Port Alberni to Vancouver with a bike

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, rental cars and flights can carry you and your bike from Port Alberni to Vancouver.

For scale

As the crow flies123 km

Biking whole way171 km · 8 h 50 m

By car302 km · 5 h

We found seven 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

A one-way rental fills in the missing piece.

CarrierRideYour bike

🚲Travel the short hop from Port Alberni to Port Alberni, about 0.8 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, Alberni District United Cabs Association, United Cabs'S #5 might help.

🚙BudgetOne-way rental: Port Alberni – NanaimoPort Alberni →Downtown Nanaimo64 kmOne-way between BC Budget branches — bookable onlineBike rides inside — SUV or minivan, seats folded, wheels offConfirm one-way and vehicle when booking

🚲Travel the short hop from Downtown Nanaimo to Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way), about 1.5 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, A.C. Taxi, Yellow Cab Nanaimo might help.

⛴️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

🚲You arrive at CXH (Vancouver).

Option two · two legs📱 schedule erratic — check the Poparide app

Same as Option one, but a carpool instead of the rental car.

CarrierRideYour bike

🚗PoparideHwy 4 rideshare (Nanaimo - Port Alberni - Ucluelet - Tofino)Port Alberni →Downtown Nanaimo Exchange64 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 Downtown Nanaimo Exchange to Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way), about 1 km.

🚲You arrive at CXH (Vancouver).

Option three · four legs

A rental car, two city buses, and a ferry.

CarrierRideYour bike

🚲Travel the short hop from Port Alberni to Port Alberni, about 0.8 km.

🚲Travel the short hop from Downtown Nanaimo to Downtown Nanaimo Exchange, about 0.6 km.

🚎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

⛴️BC FerriesHorseshoe Bay – Departure BayDeparture Bay (Nanaimo) →Horseshoe Bay53 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

🚎TransLink257 Horseshoe Bay ExpressHorseshoe Bay →Downtown Vancouver (Dunsmuir at Cambie)19 kmRack on the bus, free2 bikes — first come, first servedE-bikes OK

🚲You arrive at Downtown Vancouver (Dunsmuir at Cambie).

Option four · four legs📱 schedule erratic — check the Poparide app

Same as Option three, but a carpool instead of the rental car.

CarrierRideYour bike

Only book rides that say they permit bicycles (bike icon on the listing).

🚎BC Transit20/20A Hammond Bay / Doveror the 25 Ferry ShuttleDowntown 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

⛴️BC FerriesHorseshoe Bay – Departure BayDeparture Bay (Nanaimo) →Horseshoe Bay53 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

🚎TransLink257 Horseshoe Bay ExpressHorseshoe Bay →Downtown Vancouver (Dunsmuir at Cambie)19 kmRack on the bus, free2 bikes — first come, first servedE-bikes OK

🚲You arrive at Downtown Vancouver (Dunsmuir at Cambie).

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Option five · four legs

The long way round, but it works.

CarrierRideYour bike

🚲Travel the short hop from Port Alberni to Port Alberni, about 0.8 km.

🚲Travel the short hop from Downtown Nanaimo to Bay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch, about 1 km.

🚎BC Transit70 NCX Nanaimo - Cowichan ExpressBay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch →Duncan46 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 Transit66 CVX Cowichan - Victoria ExpressDuncan →Legislature Exch (Belleville St) Bay G (Victoria)54 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 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 — Vancouver / VictoriaDouglas St at Pandora Ave (Victoria) →Downtown Vancouver101 kmRides in the hold — bagged or boxed$42 per bike — 50 lb maxReserve bike spot — recommended

⛴️ Downtown to downtown via the Tsawwassen–Swartz Bay ferry crossing.

🚲You arrive at Downtown Vancouver.

Option six · four legs📱 schedule erratic — check the Poparide app

Same as Option five, but a carpool instead of the rental car.

CarrierRideYour bike

Only book rides that say they permit bicycles (bike icon on the listing).

🚲Travel the short hop from Downtown Nanaimo Exchange to Bay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch, about 0.5 km.

🚲Travel the short hop from Legislature Exch (Belleville St) Bay G (Victoria) to Douglas St at Pandora Ave (Victoria), about 1.3 km.

⛴️ Downtown to downtown via the Tsawwassen–Swartz Bay ferry crossing.

🚲You arrive at Downtown Vancouver.

Not an option · two legs🚫 not possible with a bike

Coach bus to Nanaimo, then a ferry into Vancouver.

🚫 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 LinkTofino Express BusPort Alberni →Downtown Nanaimo Exchange64 kmDoes not carry bikes

🚲Travel the short hop from Downtown Nanaimo Exchange to Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way), about 1 km.

🚲You arrive at CXH (Vancouver).

Not an option · four legs🚫 not possible with a bike

A coach bus, two city buses, and a ferry.

🚫 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 LinkTofino Express BusPort Alberni →Downtown Nanaimo Exchange64 kmDoes not carry bikes

⛴️BC FerriesHorseshoe Bay – Departure BayDeparture Bay (Nanaimo) →Horseshoe Bay53 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

🚎TransLink257 Horseshoe Bay ExpressHorseshoe Bay →Downtown Vancouver (Dunsmuir at Cambie)19 kmRack on the bus, free2 bikes — first come, first servedE-bikes OK

🚲You arrive at Downtown Vancouver (Dunsmuir at Cambie).

Not an option · three legs🚫 not possible with a bike

A coach-bus relay: three buses, two changes.

🚫 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 LinkTofino Express BusPort Alberni →Downtown Nanaimo Exchange64 kmDoes not carry bikes

🚌Island LinkVictoria Express BusDowntown Nanaimo Exchange →Douglas St at Pandora Ave (Victoria)92 kmDoes not carry bikes

⛴️ Downtown to downtown via the Tsawwassen–Swartz Bay ferry crossing.

🚲You arrive at Downtown Vancouver.

Not an option · four legs🚫 not possible with a bike📅 seasonal

Two coach buses, a city bus, and a ferry.

🚫 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 LinkTofino Express BusPort Alberni →Downtown Nanaimo Exchange64 kmDoes not carry bikes

⛴️BC FerriesHorseshoe Bay – Departure BayDeparture Bay (Nanaimo) →Horseshoe Bay53 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

🚌Squamish ConnectorSquamish – VancouverHorseshoe Bay →Vancouver Canada Place16 kmBook aheadMax 2 bikes per tripSome buses have an outside rack — otherwise carried in the luggage hold$15 each wayNo e-bikes

Bikes welcome May to September; check schedule outside that window.

🚲You arrive at Vancouver Canada Place.

Option 11 · two legs✈ the splurge

Same as Option one, but a plane instead of the ferry.

CarrierRideYour bike

🚲Travel the short hop from Port Alberni to Port Alberni, about 0.8 km.

🚲Travel the short hop from Downtown Nanaimo to Nanaimo Harbour, about 1.2 km.

🛩️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

🚲You arrive at CXH (Vancouver).

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: Vancouver to Port Alberni (best: ferry + rental car)

Connections from Port Alberni: Hornby Island (best: rental car + carpool + bus) · Saturna Island (best: rental car + ferry + SkyTrain) · West Kelowna (best: rental car + ferry + SkyTrain) · Calgary, AB (best: rental car + ferry + SkyTrain)

Connections from Vancouver: Gibsons (best: bus + ferry) · Powell River (best: bus + ferry) · Port McNeill (best: ferry + bus + rental car) · Haida Gwaii (best: train + ferry)

Check out BC Bike Stops in Port Alberni and Vancouver

To and Fro: moving your bike around British Columbia