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 Ladysmith to West Vancouver.

For scale
As the crow flies62 km
Biking whole way86 km Β· 3 h 32 m
By car219 km Β· 4 h 07 m

We found six ways to get you there.

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
The ferry is the main event.
CarrierRideYour bike
🚎BC Transit70 NCX Nanaimo - Cowichan Express1st Ave at Hwy 1 (Ladysmith) β†’Bay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch20 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 Bay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch to Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way), about 1.4 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, A.C. Taxi, Yellow Cab Nanaimo might help.
⛴️HulloHullo (Nanaimo – Vancouver)Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way) β†’CXH (Vancouver)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 CXH (Vancouver) to Vancouver Canada Place, about 0.8 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, Black Top Cabs, Maclure'S Cabs might help.
🚝SkyTrainTransLinkVancouver Canada Place β†’Stadium-Chinatown (Vancouver)Roll on, free β€” 2 bikes per carAvoid rush hourE-bikes OK
🚎TransLink257 Horseshoe Bay ExpressStadium-Chinatown (Vancouver) β†’Park Royal (West Vancouver)5.7 kmRack on the bus, free2 bikes β€” first come, first servedE-bikes OK
🚲You arrive at Park Royal (West Vancouver).
Option two · three legs
City bus to Bay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch, city bus to Departure Bay, then a ferry into Horseshoe Bay.
CarrierRideYour bike
🚎BC Transit70 NCX Nanaimo - Cowichan Express1st Ave at Hwy 1 (Ladysmith) β†’Bay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch20 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 Bay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch to Downtown Nanaimo Exchange, about 0.5 km.
🚎BC Transit20/20A Hammond Bay / Doveror the 25 Ferry ShuttleDowntown Nanaimo Exchange β†’Departure Bay (Nanaimo)3.3 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
⛴️BC FerriesHorseshoe Bay – Departure BayDeparture Bay (Nanaimo) β†’Horseshoe Bay53 kmRoll on, free β€” no reservation neededE-bikes OK β€” no charging on board
🚲At the far end, West Vancouver is about 11 km from Horseshoe Bay. Ride it, or take a local bus or taxi.
Option three · four legs
Same as Option one, but a SeaBus instead of the SkyTrain.
CarrierRideYour bike
🚎BC Transit70 NCX Nanaimo - Cowichan Express1st Ave at Hwy 1 (Ladysmith) β†’Bay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch20 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 Bay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch to Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way), about 1.4 km.
⛴️HulloHullo (Nanaimo – Vancouver)Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way) β†’CXH (Vancouver)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 CXH (Vancouver) to Vancouver Canada Place, about 0.8 km.
⛴️SeaBusTransLinkVancouver Canada Place β†’Lonsdale Quay (North Vancouver)3.5 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.
🚎TransLinkR2 Marine Dr RapidBusLonsdale Quay (North Vancouver) β†’Park Royal (West Vancouver)4.5 kmRack on the bus, free2 bikes β€” first come, first servedE-bikes OK
🚲You arrive at Park Royal (West Vancouver).
Option four · three legs📅 seasonal
Buses bookending a beautiful sailing.
CarrierRideYour bike
🚎BC Transit70 NCX Nanaimo - Cowichan Express1st Ave at Hwy 1 (Ladysmith) β†’Bay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch20 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 Bay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch to Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way), about 1.4 km.
⛴️HulloHullo (Nanaimo – Vancouver)Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way) β†’CXH (Vancouver)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 CXH (Vancouver) to Vancouver Canada Place, about 0.8 km.
🚌Squamish ConnectorSquamish – VancouverVancouver Canada Place β†’Park Royal (West Vancouver)5 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.
🚲You arrive at Park Royal (West Vancouver).
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Option five · five legs
The long way round, but it works.
CarrierRideYour bike
🚎BC Transit70 NCX Nanaimo - Cowichan Expressor the 36 Ladysmith-Duncan Express (doesn't run every day)1st Ave at Hwy 1 (Ladysmith) β†’Duncan26 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
🚎BC Transit66 CVX Cowichan - Victoria ExpressDuncan β†’Legislature Exch (Belleville St) Bay G (Victoria)54 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 Legislature Exch (Belleville St) Bay G (Victoria) to Douglas St at Pandora Ave (Victoria), about 1.3 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, Bluebird Cabs, Sidney Taxi might help.
🚌Wilson's Transportation (BC Connector)BC Ferries Connector β€” Vancouver / VictoriaDouglas St at Pandora Ave (Victoria) β†’Downtown Vancouver (Burrard Station)101 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.
🚝SkyTrainTransLinkDowntown Vancouver (Burrard Station) β†’Stadium-Chinatown (Vancouver)Roll on, free β€” 2 bikes per carAvoid rush hourE-bikes OK
🚎TransLink257 Horseshoe Bay ExpressStadium-Chinatown (Vancouver) β†’Park Royal (West Vancouver)5.7 kmRack on the bus, free2 bikes β€” first come, first servedE-bikes OK
🚲You arrive at Park Royal (West Vancouver).
Option six · four legs✈ the splurge
Same as Option one, but a plane instead of the ferry.
CarrierRideYour bike
🚎BC Transit70 NCX Nanaimo - Cowichan Express1st Ave at Hwy 1 (Ladysmith) β†’Bay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch20 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 Bay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch to Nanaimo Harbour, about 1.1 km.
πŸ›©οΈHarbour AirVancouver Harbour – Nanaimo HarbourNanaimo Harbour β†’CXH (Vancouver)60 kmFront wheel must come off$20 handling fee β€” bike weight counts toward your baggage allowanceNot on the Twin Otter β€” other floatplanes are fine; confirm when booking
🚲Travel the short hop from CXH (Vancouver) to Vancouver Canada Place, about 0.8 km.
🚝SkyTrainTransLinkVancouver Canada Place β†’Stadium-Chinatown (Vancouver)Roll on, free β€” 2 bikes per carAvoid rush hourE-bikes OK
🚎TransLink257 Horseshoe Bay ExpressStadium-Chinatown (Vancouver) β†’Park Royal (West Vancouver)5.7 kmRack on the bus, free2 bikes β€” first come, first servedE-bikes OK
🚲You arrive at Park Royal (West Vancouver).
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: West Vancouver to Ladysmith (best: ferry + bus)

Connections from Ladysmith: Salt Spring Island (best: bus + ferry) · Cumberland (best: bus + carpool) · Armstrong (best: bus + ferry + SkyTrain) · Whitehorse, YT (best: bus + ferry + SkyTrain)

Connections from West Vancouver: Maple Ridge (best: bus + SkyTrain) · Lytton (best: bus + SkyTrain) · Castlegar (best: bus + SkyTrain) · Whitehorse, YT (best: bus + SkyTrain + plane)

Check out BC Bike Stops in Ladysmith and West Vancouver