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, rental cars and flights can carry you and your bike from Port Hardy to Merritt.

For scale
As the crow flies480 km
Biking whole way773 km ยท 48 h 53 m
By car844 km ยท 10 h 13 m

We found five 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 one-way rental fills in the missing piece.
CarrierRideYour bike
๐ŸšฒFirst, get from Central Port Hardy to YZT (Port Hardy), about 10 km. Ride it, or take a local bus or taxi. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, Waivin Flags Taxi might help.
๐Ÿš™National Car & Truck Rental (Vancouver Island)One-way rental: Port Hardy โ€“ Nanaimoor Budget (One-way rental: Port Hardy โ€“ Nanaimo) (counter a short ride away on the 20/20A Hammond Bay / Dover)YZT (Port Hardy) โ†’Downtown Nanaimo295 kmOne-way between Island branches โ€” no drop chargeBike rides inside โ€” SUV or minivan, seats folded, wheels offConfirm one-way and vehicle when booking
๐ŸšฒTravel the short hop from Downtown Nanaimo to Departure Bay (Nanaimo), about 1.3 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, A.C. Taxi, Yellow Cab Nanaimo might help.
โ›ด๏ธBC FerriesHorseshoe Bay โ€“ Departure BayDeparture Bay (Nanaimo) โ†’Horseshoe Bay53 kmRoll on, free โ€” no reservation neededE-bikes OK โ€” no charging on board
๐ŸšŽTransLink257 Horseshoe Bay ExpressHorseshoe Bay โ†’Downtown Vancouver (Dunsmuir at Cambie)19 kmRack on the bus, free2 bikes โ€” first come, first servedE-bikes OK
๐ŸšŒRider ExpressVancouver โ€“ Calgary (Hwy 1)Downtown Vancouver (Dunsmuir at Cambie) โ†’Merritt231 kmRides in the hold โ€” bagged, wrapped, or boxed$50 per bike โ€” non-refundable
๐ŸšฒYou arrive at Merritt.
Option two · four legs
Same as Option one, but a SkyTrain instead of the city bus.
CarrierRideYour bike
๐ŸšฒFirst, get from Central Port Hardy to YZT (Port Hardy), about 10 km. Ride it, or take a local bus or taxi.
๐Ÿš™BudgetOne-way rental: Port Hardy โ€“ Nanaimoor National Car & Truck Rental (One-way rental: Port Hardy โ€“ Nanaimo) (counter a short ride away on the 20/20A Hammond Bay / Dover)YZT (Port Hardy) โ†’Downtown Nanaimo298 kmOne-way between BC Budget branches โ€” bookable onlineBike rides inside โ€” SUV or minivan, seats folded, wheels offConfirm one-way and vehicle when booking
๐ŸšฒTravel the short hop from Downtown Nanaimo to Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way), about 1.5 km.
โ›ด๏ธHulloHullo (Nanaimo โ€“ Vancouver)Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way) โ†’CXH (Vancouver)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 CXH (Vancouver) to Vancouver Canada Place, about 0.8 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, Black Top Cabs, Maclure'S Cabs might help.
๐ŸšSkyTrainTransLinkVancouver Canada Place โ†’Pacific Central Station (Vancouver)Roll on, free โ€” 2 bikes per carAvoid rush hourE-bikes OK
๐ŸšŒEbusVancouver โ€“ Kelownaor Ebus (Vancouver โ€“ Kamloops) or Ebus (Vancouver โ€“ Calgary (Hwy 1)) or Rider Express (Vancouver โ€“ Calgary)Pacific Central Station (Vancouver) โ†’Merritt230 kmRides in the hold โ€” bagged or cloth-wrapped (no plastic), or boxed$30 per bike
๐ŸšฒYou arrive at Merritt.
Option three · five legs
Every leg is a different adventure.
CarrierRideYour bike
๐ŸšฒFirst, get from Central Port Hardy to YZT (Port Hardy), about 10 km. Ride it, or take a local bus or taxi.
๐Ÿš™BudgetOne-way rental: Port Hardy โ€“ Nanaimoor National Car & Truck Rental (One-way rental: Port Hardy โ€“ Nanaimo) (counter a short ride away on the 20/20A Hammond Bay / Dover)YZT (Port Hardy) โ†’Downtown Nanaimo298 kmOne-way between BC Budget branches โ€” bookable onlineBike rides inside โ€” SUV or minivan, seats folded, wheels offConfirm one-way and vehicle when booking
๐ŸšฒTravel the short hop from Downtown Nanaimo to Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way), about 1.5 km.
โ›ด๏ธHulloHullo (Nanaimo โ€“ Vancouver)Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way) โ†’CXH (Vancouver)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 CXH (Vancouver) to Vancouver Canada Place, about 0.8 km.
๐ŸšSkyTrainTransLinkVancouver Canada Place โ†’Lougheed Stn Bay 5 (Burnaby)Roll on, free โ€” 2 bikes per carAvoid rush hourE-bikes OK
๐ŸšŽBC Transit66 Fraser Valley ExpressLougheed Stn Bay 5 (Burnaby) โ†’Downtown Chilliwack Bay B76 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
๐ŸšฒTravel the short hop from Downtown Chilliwack Bay B to Chilliwack, about 1.3 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, Chilliwack Taxi might help.
๐ŸšŒRider ExpressVancouver โ€“ Calgary (Hwy 1)Chilliwack โ†’Merritt139 kmRides in the hold โ€” bagged, wrapped, or boxed$50 per bike โ€” non-refundable
๐ŸšฒYou arrive at Merritt.
Option four · five legs
The same idea as Option three, on different routes.
CarrierRideYour bike
๐ŸšฒFirst, get from Central Port Hardy to YZT (Port Hardy), about 10 km. Ride it, or take a local bus or taxi.
๐Ÿš™BudgetOne-way rental: Port Hardy โ€“ NanaimoYZT (Port Hardy) โ†’Downtown Nanaimo298 kmOne-way between BC Budget branches โ€” bookable onlineBike rides inside โ€” SUV or minivan, seats folded, wheels offConfirm one-way and vehicle when booking
๐ŸšฒTravel the short hop from Downtown Nanaimo to Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way), about 1.5 km.
โ›ด๏ธHulloHullo (Nanaimo โ€“ Vancouver)Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way) โ†’CXH (Vancouver)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 CXH (Vancouver) to Vancouver Canada Place, about 0.8 km.
๐ŸšSkyTrainTransLinkVancouver Canada Place โ†’Lougheed Stn Bay 5 (Burnaby)Roll on, free โ€” 2 bikes per carAvoid rush hourE-bikes OK
๐ŸšŽBC Transit66 Fraser Valley Express (FVX)Lougheed Stn Bay 5 (Burnaby) โ†’Abbotsford50 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
๐ŸšŒRider ExpressVancouver โ€“ Calgary (Hwy 1)Abbotsford โ†’Merritt166 kmRides in the hold โ€” bagged, wrapped, or boxed$50 per bike โ€” non-refundable
๐ŸšฒYou arrive at Merritt.
Option five · four legs✈ the splurge
Pedal the first stretch, then let the flights take over.
CarrierRideYour bike
๐ŸšฒFirst, get from Central Port Hardy to YZT (Port Hardy), about 10 km. Ride it, or take a local bus or taxi.
โœˆ๏ธPacific Coastal AirlinesVancouver โ€“ Port HardyYZT (Port Hardy) โ†’Vancouver Airport (YVR) (Richmond)343 kmRides in the hold โ€” small aircraft, limited spaceAbout $105 per directionNo e-bikes
โœˆ๏ธFlair AirlinesVancouver (YVR) โ€“ Calgary (YYC)Vancouver Airport (YVR) (Richmond) โ†’Calgary AB683 kmRides in the hold โ€” boxed, bagged, or wrappedBike feeReserve bike spotNo e-bikes
โœˆ๏ธFlair AirlinesAbbotsford (YXX) โ€“ Calgary (YYC)Calgary AB โ†’Abbotsford Airport634 kmRides in the hold โ€” boxed, bagged, or wrappedBike feeReserve bike spotNo e-bikes
๐ŸšŒEbusVancouver โ€“ Calgary (Hwy 1)Abbotsford Airport โ†’Merritt172 kmRides in the hold โ€” bagged or cloth-wrapped (no plastic), or boxed$30 per bike
Runs the same Highway 1 corridor as Rider Express, so compare schedules and fares.
๐ŸšฒYou arrive at Merritt.
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: Merritt to Port Hardy (best: bus + ferry + rental car)

Connections from Port Hardy: Port McNeill (best: bus) · West Vancouver (best: rental car + ferry) · Prince Rupert (best: ferry) · Calgary, AB (best: rental car + ferry + bus)

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

Check out BC Bike Stops in Port Hardy and Merritt