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 trains can carry you and your bike from Merritt to Qualicum Beach.

For scale
As the crow flies277 km
Biking whole way428 km ยท 26 h 55 m
By car412 km ยท 5 h 42 m

We found five 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
Beautiful BC from a coach window.
CarrierRideYour bike
๐ŸšŒEbusVancouver โ€“ Kelownaor Ebus (Vancouver โ€“ Kamloops) or Ebus (Vancouver โ€“ Calgary (Hwy 1)) or Rider Express (Vancouver โ€“ Calgary)Merritt โ†’Pacific Central Station (Vancouver)230 kmRides in the hold โ€” bagged or cloth-wrapped (no plastic), or boxed$30 per bike
๐ŸšSkyTrainTransLinkPacific Central Station (Vancouver) โ†’Vancouver Canada PlaceRoll on, free โ€” 2 bikes per carAvoid rush hourE-bikes OK
๐ŸšฒTravel 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.
โ›ด๏ธHulloHullo (Nanaimo โ€“ Vancouver)CXH (Vancouver) โ†’Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way)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 Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way) to Downtown Nanaimo Exchange, about 1 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, A.C. Taxi, Yellow Cab Nanaimo might help.
๐ŸšŽBC Transit1 Nanaimo Rapid LineDowntown Nanaimo Exchange โ†’Bay B at Woodgrove Exch (Nanaimo)12 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
๐ŸšŽBC Transit9 IntercityBay B at Woodgrove Exch (Nanaimo) โ†’Ravensong Exch (Qualicum Beach)32 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 Ravensong Exch (Qualicum Beach).
Option two · six legs
A beautiful ferry ride with transit on both sides.
CarrierRideYour bike
๐ŸšŒRider ExpressVancouver โ€“ Calgary (Hwy 1)Merritt โ†’Downtown Vancouver (Dunsmuir at Cambie)231 kmRides in the hold โ€” bagged, wrapped, or boxed$50 per bike โ€” non-refundable
๐ŸšŽTransLink257 Horseshoe Bay ExpressDowntown Vancouver (Dunsmuir at Cambie) โ†’Horseshoe Bay19 kmRack on the bus, free2 bikes โ€” first come, first servedE-bikes OK
โ›ด๏ธBC FerriesHorseshoe Bay โ€“ Departure BayHorseshoe Bay โ†’Departure Bay (Nanaimo)53 kmRoll on, free โ€” no reservation neededE-bikes OK โ€” no charging on board
๐ŸšŽBC Transit20/20A Hammond Bay / Doveror the 25 Ferry ShuttleDeparture Bay (Nanaimo) โ†’Downtown Nanaimo Exchange3.3 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
๐ŸšŽBC Transit1 Nanaimo Rapid LineDowntown Nanaimo Exchange โ†’Bay B at Woodgrove Exch (Nanaimo)12 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
๐ŸšŽBC Transit9 IntercityBay B at Woodgrove Exch (Nanaimo) โ†’Ravensong Exch (Qualicum Beach)32 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 Ravensong Exch (Qualicum Beach).
Option three · six legs
Four ways to travel, one destination.
CarrierRideYour bike
๐ŸšŒRider ExpressVancouver โ€“ Calgary (Hwy 1)Merritt โ†’Chilliwack139 kmRides in the hold โ€” bagged, wrapped, or boxed$50 per bike โ€” non-refundable
๐ŸšฒTravel the short hop from Chilliwack to Downtown Chilliwack Bay B, about 1.3 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, Chilliwack Taxi might help.
๐ŸšŽBC Transit66 Fraser Valley ExpressDowntown Chilliwack Bay B โ†’Lougheed Stn Bay 5 (Burnaby)76 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
๐ŸšSkyTrainTransLinkLougheed Stn Bay 5 (Burnaby) โ†’Vancouver Canada PlaceRoll on, free โ€” 2 bikes per carAvoid rush hourE-bikes OK
๐ŸšฒTravel the short hop from Vancouver Canada Place to CXH (Vancouver), about 0.8 km.
โ›ด๏ธHulloHullo (Nanaimo โ€“ Vancouver)CXH (Vancouver) โ†’Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way)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 Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way) to Downtown Nanaimo Exchange, about 1 km.
๐ŸšŽBC Transit1 Nanaimo Rapid LineDowntown Nanaimo Exchange โ†’Bay B at Woodgrove Exch (Nanaimo)12 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
๐ŸšŽBC Transit9 IntercityBay B at Woodgrove Exch (Nanaimo) โ†’Ravensong Exch (Qualicum Beach)32 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 Ravensong Exch (Qualicum Beach).
Option four · six legs
The same idea as Option three, on different routes.
CarrierRideYour bike
๐ŸšŒRider ExpressVancouver โ€“ Calgary (Hwy 1)Merritt โ†’Abbotsford166 kmRides in the hold โ€” bagged, wrapped, or boxed$50 per bike โ€” non-refundable
๐ŸšŽBC Transit66 Fraser Valley Express (FVX)Abbotsford โ†’Lougheed Stn Bay 5 (Burnaby)50 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
๐ŸšSkyTrainTransLinkLougheed Stn Bay 5 (Burnaby) โ†’Vancouver Canada PlaceRoll on, free โ€” 2 bikes per carAvoid rush hourE-bikes OK
๐ŸšฒTravel the short hop from Vancouver Canada Place to CXH (Vancouver), about 0.8 km.
โ›ด๏ธHulloHullo (Nanaimo โ€“ Vancouver)CXH (Vancouver) โ†’Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way)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 Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way) to Downtown Nanaimo Exchange, about 1 km.
๐ŸšŽBC Transit1 Nanaimo Rapid LineDowntown Nanaimo Exchange โ†’Bay B at Woodgrove Exch (Nanaimo)12 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
๐ŸšŽBC Transit9 IntercityBay B at Woodgrove Exch (Nanaimo) โ†’Ravensong Exch (Qualicum Beach)32 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 Ravensong Exch (Qualicum Beach).
Option five · seven legs
A proper expedition.
CarrierRideYour bike
๐ŸšŒRider ExpressVancouver โ€“ Calgary (Hwy 1)Merritt โ†’Downtown Vancouver (Dunsmuir at Cambie)231 kmRides in the hold โ€” bagged, wrapped, or boxed$50 per bike โ€” non-refundable
๐ŸšŽTransLink257 Horseshoe Bay ExpressDowntown Vancouver (Dunsmuir at Cambie) โ†’Park Royal (West Vancouver)7.5 kmRack on the bus, free2 bikes โ€” first come, first servedE-bikes OK
๐ŸšŽTransLinkR2 Marine Dr RapidBusPark Royal (West Vancouver) โ†’Lonsdale Quay (North Vancouver)4.5 kmRack on the bus, free2 bikes โ€” first come, first servedE-bikes OK
โ›ด๏ธSeaBusTransLinkLonsdale Quay (North Vancouver) โ†’Vancouver Canada Place3.5 kmRoll on, free โ€” bikes ride inside the cabin6 bikes per sailing at rush hour โ€” weekdays 7โ€“9:30 am and 3โ€“6:30 pm; no limit other timesE-bikes OK โ€” no charging on boardNo trailers โ€” 185 cm max bike length
Bikes ride inside the cabin; during weekday rush hours there's room for six bikes a sailing.
๐ŸšฒTravel the short hop from Vancouver Canada Place to CXH (Vancouver), about 0.8 km.
โ›ด๏ธHulloHullo (Nanaimo โ€“ Vancouver)CXH (Vancouver) โ†’Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way)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 Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way) to Downtown Nanaimo Exchange, about 1 km.
๐ŸšŽBC Transit1 Nanaimo Rapid LineDowntown Nanaimo Exchange โ†’Bay B at Woodgrove Exch (Nanaimo)12 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
๐ŸšŽBC Transit9 IntercityBay B at Woodgrove Exch (Nanaimo) โ†’Ravensong Exch (Qualicum Beach)32 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 Ravensong Exch (Qualicum Beach).
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: Qualicum Beach to Merritt (best: bus + ferry + SkyTrain)

Connections from Merritt: Kamloops (best: bus) · West Vancouver (best: bus) · Cortes Island (best: bus + SkyTrain + ferry) · Haida Gwaii (best: bus + train + ferry)

Connections from Qualicum Beach: Denman Island (best: bus + carpool + ferry) · Delta (best: bus + ferry + SkyTrain) · Port Hardy (best: bus + rental car) · Calgary, AB (best: bus + ferry + SkyTrain)

Check out BC Bike Stops in Merritt and Qualicum Beach