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1. What transit services are offered in the Cowichan Valley?

The Cowichan Valley offers several different types of transit service: 

Local scheduled route service: These are the scheduled routes operating throughout the Cowichan Valley. Transit routes are available in all areas except Electoral Areas G (Saltair / Gulf Islands) and Area H (North Oyster / Diamond). For a full listing of routes with maps and schedules please see BC Transit’s website; or pick up a Rider’s Guide onboard or from various ticket outlets in the Cowichan Valley. 

handyDART (custom) service: handyDART provides accessible door-to-door, shared transit services in the Cowichan Valley for registered users who cannot use scheduled bus route service. This service is available to residences within 1.5 km of a conventional fixed service transit route not including commuter routes. For more information or to register please call 250.748.1230, or 1.855.748.1230 toll free from Ladysmith. 

Weekday Inter-regional service: 
There are 2 Victoria Express routes operating Monday - Friday between the Cowichan Valley and the Capital Regional District (Victoria) and 1 Nanaimo Express route between the Cowichan Valley and Downtown Nanaimo.  Please check the rider's guide for Statutory Holiday coverage.

Route #66 - Cowichan Victoria Express offers 3 daily early morning trips from Village Green Mall (on Central Road beside London Drugs) to Victoria and 3 early evening return trips.  One (1) new mid day round trip is now offered as well.  

Route #99 - Shawnigan Lake Victoria Express offers 2 daily early morning trips starting from the Cobble Hill Train Station stop on Cobble Hill Road near Hutchinson Road and 2 daily early evening return trips. 

Route #70 - Nanaimo Cowichan Express offers 7 daily round trips from the Village Green Mall (on Central Road beside London Drugs) to Downtown Nanaimo.

Saturday Inter-regional service:

Route #66 - Cowichan Victoria Express offers Saturday transit service connections between the Cowichan Valley and Greater Victoria with 3 round trips.

Route #70 - Nanaimo Cowichan Express offers Saturday transit service connections between the Cowichan Valley and Downtown Nanaimo with 6 round trips.

For more information call 250-746-9899

2. Where do I get information on bus routes, schedules, maps and fares?

For transit routes, schedules, maps and fares visit www.bctransit.com/cowichan-valley and try out the Trip Planning tool to easily plan your next bus trip. Simply put in your starting point (origin), and your final destination. Enter your departure time, or your desired arrival time, and the trip planner will calculate the best bus route and give you the scheduled times as well as provide directions to the closest available bus stops.

If you are not connecting with us online you can also pick up hard copies of the Cowichan Valley Transit Rider’s Guide on board the bus or at the CVRD’s main office (175 Ingram Street, Duncan) as well as at CVRD Recreation Centres (Cowichan Community Centre, Kerry Park Recreation Centre, Shawnigan Lake Community Centre, and Cowichan Lake Sports Arena).

3. How can I pay for my ride? What is UMO?

There are a few ways to pay for your fare on the buses in the Cowichan Valley Regional Transit System:

• Cash - exact fare is required
• DayPass - either paper or electronic
• Single Use Discounted Tickets - available at all Vendor locations
• Paper Monthly Passes (phased out Spring 2024) - available at all Vendor locations for a limited time
• UMO App - all Transit Fare products are available to purchase and load online and are scannable on all system buses except handyDART
• UMO Reloadable Card - all Transit Fare products are available to purchase and load online, or at a listed Vendor, and are scannable on all system buses except handyDART
• Compass or CNIB Card 
• Credit or Debit Card - coming soon

What is UMO?

Umo is BC Transit's new contactless fare payment system that allows you to pay for your fare with the payment method and fare product that best suits your lifestyle and travel habits.  You can choose to use an App or a reloadable card to store your transit products on for future fare scanning.  Transit products available for purchase for the Cowichan Valley Regional Transit System are:

• Stored Value - add cash to your account for scanning convenience
• 30 day Adult pass 
• 30 day Senior/Student pass 
• Post Secondary Student Semester pass - available at CVRD Office
• Interregional Monthly Passes - CVX / SVX / NCX

For more information please visit https://www.bctransit.com/umo

4. Which bus routes go where?

Route maps are available online and in the Rider's Guide but a brief overview of some major destinations and the transit routes servicing them is included below. This is not an exhaustive list so please contact the information line, 250.746.9899 if you have questions. Please see:

Key Destinations Listing

5. The schedule only lists a few stops, is this all of them?

No, schedules only list a handful of key stops, or timing points, along a route designed to tell customers approximately where the bus is. Along the route you will find bus stops within a few minutes of the times listed. 

To easily plan your transit trip, use the online Transit Trip Planner available at: www.bctransit.com/cowichan-valley. Simply put in your trip origin, destination, date and time of departure, or your desired arrival, and the most direct bus routes and times will be calculated for you along with directions to the closest nearby bus stop.

6. What is On-Request transit?

On-request transit is available on Cowichan Valley Transit Routes #20 (Youbou) and #21 (Honeymoon Bay). This service offers pick up and drop off service as an extension of the scheduled local route. All locations (homes, businesses, etc.) located within 1.5 kilometres of existing transit routes #20 and #21 qualify, meaning customers can make arrangements for pick up or drop off at these specific locations in advance. On-request service is limited to two drop off or pick ups per trip and priority is given to first-to-call customers and those with mobility challenges. For more information, and to book a trip, call 250.746-9899. Standard cash fares of $2.25 apply per trip.

7. Can I take bikes, toddler bikes and wagons on the bus?

All BC Transit buses can carry up to two adult bikes on the front rack on a first come, first serve basis. Community buses used on Youbou, Honeymoon Bay and Ladysmith local routes cannot safely carry bikes on the rack after dark.  Toddler bikes and wagons are not permitted on board buses for safety reasons.  For more information please see BC Transit's website at www.bctransit.com/cowichan-valley under Rider Info.

8. Who do I call for lost and found items?

Please call the Transit Information line at 250.746.9899 for lost and found inquiries.

9. What are the costs for riding the bus? Are there any discounts?

Local scheduled routes:

A $2.25 one-way cash fare applies on the local Cowichan Valley bus routes. Exact change is required if cash is being used and fares are payable at the time of boarding.  Tickets and monthly passes can also be purchased at discounted rates for travel on local scheduled routes.  

Children aged 6 to 12 can ride fixed-route and handyDART buses for free, without requiring a fare product or identification.

Children aged 5 and under will need to be accompanied by an attendant 12 years or older to ride for free.  Children must board and depart at the same stop as the attendant.

handyDART:

A $2.25 one-way cash fare applies.  Attendants travelling with the handyDART customer to provide required assistance can also ride for free with a fare-paying customer.  Attendants are responsible for the care and assistance of a customer during the trip.

Inter-regional Routes:

Routes #66 and #99 - Fares on the Victoria Express buses are $10.00 (one-way). Exact change is required if cash is being used and fares are payable at the time of boarding. Tickets and monthly passes can also be purchased for regular transit riders and these provide discounts. Children 12 years of age and under ride free with a fare paying adult.  

Route #70 - Fares on the Nanaimo Express buses are $7.50 (one-way). Exact change is required if cash is being used and fares are payable at the time of boarding. Tickets and monthly passes can also be purchased for regular transit riders and these provide discounts. Children 12 years of age and under ride free with a fare paying adult.  

For full fare information please see: 

BC Transit's website

10. What is the BC Bus Pass Program?

The BC Bus Pass Program is offered by the BC Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction. This program provides an annual bus pass valid for eligible riders on any fixed-route transit service in the Cowichan Valley or throughout the Province of BC. For more information on this pass and eligibility requirements please see:

BC Bus Pass Program details