Gearing Kids up with bikes that fit; Kids Bike Trade UP

Do you have bikes sitting around gathering dust? Has your child outgrown their bike?
Youth en Route wants to get kids bikes out of the dusty garage, shed or bike room and into the hands of kids that need it.   

Bikes that aren’t used or maintained become harder to repair. Too often, unused bikes end up in Calgary’s Landfills. YER has received a grant from the City of Calgary’s Waste and Recycling department to help get bikes rolling again.   

Our plan is to have Calgarians trade an old bike in exchange for a refurbished one that fits your child. No charge. We will take bikes of all sizes, in any condition.  

Donate your old bikes!  

To make this work, we need lots of used bikes. Bikes that we can’t repair will be used for parts. A new 12 or 16-inch tire can cost more than a mountain bike tire. We expect it will take two to 2.5 used bikes to make one good bike. That’s why we’re looking to stock up on the bikes and parts we’ll need.   

 Drop off locations

• Bathtub Bikes: 3307 17 Ave SE, Calgary, AB T2A 0R2  

• Valet Bike and Ski: 206 11 Ave SE #105, Calgary, Alberta T2G0X8

• Youth en Route location: Coming soon!   

(Please check each location for hours before you go!)  If your bike is in the Bike Blue Book and it is in the described condition, you may be able to get a tax receipt from us.  

Need a bike for your growing kid?   

We also recognize that as kids grow, their bikes don’t grow with them. Getting a proper sized bike can be difficult and expensive. YER’s goal is to get more kids out riding. Biking empowers youth to experience the outdoors, gain a sense of independence, and improve mental and physical health — all while reaching everyday destinations. We meet many teenagers who tell us they haven’t ridden a bike for years because they outgrew their bikes.   

 Youth en Route created the Kids Bike Trade UP to provide families who ride with a convenient and low-cost way to keep their kids active. By making it easier for families to access a suitable bike at the right time, the Kids Bike Trade Up helps ensure that kids can keep riding confidently and consistently as they grow.  

To sign up for the Kids Bike Trade UP, fill out this form.

Call for partners and volunteers

 This initial project is a pilot project with support from a grant from the City of Calgary. We’re hoping this becomes just an ongoing thing that happens every spring and summer.

Join us and support our upcoming projects and future events as a partner or a volunteer. We’re keen to find more bike mechanics .

Contact us at Bikehub@youthenroute.ca,

 First trade up event goes May 31  

 Our first ‘Kids Bike Trade UP’ event will be in partnership with Bathtub Bikes. Adam has been doing free kids bike giveaways on International Ave for three years. This time, we’re working together to create a fun event for all.  

The Kids Trade UP event will take place on;  

   

May 31, 2025,   

10 AM to 2 PM,   

Bathtub Bikes  

3307 17 Ave SE

Bring your bikes to donate! If you want to trade up to bigger bike, please make sure to use our form. We want to make sure we have bikes for everyone who signed up.

  Please note: Bikes that you trade at the event will be kept by Youth en Route and refurbished for others. Once you trade in a bike, Youth en Route cannot return the original bike to you. All Trade Up bikes are delivered in as is condition. They have been refurbished and safety checked. If you have issues or concerns, please take it to a local bike repair shop.