Need a new ride? Looking to sell? Head down to the Bellingham Bike Swap
The Bellingham Bike Swap returns Sunday. It’s the seventh such event but it will be held at a new location this year.
The bike swap is a chance for the community to buy or sell preowned bikes and biking accessories at a low price while raising money for the local nonprofit organization Shifting Gears.
“It amazes me, the quality of bikes that were available through the bike swap last year, and folks can get really good bikes for a very reasonable cost,” said Diane Bedell, executive director at Shifting Gears.
The swap used to be held at the Boundary Bay Brewery but has moved to the Fishermen’s Pavilion at Zuanich Point Park. The change in location was necessary because the swap became too large to be hosted at Boundary Bay, and the brewery closed last fall.
The bike swap is open to everyone and has grown in popularity every year since its creation in 2018. It’s been held each year since, except for 2021, when it was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Bedell said organizers expect about 900 people in attendance this year.
With the increase in attendance, Shifting Gears needs as many volunteers as possible. Last year they had over 70 volunteers, and they are going to need even more Sunday. Volunteer jobs include checking in gear, setting up and taking down tables, helping customers, security and organizing test rides of bikes.
Sellers need to register online through an online application sometime before the event so organizers can print out labels for the items. People are encouraged to register before June 21, although it is possible to show up on the day and register, according to Bedell.
People looking to just shop don’t need to register at all, Bedell said.
“One of the things I really like about the swap is we see lots of families come in,” Bedell said. “Kids outgrow their bikes pretty rapidly, and so we see a lot of families come in to update their kids’ bikes. They swap the existing bike, they list it for sale and find their next bike at the swap. I think that’s just a great way to do that.”
Sellers should arrive with their items between 7:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. to drop off their gear. Shopping runs from 1 to 4 p.m. Any leftover gear can either be taken back by the seller, or they can choose to donate it to Shifting Gears. All forms of payment are accepted at the Bellingham Bike Swap.
Shifting Gears hosts the swap, and 30 percent of all sales goes to fund the nonprofit. In 2025, the organization raised around $11,000.
The organization exists to remove barriers to women’s outdoor recreation by creating an open and welcoming space for all women (cis, trans, queer) to participate safely. Shifting Gears also hosts free or low-cost activities for women such as mountain biking rides, backpacking trips, day hikes, backcountry skiing and kayaking.
“There are a lot of barriers that women experience including costs, intimidation factors or just thinking they don’t belong on the trail or out on the bay,” Bedell said.
This story was originally published June 17, 2026 at 12:06 PM.
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