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Bike & Ride
 

Victoria Regional Transit's bike rack service is designed to assist longer commutes. (See loading demonstration below.) The racks are available on low-floor buses and double decker buses. Most accessible buses in Victoria Transit's fleet are equipped with racks that can carry up to two bikes at a time, but trips are not guaranteed to have a rack.

Due to heavy pedestrian traffic and congested bus zones, bikes may not be loaded or unloaded along Douglas Street from Pandora to Broughton, or on Fort at Douglas.

The bike racks hold most wheel* and frame sizes, but was not designed to hold tandem and motor-powered bikes.

animation of how to load bike on bike rack

Free and Easy

There is no extra charge to bring your bike on the bus. And loading and unloading bikes on the rack is easy! The racks are attached to the front of each bus, and have instructions posted right on them.

When two bikes are in the rack, each bike can be loaded or unloaded independently. You don't need to move one bike to reach the other.

*Tires exceeding 2.1" will not fit in the rack slot.

How to Prepare Your Bike Before You Board the Bus

Before you put your bike on the rack, please remove kiddie carriers and saddle bags because they may block the driver's vision. Also, lower whips, antennas or other objects rising above the height of the handle bars because they may hit the windshield. Your handle bars may not be wider than 69 cm (27"), or they will interfere with the windshield and windshield wipers.

Loading your Bike

As the bus approaches, have your bike ready to load. (Remember to take the loose items off the bike before you load). Tell the driver you're loading your bike and load from the sidewalk side. For safety reasons, the driver can't get off the bus to help you. You are responsible for making sure your bike is securely loaded on the rack.

  1. Always load and unload your bicycle from the curb side.
  2. Pull down to release the folded bike rack. You need only one hand to pull the rack down, so you can hold your bike with your other hand.
  3. Lift your bike onto the rack and fit the wheels into the slots. Each slot is labelled for front and rear wheels. Please load your bike into the inside slot first.
  4. Raise and release the support arm over the top of the front tire. Make sure the support arm is resting on the tire and not on the fender or frame.
    Always load and unload your bicycle from the curb side.

Unloading your Bike

Remind the driver that you need to unload your bike before you approach your stop, then leave through the front door.

  1. Raise the support clamp off the bike tire and move the support arm down, out of your way.
  2. Lift your bike out of the rack.
  3. Fold the bike rack if there is no other bike in the rack, step to the sidewalk and let the bus pull away.

If your driver asks you to remove your bike for any reason, please cooperate.

Can I try one out?

If you wish to try the bike rack out before getting on the bus, call Transit Training and Safety at 385-2551 on Monday to Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

Bike Lockers

Bike Lockers are available at McTavish Park & Ride and at the Juan de Fuca Exchange.
For information, please contact the Greater Victoria Cycling Coalition at 480-5155, email gvcc@gvcc.bc.ca.

For More Information

For more information on transportational cycling, contact one of the following non-profit advocacy groups:

British Columbia Cycling Coalition
Victoria Cycling Coalition.

Transit is not responsible for lost or stolen bikes.

     
 
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