Sherbrooke, Tuesday, March 28, 2023 — The biggest second-hand bike sale is back again this year! Estrie Aide and the City of Sherbrooke are pleased to announce the 11th edition of the Bike Fair on Saturday, April 29, between 8 a.m. and noon, at the Estrie Aide donation centre located at 356 Wellington Street South, in Sherbrooke.

The organization will have inspected, repaired, and cleaned over 400 bicycles generously donated by Sherbrooke residents and local organizations in preparation for its major spring sale. Of these, 113 bicycles were collected by the Sherbrooke Police Service. A visit will be possible on Friday, April 28, between 9 a.m. and noon, for those wishing to reclaim their lost or stolen bicycle. Owners will need to provide proof of ownership by presenting the original receipt. A police officer will be on site to identify the bicycles.

This year, Estrie Aide will offer the chance to preview some of the bicycles that will be for sale at the fair the following day. This event will take place on Friday, April 28, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., at their premises located at 356 Wellington Street South — Door 3, in Sherbrooke.

At the fair, customers can pay for their purchases in cash, by debit card, or by credit card; checks will not be accepted. All sales are final. To ensure everyone in the community can benefit from the sale, a limit of one teen or adult bicycle per person will be in effect. This year, it will also be possible to purchase a child's bicycle in addition to an adult bicycle.

An event that makes sense

Since its launch, the Bike Fair has put over 4,500 bikes back on the road and recycled even more through the reuse of second-hand parts from bikes donated by the organization. A team of about ten people has been working since the end of last year to inspect, repair, and clean bikes for children, teenagers, and adults – categories that will be available at the event on April 29.

“Inflation is hitting everyone hard, and the Bike Fair makes hundreds of bikes accessible to our residents. This not only provides an active mode of transportation, but also extends the lifespan of many bikes that would have ended up in landfills much sooner without this initiative. I thank Estrie Aide, which will once again have a significant impact on the environment and the health of our community this year!” said Ms. Évelyne Beaudin, Mayor of the City of Sherbrooke.

“2023 has brought its share of surprises, both socially and economically. Once again, our bike fair is eagerly anticipated by the residents of Sherbrooke. Our long-standing partners—the Sherbrooke Police Service, Momo Sport, and the Estrie Business Services—provide the stability necessary for organizing this event. Our employees and volunteers have once again carefully inspected, repaired, and cleaned the bicycles that will be offered to the public at low cost. In 2022, including the bike fair, we sold nearly 800 bicycles. This is a sign that our work and social involvement are appreciated by the community,” adds Michel Lesage, Executive Director of Estrie Aide.

Estrie Aide and the City of Sherbrooke would like to thank the La Déraille cooperative, which provided minor mechanical adjustments on site after the purchase of a bicycle, free of charge, as well as the Momo Sport store, the Business Services - Estrie, the University of Sherbrooke and the team of bicycle patrollers who will be present at the event.