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 Vancouver to Ladysmith.
For scale
As the crow flies59 km
Biking whole way110 km · 5 h 03 m
By car124 km · 2 h 57 m
We found five ways to get you there.
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
The ferry is the main event.
CarrierRideYour bike
⛴️HulloHullo (Nanaimo – Vancouver)CXH (Vancouver) →Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way)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 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.
🚎BC Transit70 NCX Nanaimo - Cowichan ExpressBay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch →1st Ave at Hwy 1 (Ladysmith)20 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK
🚲You arrive at 1st Ave at Hwy 1 (Ladysmith).
Option two · four legs
A beautiful ferry ride with transit on both sides.
CarrierRideYour bike
🚎TransLink257 Horseshoe Bay ExpressDowntown Vancouver (Dunsmuir at Cambie) →Horseshoe Bay19 kmRack on the bus, free2 bikes — first come, first servedE-bikes OK
⛴️BC FerriesHorseshoe Bay – Departure BayHorseshoe Bay →Departure Bay (Nanaimo)53 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
🚎BC Transit20/20A Hammond Bay / Doveror the 25 Ferry ShuttleDeparture Bay (Nanaimo) →Downtown Nanaimo Exchange3.3 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK
🚲Travel the short hop from Downtown Nanaimo Exchange to Bay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch, about 0.5 km.
🚎BC Transit70 NCX Nanaimo - Cowichan ExpressBay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch →1st Ave at Hwy 1 (Ladysmith)20 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK
🚲You arrive at 1st Ave at Hwy 1 (Ladysmith).
Option three · three legs
The long way round, but it works.
CarrierRideYour bike
🚌Wilson's Transportation (BC Connector)BC Ferries Connector — Vancouver / VictoriaDowntown Vancouver →Douglas St at Pandora Ave (Victoria)101 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.
🚲Travel the short hop from Douglas St at Pandora Ave (Victoria) to Legislature Terminal (Victoria), about 1.3 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, Bluebird Cabs, Sidney Taxi might help.
🚎BC Transit66 CVX Cowichan - Victoria ExpressLegislature Terminal (Victoria) →Duncan54 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK
🚎BC Transit70 NCX Nanaimo - Cowichan ExpressDuncan →1st Ave at Hwy 1 (Ladysmith)26 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK
🚲You arrive at 1st Ave at Hwy 1 (Ladysmith).
Option four · three legs
The same idea as Option three, on different routes.
CarrierRideYour bike
🚌Wilson's Transportation (BC Connector)BC Ferries Connector — Vancouver / VictoriaDowntown Vancouver →Douglas St at Pandora Ave (Victoria)101 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 Transit66 CVX Cowichan-Victoria ExpressDouglas St at Pandora Ave (Victoria) →Duncan46 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK
🚎BC Transit70 NCX Nanaimo - Cowichan ExpressDuncan →1st Ave at Hwy 1 (Ladysmith)26 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK
🚲You arrive at 1st Ave at Hwy 1 (Ladysmith).
Option five · two legs✈ the splurge
Same as Option one, but a plane instead of the ferry.
CarrierRideYour bike
🛩️Harbour AirVancouver Harbour – Nanaimo HarbourCXH (Vancouver) →Nanaimo Harbour60 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 Nanaimo Harbour to Bay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch, about 1 km.
🚎BC Transit70 NCX Nanaimo - Cowichan ExpressBay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch →1st Ave at Hwy 1 (Ladysmith)20 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK
🚲You arrive at 1st Ave at Hwy 1 (Ladysmith).
Route facts last checked July 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 Vancouver (best: bus + ferry)
Connections from Vancouver: Gibsons (best: bus + ferry) · Pemberton (best: bus) · Williams Lake (best: bus) · Haida Gwaii (best: ferry + rental car)
Connections from Ladysmith: Salt Spring Island (best: bus + ferry) · Langley (best: bus + ferry + SkyTrain) · Osoyoos (best: bus + ferry + SkyTrain) · Prince Rupert (best: bus + rental car + ferry)