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 and flights can carry you and your bike from Thetis Island to North Vancouver.
For scale
As the crow flies57 km
Biking whole way129 km · 6 h 17 m
By car206 km · 4 h 25 m
We found four 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 · eight legs⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule
Not far, just fiddly.
CarrierRideYour bike
⛴️BC FerriesChemainus – Thetis – PenelakutPreedy Harbour (Thetis Island) →Chemainus7.7 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
🚲Travel the short hop from Chemainus to Pine & Daniel (North Cowichan), about 1.3 km.
🚎BC Transit34 Ladysmith-ChemainusPine & Daniel (North Cowichan) →Coronation Mall (Ladysmith)8.1 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 Transit36 Ladysmith-Duncan ExpressCoronation Mall (Ladysmith) →Duncan24 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 Transit70 NCX Nanaimo - Cowichan ExpressDuncan →Bay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch46 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 Bay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch to Downtown Nanaimo Exchange, about 0.5 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, A.C. Taxi, Yellow Cab Nanaimo might help.
🚎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 →Park Royal (West Vancouver)11 kmRack on the bus, free2 bikes — first come, first servedE-bikes OK
🚎TransLinkR2 Marine Dr RapidBusPark Royal (West Vancouver) →Lonsdale Quay (North Vancouver)4.5 kmRack on the bus, free2 bikes — first come, first servedE-bikes OK
🚲You arrive at Lonsdale Quay (North Vancouver).
Option two · six legs⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule
The long way round, but it works.
CarrierRideYour bike
⛴️BC FerriesChemainus – Thetis – PenelakutPreedy Harbour (Thetis Island) →Chemainus7.7 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
🚲Travel the short hop from Chemainus to Pine & Daniel (North Cowichan), about 1.3 km.
🚎BC Transit34 Ladysmith-ChemainusPine & Daniel (North Cowichan) →Coronation Mall (Ladysmith)8.1 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 Transit36 Ladysmith-Duncan ExpressCoronation Mall (Ladysmith) →Duncan24 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 Transit70 NCX Nanaimo - Cowichan ExpressDuncan →Bay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch46 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 Bay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch to Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way), about 1.4 km.
⛴️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
🚲Travel 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.
⛴️SeaBusTransLinkVancouver Canada Place →Lonsdale Quay (North Vancouver)3.5 kmRoll on, free — bikes ride inside the cabin6 bikes per sailing at rush hour — weekdays 7–9:30 am and 3–6:30 pm; no limit other timesE-bikes OK — no charging on boardNo trailers — 185 cm max bike length
Bikes ride inside the cabin; during weekday rush hours there's room for six bikes a sailing.
🚲You arrive at Lonsdale Quay (North Vancouver).
Option three · seven legs📅 seasonal⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule
A lot of connections, but it gets you there.
CarrierRideYour bike
⛴️BC FerriesChemainus – Thetis – PenelakutPreedy Harbour (Thetis Island) →Chemainus7.7 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
🚲Travel the short hop from Chemainus to Pine & Daniel (North Cowichan), about 1.3 km.
🚎BC Transit34 Ladysmith-ChemainusPine & Daniel (North Cowichan) →Coronation Mall (Ladysmith)8.1 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 Transit36 Ladysmith-Duncan ExpressCoronation Mall (Ladysmith) →Duncan24 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 Transit70 NCX Nanaimo - Cowichan ExpressDuncan →Bay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch46 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 Bay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch to Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way), about 1.4 km.
⛴️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
🚲Travel the short hop from CXH (Vancouver) to Vancouver Canada Place, about 0.8 km.
🚌Squamish ConnectorSquamish – VancouverVancouver Canada Place →Park Royal (West Vancouver)5 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.
🚎TransLinkR2 Marine Dr RapidBusPark Royal (West Vancouver) →Lonsdale Quay (North Vancouver)4.5 kmRack on the bus, free2 bikes — first come, first servedE-bikes OK
🚲You arrive at Lonsdale Quay (North Vancouver).
Option four · six legs✈ the splurge⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule
Same as Option two, but a plane instead of the ferry.
CarrierRideYour bike
⛴️BC FerriesChemainus – Thetis – PenelakutPreedy Harbour (Thetis Island) →Chemainus7.7 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
🚲Travel the short hop from Chemainus to Pine & Daniel (North Cowichan), about 1.3 km.
🚎BC Transit34 Ladysmith-ChemainusPine & Daniel (North Cowichan) →Coronation Mall (Ladysmith)8.1 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 Transit36 Ladysmith-Duncan ExpressCoronation Mall (Ladysmith) →Duncan24 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 Victoria Belleville Terminal, about 0.7 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, Bluebird Cabs, Sidney Taxi might help.
🛩️Harbour AirVancouver Harbour – Victoria HarbourVictoria Belleville Terminal →CXH (Vancouver)98 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
🚲Travel the short hop from CXH (Vancouver) to Vancouver Canada Place, about 0.8 km.
⛴️SeaBusTransLinkVancouver Canada Place →Lonsdale Quay (North Vancouver)3.5 kmRoll on, free — bikes ride inside the cabin6 bikes per sailing at rush hour — weekdays 7–9:30 am and 3–6:30 pm; no limit other timesE-bikes OK — no charging on boardNo trailers — 185 cm max bike length
Bikes ride inside the cabin; during weekday rush hours there's room for six bikes a sailing.
🚲You arrive at Lonsdale Quay (North 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: North Vancouver to Thetis Island (best: SeaBus + ferry + bus)
Connections from Thetis Island: Lake Cowichan (best: ferry + bus) · Langford (best: ferry + bus) · Port Alberni (best: ferry + bus + rental car) · Seattle, WA (best: ferry + bus)
Connections from North Vancouver: Gibsons (best: bus + ferry) · Powell River (best: bus + ferry) · Clearwater (best: bus) · Haida Gwaii (best: SeaBus + ferry + rental car)
Check out BC Bike Stops in North Vancouver