Nearly 700 bikes sold at the 4th annual Spokane Bike Swap!

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Event raised $38,000 for the Friends of Centennial Trail!

SPOKANE COUNTY, May 28, 2015 - Nearly 4,000 people, excited and ready for spring, attended the 4th annual Spokane Bike Swap & Expo on April 11 & 12 at the Spokane County Fair & Expo Center. With 58 exhibitors and over 900 used bikes registered to sell in the bike corral, there was something for everyone. "Thanks to the community, the growth over the last four years has been tremendous! Our first year, we sold 169 bikes in the bike corral, this year we sold 673 - that's nearly a 400% increase,"smiled Spokane Bike Swap co-Event Director, LeAnn Yamamoto. "It's so fun to see people get excited when they find a great deal on a bike that is perfect for them."

As the major fund raiser for the Friends of the Centennial Trail, the Spokane Bike Swap raised $38,000. "The Spokane Bike Swap has become the largest supporter of our Trail Builder's Fund," explained Friends of the Centennial Trail Executive Director, Loreen McFaul. "Bike Swap proceeds are designated for Trail expansion, completion and maintenance; all funds improve the Centennial Trail." Friends of the Centennial Trail established the Trail Builder's Fund for designated donations for the Spokane River Centennial Trail maintenance, gap completion matching funds, signs and safety upgrades. From matching funds at the state line Gateway Park expansion two years ago to the Trail extension in Nine Mile Falls from Sontag Park to Lake Spokane that begins in August, the Friends want to ensure that the public can be involved in making direct contributions to the Centennial Trail. Spokane Bike Swap & Expo proceeds have added $98,000 to the Trail Builder's Fund in four years.

Exhibitors at the event were excited and thrilled with the turn out! The 13 local bike shops selling merchandise at the event, including Fitness Fanatics, Wheel Sport, North Division Bicycle Shop, NorthWest Recumbent Cycles, Emde Sports, Bicycle Butler, Terra Sports, The Bike Hub, MonkeyBoy Bicycles, This Bike Life, Two Wheel Transit, CycleMetrix and Cool Water Bikes are already looking forward to participating again next year. With another successful year, plans for the 5th annual Spokane Bike Swap are already being discussed. "The need for a community event like this and the ability to raise the awareness for bicycling in our community is apparent from the support we have received from the community," said Andy Ignacio. Spokane Bike Swap co-Event Director "With the growth from this year and anticipating even more next year, we are looking into expanding to a larger space and expanding our entertainment and education component to help draw more people to our event." To help educate and promote bicycle safety to young riders, the Spokane Bike Swap gave away over 200 Bell helmets with helmet fitting to kids who purchased a bike in the bike corral. Plus 250 bike tail lights were given away to Sunday attendees.

Special thanks to the sponsors that made it possible and supported the event include Spokane County, Umpqua Bank, Rockwood Clinic, Fitness Fanatics, Spokane Transit, Lee & Hayes, KXLY Radio, Emde Sports, Avista Corporation, Cool Water Bikes, OutThere Monthly, Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency, David's Pizza, The Inlander, REI, Randall Danskin, Roast House Coffee, WSU Health Sciences Spokane, GSI Outdoors, River House at the Trailhead, Road ID, Inland Northwest Health Services, Garco Construction, Windermere Marathon, Lyte Balance Electrolytes, Manito Tap House, Project Tributa, Spokane Party Trolley, Washington Bikes, Zip 2 Water, The Spokesman-Review and Wendle Motors.