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 Saturna Island to Ladysmith.

For scale
As the crow flies51 km
Biking whole way62 km ยท 3 h 51 m
By car141 km ยท 2 h 43 m

We found five 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 · four legs
The long way round, but it works.
CarrierRideYour bike
โ›ด๏ธBC FerriesSwartz Bay โ€“ Southern Gulf IslandsLyall Harbour (Saturna Island) โ†’Swartz Bay (North Saanich)36 kmRoll on, free โ€” no reservation neededE-bikes OK โ€” no charging on board
๐ŸšŽBC Transit70 Swartz Bay / Downtownor the 72 Swartz Bay / Downtown (via Saanichton)Swartz Bay (North Saanich) โ†’Douglas St at Pandora Ave (Victoria)29 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 Douglas St at Pandora Ave (Victoria) to Legislature Exch (Belleville St) Bay G (Victoria), about 1.3 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, Bluebird Cabs, Sidney Taxi might help.
๐ŸšŽBC Transit66 CVX Cowichan - Victoria ExpressLegislature Exch (Belleville St) Bay G (Victoria) โ†’Duncan54 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 Transit70 NCX Nanaimo - Cowichan Expressor the 36 Ladysmith-Duncan Express (doesn't run every day)Duncan โ†’1st Ave at Hwy 1 (Ladysmith)26 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 1st Ave at Hwy 1 (Ladysmith).
Option two · four legs
The same idea as Option one, on different routes.
CarrierRideYour bike
โ›ด๏ธBC FerriesSwartz Bay โ€“ Southern Gulf IslandsLyall Harbour (Saturna Island) โ†’Swartz Bay (North Saanich)36 kmRoll on, free โ€” no reservation neededE-bikes OK โ€” no charging on board
๐ŸšŽBC Transit70 Swartz Bay / Downtownor the 72 Swartz Bay / Downtown (via Saanichton)Swartz Bay (North Saanich) โ†’Douglas St at Pandora Ave (Victoria)29 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 Transit66 CVX Cowichan-Victoria ExpressDouglas St at Pandora Ave (Victoria) โ†’Duncan46 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 Transit70 NCX Nanaimo - Cowichan Expressor the 36 Ladysmith-Duncan Express (doesn't run every day)Duncan โ†’1st Ave at Hwy 1 (Ladysmith)26 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 1st Ave at Hwy 1 (Ladysmith).
Option three · four legs
Same as Option one, but a ferry instead of the city bus.
CarrierRideYour bike
โ›ด๏ธBC FerriesSwartz Bay โ€“ Southern Gulf IslandsLyall Harbour (Saturna Island) โ†’Swartz Bay (North Saanich)36 kmRoll on, free โ€” no reservation neededE-bikes OK โ€” no charging on board
๐ŸšฒTravel the short hop from Swartz Bay (North Saanich) to Brentwood Bay, about 13 km.
โ›ด๏ธBC FerriesBrentwood Bay โ€“ Mill BayBrentwood Bay โ†’Deloume Park & Ride (Mill Bay)12 kmRoll on, free โ€” no reservation neededE-bikes OK โ€” no charging on board
Daily, with fewer sailings on Sundays.
๐ŸšŽBC Transit66 CVX Cowichan - Victoria Expressor the 8 Mill Bay via Telegraph Rd/Duncan via Shawnigan Lk or the 9 Mill Bay via Shawnigan Lk/Duncan via Telegraph RdDeloume Park & Ride (Mill Bay) โ†’Duncan17 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 Transit70 NCX Nanaimo - Cowichan ExpressDuncan โ†’1st Ave at Hwy 1 (Ladysmith)26 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 1st Ave at Hwy 1 (Ladysmith).
Option four · five legs
Not far, just fiddly.
CarrierRideYour bike
โ›ด๏ธBC FerriesTsawwassen โ€“ Southern Gulf IslandsLyall Harbour (Saturna Island) โ†’Tsawwassen (Delta)48 kmRoll on, free โ€” no reservation neededE-bikes OK โ€” 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.
๐ŸšŽTransLink620 Bridgeport Station / Tsawwassen FerryTsawwassen (Delta) โ†’Bridgeport (Richmond)22 kmRack on the bus, free2 bikes โ€” first come, first servedE-bikes OK
The 620 is year-round, roughly hourly, timed to sailings, with two bike-rack spots. On busy summer ferry days the seasonal 900 Bike Bus can carry an extra 10 bikes.
๐ŸšSkyTrainTransLinkBridgeport (Richmond) 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 Bay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch, about 1.4 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, A.C. Taxi, Yellow Cab Nanaimo might help.
๐ŸšŽBC Transit70 NCX Nanaimo - Cowichan ExpressBay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch โ†’1st Ave at Hwy 1 (Ladysmith)20 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 1st Ave at Hwy 1 (Ladysmith).
Option five · five legs✈ the splurge
Fly most of the way, then let transit finish the trip.
CarrierRideYour bike
โ›ด๏ธBC FerriesSwartz Bay โ€“ Southern Gulf IslandsLyall Harbour (Saturna Island) โ†’Swartz Bay (North Saanich)36 kmRoll on, free โ€” no reservation neededE-bikes OK โ€” no charging on board
๐ŸšŽBC Transit70 Swartz Bay / DowntownSwartz Bay (North Saanich) โ†’Douglas St at Pandora Ave (Victoria)29 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 Douglas St at Pandora Ave (Victoria) to Victoria Belleville Terminal, about 0.7 km.
๐Ÿ›ฉ๏ธHarbour AirVancouver Harbour โ€“ Victoria HarbourVictoria Belleville Terminal โ†’CXH (Vancouver)98 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
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 Bay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch, about 1.1 km.
๐ŸšŽBC Transit70 NCX Nanaimo - Cowichan ExpressBay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch โ†’1st Ave at Hwy 1 (Ladysmith)20 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 1st Ave at Hwy 1 (Ladysmith).
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: Ladysmith to Saturna Island (best: bus + 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)

Connections from Ladysmith: Salt Spring Island (best: bus + ferry) · Squamish (best: bus + ferry) · Chase (best: bus + ferry + SkyTrain) · Prince Rupert (best: bus + rental car + ferry)

Check out BC Bike Stops in Saturna Island and Ladysmith