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, rental cars and flights can carry you and your bike from Nanaimo to Cumberland.

For scale
As the crow flies94 km
Biking whole way117 km · 7 h 10 m
By car105 km · 1 h 06 m

We found three ways to get you there.

🎒 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📱 schedule erratic — check the Poparide app
One long leg does most of the travelling.
CarrierRideYour bike
🚗PoparideIsland Hwy rideshare (Nanaimo - Courtenay)Downtown Nanaimo Exchange →Courtenay97 kmOnly some rides take bikes — look for the bicycle icon on the listingSchedule is variable — check Poparide for driver-listed dates and times
Only book rides that say they permit bicycles (bike icon on the listing).
🚲Travel the short hop from Courtenay to Anfield Centre (Courtenay), about 2.9 km.
🚎BC Transit2 Cumberland / Anfield CentreAnfield Centre (Courtenay) →Dunsmuir Ave at 4th St (Cumberland)6.4 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK
🚲You arrive at Dunsmuir Ave at 4th St (Cumberland).
Option two · three legs⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule
Fill in the gap with a rental car.
CarrierRideYour bike
🚲Travel the short hop from Departure Bay (Nanaimo) to Downtown Nanaimo, about 1.3 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, A.C. Taxi, Yellow Cab Nanaimo might help.
🚙National Car & Truck Rental (Vancouver Island)One-way rental: Comox – NanaimoDowntown Nanaimo →Comox Airport (YQQ)88 kmOne-way between Island branches — no drop chargeBike rides inside — SUV or minivan, seats folded, wheels offConfirm one-way and vehicle when booking
🚎BC Transit11 Airport via Powell R. Ferry / DowntownComox Airport (YQQ) →Courtenay8.3 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK
One loop serves both the Little River ferry terminal and Comox airport; about 5–7 trips a day, and Sunday service is unconfirmed.
🚲Travel the short hop from Courtenay to Anfield Centre (Courtenay), about 2.9 km.
🚎BC Transit2 Cumberland / Anfield CentreAnfield Centre (Courtenay) →Dunsmuir Ave at 4th St (Cumberland)6.4 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK
🚲You arrive at Dunsmuir Ave at 4th St (Cumberland).
Not an option · two legs🚫 not possible with a bike
Coach bus to Courtenay, then a city bus into Cumberland.
🚫  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
🚌Island LinkIsland Express BusDowntown Nanaimo Exchange →Courtenay97 kmDoes not carry bikes
🚲Travel the short hop from Courtenay to Anfield Centre (Courtenay), about 2.9 km.
🚎BC Transit2 Cumberland / Anfield CentreAnfield Centre (Courtenay) →Dunsmuir Ave at 4th St (Cumberland)6.4 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK
🚲You arrive at Dunsmuir Ave at 4th St (Cumberland).
Option four · four legs✈ the splurge
Treat yourself: wings over the water.
CarrierRideYour bike
🛩️Harbour AirVancouver Harbour – Nanaimo HarbourNanaimo Harbour →CXH (Vancouver)60 kmFront wheel must come off$20 handling fee — bike weight counts toward your baggage allowanceNot on the Twin Otter — other floatplanes are fine; confirm when booking
🛩️Harbour AirVancouver Harbour – ComoxCXH (Vancouver) →Comox Harbour138 kmFront wheel must come off$20 handling fee — bike weight counts toward your baggage allowanceNot on the Twin Otter — other floatplanes are fine; confirm when booking
🚲Travel the short hop from Comox Harbour to Comox Mall Bay B, about 0.4 km.
🚎BC Transit1 Comox Mall / Anfield Centre via N.I.C.Comox Mall Bay B →Anfield Centre (Courtenay)4 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK
🚎BC Transit2 Cumberland / Anfield CentreAnfield Centre (Courtenay) →Dunsmuir Ave at 4th St (Cumberland)6.4 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK
🚲You arrive at Dunsmuir Ave at 4th St (Cumberland).
Route facts last checked July 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: Cumberland to Nanaimo (best: bus + carpool)

Connections from Nanaimo: North Cowichan (Chemainus & Crofton) (best: bus) · Comox (best: rental car) · Vernon (best: ferry + SkyTrain + bus) · Calgary, AB (best: ferry + SkyTrain + bus)

Connections from Cumberland: Texada Island (best: bus + ferry) · Burnaby (best: bus + carpool + ferry) · Shearwater (best: bus + rental car + ferry) · Calgary, AB (best: bus + carpool + ferry)

Check out BC Bike Stops in Nanaimo and Cumberland