vancouver)CXH (Vancouver) β†’Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way)61 kmBook online ahead β€” 6 bike spots per sailing, 1 per guest$19.99 one way β€” $25 in personNo e-bikes β€” no trailers, 80 in / 50 lb max
🚲Travel the short hop from Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way) to Downtown Nanaimo Exchange, about 1 km.
🚌Island LinkTofino Express BusDowntown Nanaimo Exchange β†’Port Alberni64 kmDoes not carry bikes
🚲You arrive at Port Alberni.
Not an option · five legs🚫 not possible with a bike⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule
Three coach buses, a ferry, and a city bus.
🚫  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
🚌Sunshine Coast ConnectorLangdale – Powell RiverGibsons β†’Powell River101 kmReserve bike spot β€” rack space is limited$20 bike Β· $40 e-bikeNo box needed β€” rack on the bus
Includes the Earls Cove–Saltery Bay ferry leg.
🚲Travel the short hop from Powell River to Marine & Duncan (Powell River), about 0.4 km.
⛴️BC FerriesWestview – Little River (Comox)Marine & Duncan (Powell River) β†’Little River (Comox)30 kmRoll on, free β€” no reservation neededE-bikes OK β€” no charging on board
🚎BC Transit11 Airport via Powell R. Ferry / DowntownLittle River (Comox) β†’Courtenay13 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
One loop serves both the Little River ferry terminal and Comox airport; about 5–7 trips a day, and Sunday service is unconfirmed.
🚌Island LinkIsland Express BusCourtenay β†’Downtown Nanaimo Exchange97 kmDoes not carry bikes
🚌Island LinkTofino Express BusDowntown Nanaimo Exchange β†’Port Alberni64 kmDoes not carry bikes
🚲You arrive at Port Alberni.
Not an option · six legs🚫 not possible with a bike
Six legs, end to end.
🚫  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 FerriesHorseshoe Bay – LangdaleLangdale (Gibsons) β†’Horseshoe Bay16 kmRoll on, free β€” no reservation neededE-bikes OK β€” no charging on board
🚎TransLink257 Horseshoe Bay ExpressHorseshoe Bay β†’Park Royal (West Vancouver)11 kmRack on the bus, free2 bikes β€” first come, first servedE-bikes OK
🚎TransLinkR2 Marine Dr RapidBusPark Royal (West Vancouver) β†’Lonsdale Quay (North Vancouver)4.5 kmRack on the bus, free2 bikes β€” first come, first servedE-bikes OK
⛴️SeaBusTransLinkLonsdale Quay (North Vancouver) β†’Vancouver Canada Place3.5 kmRoll on, free β€” bikes ride inside the cabin6 bikes per sailing at rush hour β€” weekdays 7–9:30 am and 3–6:30 pm; no limit other timesE-bikes OK β€” no charging on boardNo trailers β€” 185 cm max bike length
Bikes ride inside the cabin; during weekday rush hours there's room for six bikes a sailing.
🚲Travel the short hop from Vancouver Canada Place to CXH (Vancouver), about 0.8 km.
⛴️HulloHullo (Nanaimo – Vancouver)CXH (Vancouver) β†’Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way)61 kmBook online ahead β€” 6 bike spots per sailing, 1 per guest$19.99 one way β€” $25 in personNo e-bikes β€” no trailers, 80 in / 50 lb max
🚲Travel the short hop from Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way) to Downtown Nanaimo Exchange, about 1 km.
🚌Island LinkTofino Express BusDowntown Nanaimo Exchange β†’Port Alberni64 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 Gibsons (best: rental car + bus + ferry)

Connections from Gibsons: North Vancouver (best: ferry + bus) · Saanich (best: ferry + bus) · Armstrong (best: ferry + bus) · Haida Gwaii (best: ferry + rental car)

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 Gibsons and Port Alberni