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 and ferries can carry you and your bike from Saanich to Saturna Island.
For scale
As the crow flies41 km
Biking whole way60 km · 3 h 12 m
By car58 km · 1 h 43 m
We found five ways to get you there, ferries doing the heavy lifting.
🎒 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
City bus to Swartz Bay, then a ferry into Lyall Harbour.
CarrierRideYour bike
🚲Travel the short hop from Douglas St at Kelvin Rd (Saanich) to Douglas St at Pandora Ave (Victoria), about 2.5 km.
🚎BC Transit70 Swartz Bay / Downtownor the 72 Swartz Bay / Downtown (via Saanichton)Douglas St at Pandora Ave (Victoria) →Swartz Bay (North Saanich)29 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 FerriesSwartz Bay – Southern Gulf IslandsSwartz Bay (North Saanich) →Lyall Harbour (Saturna Island)36 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
🚲You arrive at Lyall Harbour (Saturna Island).
Option two · two legs⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule
The same idea as Option one, on different routes.
CarrierRideYour bike
🚲First, get from Central Saanich to Royal Oak Exch Bay H (Saanich), about 5.5 km. Ride it, or take a local bus or taxi.
🚎BC Transit76 Swartz Bay / UVicRoyal Oak Exch Bay H (Saanich) →Swartz Bay (North Saanich)21 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 FerriesSwartz Bay – Southern Gulf IslandsSwartz Bay (North Saanich) →Lyall Harbour (Saturna Island)36 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
🚲You arrive at Lyall Harbour (Saturna Island).
Option three · two legs
Same as Option one, but a coach bus instead of the city bus.
CarrierRideYour bike
🚲Travel the short hop from Douglas St at Kelvin Rd (Saanich) to Douglas St at Pandora Ave (Victoria), about 2.5 km.
🚌Wilson's Transportation (BC Connector)BC Ferries Connector — Vancouver / VictoriaDouglas St at Pandora Ave (Victoria) →Swartz Bay (North Saanich)29 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.
⛴️BC FerriesSwartz Bay – Southern Gulf IslandsSwartz Bay (North Saanich) →Lyall Harbour (Saturna Island)36 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
🚲You arrive at Lyall Harbour (Saturna Island).
Option four · two legs
Another way: same as Option one, but a coach bus instead of the city bus.
CarrierRideYour bike
🚲Travel the short hop from Douglas St at Kelvin Rd (Saanich) to Douglas St at Pandora Ave (Victoria), about 2.5 km.
🚌Wilson's Transportation (BC Connector)BC Ferries Connector — Vancouver / VictoriaDouglas St at Pandora Ave (Victoria) →Tsawwassen (Delta)70 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.
⛴️BC FerriesTsawwassen – Southern Gulf IslandsTsawwassen (Delta) →Lyall Harbour (Saturna Island)48 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
Sailing times vary a lot by routing: some trips are about 50 minutes, others run 2 to 3 hours via Swartz Bay. Check the specific sailing before you book.
🚲You arrive at Lyall Harbour (Saturna Island).
Option five · three legs
Option one, plus a ferry at the finish.
CarrierRideYour bike
🚎BC Transit66 CVX Cowichan - Victoria ExpressHwy 1 & Tillicum (Saanich) →Deloume Park & Ride (Mill Bay)32 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 FerriesBrentwood Bay – Mill BayDeloume Park & Ride (Mill Bay) →Brentwood Bay12 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
Daily, with fewer sailings on Sundays.
🚲Travel the short hop from Brentwood Bay to Swartz Bay (North Saanich), about 13 km.
⛴️BC FerriesSwartz Bay – Southern Gulf IslandsSwartz Bay (North Saanich) →Lyall Harbour (Saturna Island)36 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
🚲You arrive at Lyall Harbour (Saturna 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: Saturna Island to Saanich (best: ferry + bus)
Connections from Saanich: Salt Spring Island (best: bus + ferry) · Qualicum Beach (best: bus) · Port Hardy (best: bus + rental car) · Prince Rupert (best: bus + rental car + ferry)
Connections from Saturna Island: Brentwood Bay (best: ferry) · Gibsons (best: ferry + bus + SkyTrain) · Armstrong (best: ferry + bus + SkyTrain) · New Hazelton (best: ferry + bus + SkyTrain)
Check out BC Bike Stops in Saanich and Saturna Island