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, trains and flights can carry you and your bike from Surrey to Nelson.
For scale
As the crow flies404 km
Biking whole way655 km · 45 h 20 m
By car635 km · 6 h 54 m
We found four 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⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule
SkyTrain helps connect the dots.
CarrierRideYour bike
🚝SkyTrainTransLinkSurrey Central →New WestminsterRoll on, free — 2 bikes per carAvoid rush hourE-bikes OK
🚌Mountain Man Mike'sKaslo – VancouverNew Westminster →1680 Hwy 3A/6 (Nelson)495 kmBikes acceptedCall for a quote — fee and packaging arranged with the booking agent
Runs once a week; hop-on hop-off along the way.
🚲You arrive at 1680 Hwy 3A/6 (Nelson).
Option two · two legs⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule
Same as Option one, but a coach bus instead of the SkyTrain.
CarrierRideYour bike
🚌EbusVancouver – KelownaSurrey →Hope116 kmRides in the hold — bagged or cloth-wrapped (no plastic), or boxed$30 per bike
🚌Mountain Man Mike'sKaslo – VancouverHope →1680 Hwy 3A/6 (Nelson)374 kmBikes acceptedCall for a quote — fee and packaging arranged with the booking agent
Runs once a week; hop-on hop-off along the way.
🚲You arrive at 1680 Hwy 3A/6 (Nelson).
Option three · two legs⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule
Another way: same as Option one, but a coach bus instead of the SkyTrain.
CarrierRideYour bike
🚌EbusVancouver – Kamloopsor Ebus (Vancouver – Calgary (Hwy 1)) or Rider Express (Vancouver – Calgary) or Rider Express (Vancouver – Calgary (Hwy 1))Surrey →Chilliwack71 kmRides in the hold — bagged or cloth-wrapped (no plastic), or boxed$30 per bike
🚌Mountain Man Mike'sKaslo – VancouverChilliwack →1680 Hwy 3A/6 (Nelson)418 kmBikes acceptedCall for a quote — fee and packaging arranged with the booking agent
Runs once a week; hop-on hop-off along the way.
🚲You arrive at 1680 Hwy 3A/6 (Nelson).
Option four · three legs✈ the splurge⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule
The scenic splurge: hop a flight.
CarrierRideYour bike
🚝SkyTrainTransLinkSurrey Central →Vancouver Airport (YVR) (Richmond)Roll on, free — 2 bikes per carAvoid rush hourE-bikes OK
✈️Air CanadaVancouver (YVR) – Castlegar (YCG)Vancouver Airport (YVR) (Richmond) →Castlegar402 kmBox or sturdy bag requiredBook ahead for your bikeAbout $50 per directionNo e-bikes
🚲Travel the short hop from Castlegar to Hwy 3A at Ootischenia Rd (Brilliant), about 2.8 km.
🚎BC Transit99 Kootenay ConnectorHwy 3A at Ootischenia Rd (Brilliant) →1680 Hwy 3A/6 (Nelson)31 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
🚲You arrive at 1680 Hwy 3A/6 (Nelson).
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: Nelson to Surrey (best: bus + SkyTrain)
Connections from Surrey: Mission (best: SkyTrain + bus) · Powell River (best: bus + ferry) · Clearwater (best: bus) · Haida Gwaii (best: SkyTrain + train + ferry)
Connections from Nelson: Castlegar (best: bus) · Abbotsford (best: bus) · Gabriola Island (best: bus + SkyTrain + ferry) · Haida Gwaii (best: bus + train + ferry)