MIDDLEBURY — The Middlebury Safe Routes organization and Frog Hollow Bikes (FHB) will host their annual bike swap on Friday, April 30, (3-6 p.m.) and Saturday, May 1, (9 a.m.-12 noon) at Middlebury’s Cannon Park across Main Street from Ilsley Library. The event will be held rain or shine.
Everyone is invited to come find the perfect new-to-you bike, sell that old bike that’s been taking up space in the garage all these years, or better yet, do both.
It’s called a “bike swap” in the sense that people turn in bikes they no longer want to “swap” and buy a different used or new bike, but you can just sell or buy a bike at the swap.
From kids’ bikes to road bikes, full suspension bikes, maybe even fat tire or e-bikes, organizers hope to offer it all. Safe Routes and FHB staff and volunteers will be on hand to answer questions and guide people to the bike best suited for them. To keep the event COVID safe, the number of people who can enter the swap at a time will be limited. Masks are required as well as social distancing while browsing and shopping. The town of Middlebury is helping support the swap.
Drop off bikes and gear for the swap at FHB before noon on April 30 and indicate if you want sale proceeds to go to you or be donated to Middlebury Safe Routes. A percentage goes to FHB.
Frog Hollow Bikes is open Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. for you to drop off used bikes for consignment sale, to buy new or used bikes and to service and assemble bikes, but will have a larger selection of used bikes at the swap due to unclaimed missing and stolen bikes released to them by the Middlebury Police Department.
Buyers are urged to record their newly acquired bike’s make, color and any other identifying features in case it goes missing to report to police. Also, always use a good lock. One will be raffled at the swap and bike registration forms will be on hand.
Middlebury Safe Routes monitors traffic patterns and student travel behavior, plans activities to teach bike skills and rules of the road, and recommends improvements to roads, parking lots, drop offs, sidewalks, crosswalks, traffic lights, signage, bus routes, bike routes, bike racks and more.
Enjoy browsing related sales and activities happening downtown this Green Up Day weekend, including outdoor clothing and gear in Main Street stores and the Bundle Up Market on Merchants Row. Learn about upcoming events in May, which is bike month, including the Way to Go! Transportation Challenge for great prizes.