Cycle into summer with TransLink’s new Bike Bus
Cycle into summer with TransLink’s new Bike Bus
TransLink is launching a new summer bus service for cyclists, between Bridgeport Station and the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal. The Bike Bus provides extra room for bicycles on one of the most popular routes for our cycling customers.
The specialized buses are retrofitted with seven interior bicycle racks, bringing the total bike capacity aboard to nine, up from the standard two. The extra room means more cyclists will be able to reach the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal using transit this summer.
BC Ferries offers service from Tsawwassen to Victoria, Nanaimo, and the Gulf Islands — all popular destinations, especially for cyclists, in the summer months.
The Bike Bus follows the existing 620 route, with separate loading and unloading bays at Bridgeport Station and Ladner Exchange. The bus will be displayed as 900 Bike Bus to Bridgeport Station or Tsawwassen Ferry, depending on the direction.
Bike Bus summer service details:
- Bridgeport Station to Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal
- July 1 to Sept. 5, 2022
- Fridays, weekends, holidays
- 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Hourly departures to align with ferry sailings to Swartz Bay
Quick facts:
- Capacity for 9 bikes and 18 passengers
- Passengers must remain seated while the Bike Bus is moving
- Interior racks on the Bike Bus will not accommodate children’s or BMX bikes; but they can still be secured on the exterior rack
- Passengers without bicycles should continue to ride the 620 Tsawwassen Ferry / Bridgeport Station
The project is part of TransLink’s Customer Experience Action Plan, announced in March. One of the plan’s top priorities is making transit easier to use by identifying better options for active transportation.
The Bike Bus will more easily integrate bike and transit travel during one of the busiest times of the year for cyclists.
The project is currently funded for summer 2022. If successful, it could become a permanent seasonal route.
Will the inside racks accommodate a 24″ wheel? I ask because BMX is more commonly assumed to be a 20″ wheel.
And I presume that a 26″ diameter wheel (old school mountain bike wheel size) will fit, correct?
This bike bus is a really cool idea. Thank you Translink.
Now, tackle the washroom
Great question! The wheel diameter dimensions for a bike to fit in the Bike Bus interior racks are 26” – 29”. Thanks for your interest!
…..the lack of washrooms throughout the system needs to be tackled next.
Wonderful!
Is there also a modified bike bus to Horseshoe Bay?
I agree, there could easily be Port 0 Potties put in at bus loops.
Like other countries.
Excited for this pilot project and hope more route/times get added in the future!
This is awesome! I take the bus with my bike to the ferry all the time and this is very necessary.
My only concern that the latest time is 8 pm. I often find the 7 pm departure from Victoria is the busiest for bikes meaning a 9 pm bike bus would be necessary. I hope this schedule is adjusted to match demand so cyclists no longer get left behind!
This is fantastic! Translink really needs to turn its mind to “big bikes” on a route like this though. Heavy, big and assist-driven bikes are becoming more common place–they’re also the ideal bikes for hauling gear, as many people tend to do when embarking on a ferry trip.
In between now and when the Massey Bridge is constructed, staff should consider a modified bus, or modified trailer and van set-up that could accommodate long-john and long-tail bikes.
I ride a fatbike with 5 inch tires on bike packing trips. I’m definitely the odd one out, but I with this service could work for me!
Is there a similar service to Horseshoe Bay?
So long as it doesn’t replace existing 620 service. It’s hard enough to get a seat as it is.
Love this idea! My only real issue would be the fact there isn’t really anything comparable on the other side of the water. Still, love this.
THIS IS EVERYTHING
Totally opens up the Ladner area to both incoming and outgoing cyclists too! So long Massey Tunnel bike shuttle :OO
Did any thought go into adding a multi bicycle trailer (up to 12 bikes) rather than adding a bus with subsequent green house gas emissions, operating costs etc
Great. How many adapted busses are there available on this run ? If only one bus how long does it take to return the original start point ?
Thanks for your question! Bike Bus departures will be hourly from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. to align with ferry sailings to Swartz Bay; one bus will leave Bridgeport Station and one will leave Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal during those times, so two buses will be in operation during service hours. Thanks for your interest!
Will the Bike Bus take eBikes?
Great question! The interior Bike Bus racks are suitable for most e-bikes. E-bikes must weigh less than 25 kg (55 lbs) and the wheels must fit properly in the bike rack (wheel diameter 26” – 29”). Scooter-style e-bikes are not permitted on the bike racks; they weigh too much and don’t fit properly on the racks. Thanks for your interest.
What about a special bus for larger scooters. We can get on to sky train but it doesn’t help when we can’t get from-to the sky train stations.
It’s a really good start. Now if only BC Ferries has bike racks on their ferries (well, they didn’t the last time I used a ferry pre pandemic)! I have met numerous people cycling the Lochside & Goose trails on VI from the mainland. It is wonderful that we are reducing obstacles to their cycling enjoyment.
I took the ferry to the sunshine coast this summer and there were plenty of bike racks available by the exit.
Awesome!! Would you please add video/mov. which would show loading bike with front and rear panniers? Also does this bus have loading ( inclined) ramp? thanks!
Fantastic! You’ve come a long way to accommodate cycling TransLink. Thanks
Would be great if you could accommodate ebikes with fat wheels too.
This is fantastic! It will take a lot of stress out of the race from the ferry to get to the front of the line so you can get your bike on the bus (and possible hours of waiting should you not make it). I would echo what was said above, however. One more run at 9:00 pm would be really valuable to be able to transport folks on the 7:00 pm ferry (when the tunnel shuttle also no longer runs).
I think this a a great initiative. However, I am disappointed that there is still no way to take an ebike that weighs over 55 pounds on either the 900 bus and the Massey Tunnel shuttle. Most ebikes weigh closer to 70 pounds. Perhaps the shuttle needs an upgrade to accomodate more diverse ranges of bikes. For some folks, this is an accessability issue.
Amazing! A luggage trailer for the 257 and 620 ferry busses for those who are traveling all the way to the terminus would be super useful to alleviate crowding in the bus due to luggage, wagons, and back packs.
Thank you Transit for the new bike service to Tsawwassen Ferry service. Being a senior, I travel with friends to the island a lot, visiting my granddaughter as well as cycling the Lochside and Goose trails. Unfortunately BC ferries give us seniors rates only Monday to Thursday. So we hope your new service will be extended to mid week in the future. Also, I travel from North Vancouver so this possible weekly service could reduce the stress of driving to Tsawwassen and put one less car on the road.
This is exciting and I hope Translink considers more future options to give people different environmentally friendly options to explore B.C. Will this bike bus have space for a child bike trailer? If I’m riding with my toddler who cannot bike on his own, I still need to bring him in his chariot and Translink buses technically don’t allow bike trailers because they are an inch or two too wide! So I hope this option is considerate of families with young kids so that we can encourage the future generation to try other means of transport instead of cars.
I’ve had zero problems bringing a chariot onto Translink busses over the last six years. I’ve even been able to fit a chariot and a bicycle into the elevators at Skytrain stations without detaching!
Instead of looking after the bicycle riders, how about improving the service throughout the system??? Lots of routes over crowded
How about enhancing the system’s overall service rather than caring for the bicyclists? numerous congested routes
Just wondering how this is economically viable? You took out what 15 seats to hold 6 bikes in a half-million dollar bus. Can I get my tax dollars back, please?
What an awesome experience!
Earlier this month (Aug.) took my overloaded touring bike on this bus (front and back panniers) as a start to 12 day camping trip to Van Isl.
No problems loading and securing my bike. The racks were super robust and stable- no shifting or moving :)
The driver was patient and careful and bonus: met lots of other campers and commuters in the lineup and on the bus.
Lots of room on that bus and that trip was very relaxing for me -knowing that I didn’t have to worry about negotiating the highway traffic ( busy BC long weekend) or the tunnel.
Oh, and what convenience: Bridgeport to ferry terminal; rock star service!
Thanks TransLink!!!!!
Next: Downtown to HorseShoe Bay? Woo Hoo!
Just wondering how the summer pilot went and whether this service will be made permanent or year round.
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