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 New Westminster to Qualicum Beach.

For scale
As the crow flies113 km
Biking whole way151 km ยท 7 h 33 m
By car166 km ยท 3 h 25 m

We found four ways to get you there.

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 · four legs
A ferry in the middle ties it all together.
CarrierRideYour bike
๐ŸšSkyTrainTransLinkNew Westminster 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 proper expedition.
CarrierRideYour bike
๐ŸšSkyTrainTransLinkNew Westminster โ†’Stadium-Chinatown (Vancouver)Roll on, free โ€” 2 bikes per carAvoid rush hourE-bikes OK
๐ŸšŽTransLink257 Horseshoe Bay ExpressStadium-Chinatown (Vancouver) โ†’Horseshoe Bay17 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📅 seasonal
Same as Option two, but a coach bus instead of the city bus.
CarrierRideYour bike
๐ŸšSkyTrainTransLinkNew Westminster โ†’Vancouver Canada PlaceRoll on, free โ€” 2 bikes per carAvoid rush hourE-bikes OK
๐ŸšŒSquamish ConnectorSquamish โ€“ VancouverVancouver Canada Place โ†’Horseshoe Bay16 kmBook aheadMax 2 bikes per tripSome buses have an outside rack โ€” otherwise carried in the luggage hold$15 each wayNo e-bikes
Bikes welcome May to September; check schedule outside that window.
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 four · four legs✈ the splurge
Same as Option one, but a plane instead of the ferry.
CarrierRideYour bike
๐ŸšSkyTrainTransLinkNew Westminster 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.
๐Ÿ›ฉ๏ธHarbour AirVancouver Harbour โ€“ Nanaimo HarbourCXH (Vancouver) โ†’Nanaimo Harbour60 kmFront wheel must come off$20 handling fee โ€” bike weight counts toward your baggage allowanceNot on the Twin Otter โ€” other floatplanes are fine; confirm when booking
๐ŸšฒTravel the short hop from Nanaimo Harbour to Downtown Nanaimo Exchange, about 0.6 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 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: Qualicum Beach to New Westminster (best: bus + ferry + SkyTrain)

Connections from New Westminster: Bowen Island (best: SkyTrain + bus + ferry) · Courtenay (Comox Valley) (best: SkyTrain + bus + ferry) · Nakusp (best: bus) · Whitehorse, YT (best: SkyTrain + plane)

Connections from Qualicum Beach: Denman Island (best: bus + carpool + ferry) · Mill Bay (best: bus) · Princeton (best: bus + ferry + SkyTrain) · Whitehorse, YT (best: bus + ferry + SkyTrain)

Check out BC Bike Stops in New Westminster and Qualicum Beach