The way points of this bicycle route:
Arrowsmith Bikes located in Rutherford Mall, just off Rutherford Road.
Stupid wrong turn; could hear the traffic from the Island Highway, but could not reach it. Took me 5km out of my way and added around 45 minutes onto my trip.
Once exiting the main part of the highway and going through more urban Nanaimo, there is a paved bike path off the road, but it is only accessible if you leave the highway at an intersection. It runs only along the south side of the Highway.