Vancouver Island Transportation in all of its forms: Who, How and What. Check websites for the When.
Free Rides to Medical Appointments
Island Health Travel Assistance provides free door-to-door rides to non-emergency Island Health appointments for people in rural and remote communities who must travel more than 25 km one way. Wheelchair users welcome (allow 3 days' notice); riders must be medically stable and able to transfer with minimal help. Register online or call 1-844-940-6617; the team responds within 24 hours. Appointments outside Island Health (private specialists, Vancouver) may qualify for the BC Travel Assistance Program instead.
Accessible Fare Programs
- BC Ferries Accessible Fares provides discounted passenger fares with an Accessible Fares ID or CNIB ID.
- BC Travel Assistance Program (TAP)
- BC Ferries Medically Assured Loading (MAL) is available to users of TAP with a letter from their medical practitioner that states that it is necessary for them to avoid a wait at the ferry terminal.
Emergency Health Transport: Ambulance & Airplane
Government operated transportation is available only for qualifying health emergencies and circumstances. BC Emergency Health Services Patient Transfer Services provides inter-facility ambulance and air (airplane) transfers for qualifying patients, wheelchair and stretcher capable, across all Island regions and to Vancouver.