Kids Bike Trade UP events are a big success

Youth en Route has been thrilled with the response to our Kids Bike Trade UP events held in May and July. People have lined up, signed up and been hugely appreciative of the concept. So many parents told us they just couldn’t keep their growing kids in bikes – it was too expensive and they grew too quickly. Without easy access to buy a good used bike, parents said their kids simply had to ride too small bikes.

The Kids Bike Trade Up allowed families to bring a bike – any bike really – to our event and walk away with a bike that fit their child.  It makes the process simple. They don’t need to figure out how to get rid of an old bike, or choose one that fits. It’s the best of one-stop service.

“We know that this is really valuable for parents,” said Mario Rocha, operations manager  of Youth en Route and lead bike mechanic. “This is meeting a need in our community and keeping bikes out of the landfill at the same time.” To date, we’ve received about 20 per cent more bikes than we’ve given away. This is key to keeping the program running – we need bikes, and spare parts to be able to keep our partners – local community bike refurbishers working on bikes.

Pick your own wheels

One of the biggest benefits of the program is that youth are able to come and have a say in what bike becomes their new bike. Where possible, Rocha and his team allows kids to pick one from our allotment of refurbished bikes. “This allows the kids to have some pride of ownership,” said Rocha.

These events are possible thanks to a Circular Economy Grant from the City of Calgary’s Waste and Recycling Department. For all the details including an ongoing impact chart of bikes give away, check out the Kids Bike Trade UP website

The next event is slated for Oct. 3 at the Genesis Center in NE Calgary.  It’s being held in conjunction with the Arusha Foundations Repair Exchange.