I was visiting a friend on the Sunshine Coast and wanted to travel as a walk on passenger, taking my bike along. The BC ferries web site didn't give much information and I didn't find much online either.
Here is my experience.
Get a BC Ferries Experience Card. If you pay with an Experience Card you will save the $2.00 charge for taking your bike. You will need to pre-load the card with enough money to pay for a foot passenger fare.
I drove from Victoria to Nanaimo and parked in the Long Term parking lot at the Departure Bay terminal. 2 1/2 days of parking cost me $30.00.
It's possible to pay for the ferry trip at two places: At a car toll booth, or where the foot passengers pay in the main terminal. I happened to be walking past an empty car tool booth and asked the employee inside the booth. They said I could pay there, so I pulled out the Experience Card and paid for a foot passenger fare. I rode my bike from there to the main terminal. There was no traffic.
At the terminal I didn't find any bike stands so I locked it to a railing near the children's playground.
I had no idea where to board, so when the announcement came "please return to your vehicles" I walked my bike out to the waiting cars and trucks.
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| I was first waiting beside the transport truck in the above photo |
Well, this move caught the eye of an employee who realized I had no clue on the bike loading procedure. He walked over and explained that I board through a foot passenger gate. I appreciated this help !
This gate area has a small enclosed waiting area and is beside the ferry loading/unloading ramp. It is to the left of the main terminal. I walked over and rested my bike against the waiting area shelter.
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| Bike waiting area |
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| Looking towards the main terminal from the bike waiting area |
After the incoming ferry was unloaded, the gate was opened and all cyclists walked onto the ferry before the cars were allowed to load. Cyclists were directed to go up a ramp on the right and walk down the empty car lanes to the front of the ferry. At the end of the lanes there were bike racks on the left. There were racks to store 5-6 bikes on this ferry.
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| Bike storage on the ferry |
I locked my bike and headed upstairs.
When the ferry docked at the Horseshoe Bay terminal I walked down the car ramp to the front of the ferry. Cyclists walk off first, before the cars unload.
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| Walking from the bike storage area to the front of the ferry. |
On leaving the ferry I followed the painted pedestrian markings and arrived at the main terminal for Horseshoe Bay.
I hope this description helps anyone wondering how to take a bike on this BC Ferries route.
