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, rental cars and flights can carry you and your bike from Parksville to Alert Bay.
For scale
As the crow flies232 km
Biking whole way331 km · 20 h 26 m
By car327 km · 4 h 13 m
We found two ways to get you there, ferries doing the heavy lifting.
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 · six legs⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule
A one-way rental fills in the missing piece.
CarrierRideYour bike
🚎BC Transit9 IntercityIsland Hwy W at Wembley Centre (Parksville) →Bay B at Woodgrove Exch (Nanaimo)24 kmFront rack, no fee — 2 bikes, first come; space not guaranteedE-bikes under 25 kg only — lithium battery off the bike and carried on board
🚎BC Transit1 Nanaimo Rapid LineBay B at Woodgrove Exch (Nanaimo) →Downtown Nanaimo Exchange12 kmFront rack, no fee — 2 bikes, first come; space not guaranteedE-bikes under 25 kg only — lithium battery off the bike and carried on board
🚎BC Transit20/20A Hammond Bay / DoverDowntown Nanaimo Exchange →Departure Bay (Nanaimo)3.3 kmFront rack, no fee — 2 bikes, first come; space not guaranteedE-bikes under 25 kg only — lithium battery off the bike and carried on board
🚲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: Port Hardy – Nanaimoor Budget (One-way rental: Port Hardy – Nanaimo)Downtown Nanaimo →YZT (Port Hardy)295 kmOne-way between Island branches — no drop chargeBike rides inside — SUV or minivan, seats folded, wheels offConfirm one-way and vehicle when booking
🚲Travel the short hop from YZT (Port Hardy) to Port Hardy, about 10 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, Waivin Flags Taxi might help.
🚎BC Transit1/2 Port McNeill - Port HardyPort Hardy →Port McNeill33 kmFront rack, no fee — 2 bikes, first come; space not guaranteedE-bikes under 25 kg only — lithium battery off the bike and carried on board
Five trips a day on weekdays, two on Saturday, and no service on Sunday.
⛴️BC FerriesPort McNeill – Sointula – Alert BayPort McNeill →Alert Bay (Cormorant Island)14 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
🚲You arrive at Alert Bay (Cormorant Island).
Option two · seven legs✈ the splurge⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule
Fly most of the way, then let transit finish the trip.
CarrierRideYour bike
🚎BC Transit9 IntercityIsland Hwy W at Wembley Centre (Parksville) →Bay B at Woodgrove Exch (Nanaimo)24 kmFront rack, no fee — 2 bikes, first come; space not guaranteedE-bikes under 25 kg only — lithium battery off the bike and carried on board
🚎BC Transit1 Nanaimo Rapid LineBay B at Woodgrove Exch (Nanaimo) →Downtown Nanaimo Exchange12 kmFront rack, no fee — 2 bikes, first come; space not guaranteedE-bikes under 25 kg only — lithium battery off the bike and carried on board
🚲Travel the short hop from Downtown Nanaimo Exchange to Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way), about 1 km.
⛴️HulloHullo (Nanaimo – Vancouver)Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way) →CXH (Vancouver)61 kmBook online ahead — 6 bike spots per sailing, 1 per guest$19.99 one way — $25 in personNo e-bikes — 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 →Vancouver Airport (YVR) (Richmond)Roll on, free — 2 bikes per carAvoid rush hourE-bikes OK
✈️Pacific Coastal AirlinesVancouver – Port HardyVancouver Airport (YVR) (Richmond) →YZT (Port Hardy)343 kmRides in the hold — small aircraft, limited spaceAbout $105 per directionNo e-bikes
🚲Travel the short hop from YZT (Port Hardy) to Port Hardy, about 10 km.
🚎BC Transit1/2 Port McNeill - Port HardyPort Hardy →Port McNeill33 kmFront rack, no fee — 2 bikes, first come; space not guaranteedE-bikes under 25 kg only — lithium battery off the bike and carried on board
Five trips a day on weekdays, two on Saturday, and no service on Sunday.
⛴️BC FerriesPort McNeill – Sointula – Alert BayPort McNeill →Alert Bay (Cormorant Island)14 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
🚲You arrive at Alert Bay (Cormorant Island).
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: Alert Bay to Parksville (best: ferry + bus + rental car)
Connections from Parksville: Nanaimo (best: bus) · Ucluelet (best: bus + carpool) · Merritt (best: bus + ferry + SkyTrain) · Calgary, AB (best: bus + ferry + SkyTrain)
Connections from Alert Bay: Port Hardy (best: ferry + bus) · Ocean Falls (best: ferry + bus) · Duncan (Cowichan Valley) (best: ferry + bus + rental car) · New Hazelton (best: ferry + bus + train)
Check out BC Bike Stops in Parksville and Alert Bay