Travelling witg Greyhound busses from Jasper to Vancouver, BC
 

Hi,

I´m Thomas and I´m new in this forum. I live in Germany, in Bielefeld, it is the middle of Germany!

I´m going to West Canada for a bicycle trip from the 24th, July to 21th August 2009 (4 weeks). I start my trip in Vancouver and I´m going back from Vancouver to Germany!

I will finish my trip in Jasper. I´m looking now for a possibility to go back from Jasper to Vancouver either with bus or with train.

The first possibility to rent a car in Jasper is too expensive for me, it should be cost more than 400€ for a small car.

Other possibilities are to go by train (railway) or by Greyhound busses from Jasper to Vancouver.

The disadvantage to go back by railway is, that the canadian railways only go from Jasper to Vancouver 3 times a week. But I´don´t know at which day I will arrive in Jasper. I think it will be between the 16th and the 19th August. But I have to be back in Vancouver latest in the afternoon of the 20th August.
In addition the trip with the canadian railway is too long for me, it goes over 20 hours.

To go back by Greyhound busses is very quick (only 13 hours), the busses are going to Vancouver every day, and it is the cheapest possibility to go back from Jasper to Vancouver.

But I read at the homepage from Greyhound, that the only possibility is to transport my bicycles in acardboard box designed for bicycles. Is that correct so??
But where can I get cardboard box for my bicycle in Jasper?? Is it possible to rent a cardboard box from Greyhound company?? Or is there a office from Greyhound company in Jasper, where I can rent or buy a cardboard box? How much costs a cardboard box??

Do you know, if Greyhound transported my bicycle in the same bus, or could it be that they transported my bicycle in other busses??

Are there other possibilities to go back from Jasper to Vancouver include my bicycles (other bus companies??)

What is the best and cheapest possibility to go from Jasper to Vancouver include my bicycle?? Is here anybody who have a better idea for travelling back to Vancouver??

Thank you in advance for your answers!

Regards
Thomas

I have never shipped a bike by Greyhound, so I can't help you there. But for the box, you might want to find some bike shops in Jasper and explain to them that you will need your bike boxed for shipping when you arrive in Jasper.

They might be able to handle your request. Some shops might take a couple of days to box it, others will do it right away. I know that the shop I work with will do it right away if you set it up prior to getting there. We also save boxes for people that want to do it themselves. Either way, if you find a shop that will do it, I would email them again a day or two before you arrive to remind them.

From the Greyhound Canada Website:

See: http://www.greyhound.ca/en/travel_in.../baggage.shtml

I wouldn't count on Greyhound always having boxes available to purchase. They say that your bike will travel with you on the same bus, but this must be a new policy because they didn't always do this in the past.

Here's some web sites for bike shops in Jasper.
I think it would be best to email them in advance of the trip and arrange the boxing.

http://www.freewheeljasper.com/
http://www.viciouscyclecanada.com.previewmysite.com/
http://www.jaspersports.com/

What's your route planned BTW ?

Hey - You double posted!
I'm just hoping that people don't spend time and effort repeating stuff on the other post.

The train journey from Jasper to Vancouver is great and if you have the option I would definitely include it as part of your adventure! Via Rail is also very good to deal with when it comes to bikes and tickets can be flexible. They also provide the box and will help you pack it up. Greyhound on the other hand sucks, I would not trust them with my bike and every time I inquired about using their service to transport a bike they were neither receptive nor co-operative.

So to sum up:

Via Rail – I always had a positive experience and I’ve traveled on Via many times coast to coast. :thumb:

Greyhound – I have always had a negative experience and I used their service all over North America. :mad:

Gordon p

I would not expect Greyhound in Jasper to have a bike box. Your best bet is a local bike store. I shipped a recumbent with Greyhound once. They lost the bike in their receiving depot for 10 days. Thankfully it was the return part of the trip. The bike had been professionally packed and it suffer some minor damage. Since then, I always ship UPS or Fedex. Theey have yet to lose a bike and the bike always arrives at the destination on time
Enjoy your trip. The views are awesome

Anytime I have ever travelled with a bike, on a plane or greyhound, I put the bike in a hockey bag. Although I did this with a BMX bike, I think you could do the same with a full size bike. You could use all of the gear/clothes for padding for the bike. I guess the only risk is if they toss the bag around like hockey gear.

And I usually make cardboard walls surrounding the bike, and bubble wrap/cardboard throughout to keep it sturdy and the parts in place/protected. I have never been charged anything extra for this on planes or greyhound.

Greyhound can be a zoo, but honestly it's cheap and it has always worked for me. Nothing is cheaper, BTW.

For the best results,

Buy your tickets well in advance.

Box your bike with a bike shop bike. Look for a shop that's close to bus station to get the box from. It's possible to fold up the box and ride to the bus station with it, unfold it, and box your bike (use lots of tape).

You'll be able to get a bike box in Jasper - just give yourself an extra day to find one and ship your bike. Greyhound may not put your bike on the same bus as you so you should ship it one day earlier than you plan to take the bus yourself. Also note Greyhound will charge you to ship the bike as well as for your ticket so it can get expensive. I looked at taking Greyhound from Calgary, Alberta to Jasper with my bike and then ride home. It was very pricey and I would have had to go to the bus station twice - once to ship my bike and then again to take it the next day what a pain!

I ended up convincing my boss to drive me the 5hrs there and then drive home alone...lol...that was less hassle than Greyhound!

I lived in Jasper about 10 years ago...

At that time, Freewheel Cycle was selling used bike boxes for a few bucks a box. They didn't throw away any of the boxes that the new bikes were shipped in, so there was a huge supply. You could walk right in and they would sell them at the service/mechanic counter. They would even pack the bike up for a small fee.

Greyhound Bus and the Via train station are actually within the same terminal. You used to be able to purchase a bike box from the Via Rail baggage counter and use it for the Greyhound. Greyhound doesn't sell any boxes, but they were available at the station when the Via desk was open for business.

At the end of the summer, I learned that VIA can run out of boxes as a lot of town residents move/travel at the end of the tourist season, so it might be likely that they may be low on supplies. I would try them last.

One other note is that the boxes that they use for the train used to be absolutely enormous. As I recall, you could turn the bars and remove the pedals and the bike would fit in with both wheels on. They will probably have enough room for your panniers and other luggage, if that is important to you. Unless the boxes that Via uses are smaller now, you'll very likely need to re-pack your bike into something smaller for the airport/airplane.

Hi,

Thank you for your answers! I think I will take the railway (VIA) from Jasper to Vancouver. I think to take the railway is more comfortabler than Greyhound.

The solution to turn the handlebar and to remove the pedals is easier than to pack my bicycle into a cardboard box. That is a further argument for VIA.

Also I always use for Packing my bicycle in planes or in trains a plastic foil, like this one: http://www.boc24.de/epages/bicycles....6?FromSearch=1)

I will also use this plastic foil for packing my bicycle when I take VIA from Jasper to vancouver. I hope that VIA will accept it!

Is anybody here, who knows how much costs a railway ticket from Jasper to Vancouver include my luggage and my bicycle?

Thank you in advance!

regards
Thomas

Go to http://www.crd.de/viarail/index.php?...ck_Deutsh_link and you will find all the info you need.
Take care,
Gordon

PS from this morning's news. http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2...69581-sun.html

Bus / Train ?
 

If you ride on the bus, usually you can insist to load and unload the bike yourself. I think that on the train, a baggage handler would take the bike out of your view. As well, you can insist to make sure that the bike is on board your bus if you change busses. Slightly less chance of the bike being damaged or lost.

I think that if the bus fills up too much, they want to leave the largest items behind. There could be a chance that the bike would have to be carried on a later bus, if they have too many suitcases. I think you would know right away if that was happening.

In the past, the train is well-known for being very late at times. The train originates at the other end of the country, and most of the rail line is shared with cargo/freight trains. Any issues that happen on the track tend to create delays, which are additive and even increasing as the train moves east to west.

For example, if the train is an hour late on the first day, it'll lose the scheduled priority time on every section of track following, and it just gets later and later as the passenger train has to be moved to a siding to let the cargo move through, etc. I think I recall trains that were 2-3 DAYS late in arriving. The bus is usually more reliable for being very close to on-time, at least in good weather conditions. The busses run between two cities, so there is less chance of major disruptions.

At least, 10 years ago that was true. :)

VIA will cost around $160 for Jasper to Edmonton.

Do you have a hosteling international membership? If so, the Greyhound might be a better choice since you'll get a 25% discount off of their already lower fares.

The last trip I took to the coast I flew back to Edmonton. To get my bike on the plane I went to a local bike shop and they gave me one of the boxes their new bikes came in. In Jasper there are a couple of bike shops. I stopped in at the Free Wheel bike shop in Jasper, they were terrific. I needed a few minor adjustments on my rig and the mechanic did it for me in a few minutes, for free, and I was on my way. If you need to pack your bike check out the bike shops first before you buy anything.

It is great country to ride through, enjoy your holiday.

The train is a better idea than Greyhound. Bikes sent on Greyhound usually go separately, by truck. The train is also more civilized.

If you are flying into Vancouver with your bike already boxed you can get on a connecting flight to Kelowna, Kamloops or Calgary and start your trip from one of those cities and ride back to Vancouver without having to use the train or bus.

Jasper to Vancouver can be cycled in 5-6 days.

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/3036

Not much to say r.e. the bike but definitely ride the Icefields parkway between Jasper and Banff (even just down to Lake Louise). IMO the parkway is the most scenic part of the two parks (that is along a road).