Hundreds of Calgary kids are Going Back to School on “New” Bikes Because of Kids Bike Trade Up

CALGARY: Youth en Route, a Calgary charity that changes lives with mobility, just totaled the impact that its free Kids BikeTrade Up has had this summer. Since April 1, the program has re-homed 386 bikes. 

August has been our busiest month ever, with 127 bikes out the door of our Bike Hub shop to date. (Clearly parents are getting ready for back to school!) The graph below shows the monthly totals. The program is simple, sustainable and free. Bring a bike, get a bike that fits. Volunteers and fixers across the city help us meet demand for safe, refurbished bikes. 

The Kids Bike Trade up started as a three-event pilot project with $25,000 of City of Calgary Funding in 2025. Funding from the Calgary Foundation allowed expansion and the creation of a permanent location for Youth en Route at the Bike Hub, which doubles as a Calgary’s accessible DIY bike shop. 

As well, Youth en Route has worked at community clean ups, to check bike donations and rehome them that day in the community (about 145) AND given bikes to youth at community partners like Center For Newcomers (45) and Hull Family Services (32) as well as graduates of our own school programs (195). If you include it all there are 803 bikes that are rolling this year because of Youth en Route. (And we’ve probably missed counting a few!) 

A bicycle is more than transportation. It’s access to school, employment, friendships, recreation and confidence. Every young person with freedom to move independently gains opportunities that can shape the rest of their life. 

A short film about our work and the power of bicycles called the Freedom Machine premiers Friday at Calgary’s Bicycle Film Festival. 

Laura Shutiak
Executive Director
Youth en Route
403-472-7715