Comments on: Commuting with Children http://www.commutebybike.com/2010/05/13/commuting-with-children3/ Tips, Hints, Reviews and Safety for Bike Commuters Sat, 11 Feb 2012 19:00:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: sarah http://www.commutebybike.com/2010/05/13/commuting-with-children3/comment-page-1/#comment-450566 sarah Fri, 23 Sep 2011 17:47:08 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=4890#comment-450566 You forgot the trail-a-bike! These methods are great but what about when you have to cross town with an older child? It's not practical or safe for them to ride their own bike. My 9 year old goes to a private school which is an hour bike ride across the city. You forgot the trail-a-bike! These methods are great but what about when you have to cross town with an older child? It’s not practical or safe for them to ride their own bike. My 9 year old goes to a private school which is an hour bike ride across the city.

]]> By: sara http://www.commutebybike.com/2010/05/13/commuting-with-children3/comment-page-1/#comment-194589 sara Thu, 01 Jul 2010 17:26:02 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=4890#comment-194589 My first week with my daughter - 4 1/2 yo - in a temporary situation. We are using my standard step-through with an older model attached Adams trail-a-bike. We are doing better every day, but I don't like the "fishtail" wiggle. We may or may not continue bike commuting together, but if our situation turns into a regular bike commute, than I will probably invest in a Cetma long john or a longtail -- esp keen on an xtracyle radish, which are very poplar around here (local designer done good). We are in Oakland, and commute to BART, and use Public transit in San Francisco. She is having a blast BTW - singing and waving like a parade queen at passing motorists. This is a great site. My first week with my daughter – 4 1/2 yo – in a temporary situation. We are using my standard step-through with an older model attached Adams trail-a-bike. We are doing better every day, but I don’t like the “fishtail” wiggle. We may or may not continue bike commuting together, but if our situation turns into a regular bike commute, than I will probably invest in a Cetma long john or a longtail — esp keen on an xtracyle radish, which are very poplar around here (local designer done good). We are in Oakland, and commute to BART, and use Public transit in San Francisco. She is having a blast BTW – singing and waving like a parade queen at passing motorists.
This is a great site.

]]> By: Bliss Chick http://www.commutebybike.com/2010/05/13/commuting-with-children3/comment-page-1/#comment-193128 Bliss Chick Sun, 30 May 2010 12:18:55 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=4890#comment-193128 My three dudes are now 6, 9 and 12, but I have used a bike seat, a bike trailer and a Trail-A-Bike for them, and really recommend the trailer options. The Trail-A-Bike and trailer are easy to secure on my bike, keep the kids safe and/or engaged, and the trailer offered extra room for the inevitable extra gear we brought along. Plus, I didn't have to buy a specialized bike to commute with them. With the Trail-A-Bike, the kids get to help on the hills, which is not an option with a cargo bike. The only problem I never knew how to solve with the trailer and the bike seat was how their heads were pushed forward by their helmets. I think Nutcase helmets might help a bit with that, but I didn't have that option when mine were little. My three dudes are now 6, 9 and 12, but I have used a bike seat, a bike trailer and a Trail-A-Bike for them, and really recommend the trailer options. The Trail-A-Bike and trailer are easy to secure on my bike, keep the kids safe and/or engaged, and the trailer offered extra room for the inevitable extra gear we brought along. Plus, I didn’t have to buy a specialized bike to commute with them. With the Trail-A-Bike, the kids get to help on the hills, which is not an option with a cargo bike.

The only problem I never knew how to solve with the trailer and the bike seat was how their heads were pushed forward by their helmets. I think Nutcase helmets might help a bit with that, but I didn’t have that option when mine were little.

]]> By: M.J.D.A.B http://www.commutebybike.com/2010/05/13/commuting-with-children3/comment-page-1/#comment-193025 M.J.D.A.B Mon, 24 May 2010 17:05:47 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=4890#comment-193025 I just commuted this morning for the first time with the kids. It was awesome. The kids (1 and 2.5) ride really well together, so far. We live on a fairly busy road so I had to keep it to the sidewalks for most of the time. Day care is only 1 mile from our house and then I ride another mile and a half to my work. It went well, but my one year old refuses to keep her helmut on. She feels the same way about any hats and the winter's where we live are especially brutal. Any suggestions to keep helmut's on? Thinking about sticking some padding under their seat in case we hit any bumps that brush the bottom of the trailer. Owie! Looking forward to the commute home! I just commuted this morning for the first time with the kids. It was awesome. The kids (1 and 2.5) ride really well together, so far. We live on a fairly busy road so I had to keep it to the sidewalks for most of the time. Day care is only 1 mile from our house and then I ride another mile and a half to my work. It went well, but my one year old refuses to keep her helmut on. She feels the same way about any hats and the winter’s where we live are especially brutal.

Any suggestions to keep helmut’s on?

Thinking about sticking some padding under their seat in case we hit any bumps that brush the bottom of the trailer. Owie!

Looking forward to the commute home!

]]> By: Camilla http://www.commutebybike.com/2010/05/13/commuting-with-children3/comment-page-1/#comment-192852 Camilla Tue, 18 May 2010 11:10:34 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=4890#comment-192852 Not sure how easy it would be to ride, I think a cargo bike probably looks more comfortable, Cetma or Double Dutch or what have you, but for sheer ingenuity and awesomeness, gotta love the tandemtransporter - http://www.cyclorama.net/viewProduct.php?id=281 It can carry up to three children at once, as well as an adult, and you can convert the front or back into cargo-carrying. gets the kids into the saddle too. Know of at least one bike sidecar, not specifically for kids though - Smike http://www.cyclorama.net/viewExhibitor.php?id=217 Not sure if these are available in the US but thought I'd mention anyhoo! Not sure how easy it would be to ride, I think a cargo bike probably looks more comfortable, Cetma or Double Dutch or what have you, but for sheer ingenuity and awesomeness, gotta love the tandemtransporter – http://www.cyclorama.net/viewProduct.php?id=281

It can carry up to three children at once, as well as an adult, and you can convert the front or back into cargo-carrying. gets the kids into the saddle too.

Know of at least one bike sidecar, not specifically for kids though – Smike http://www.cyclorama.net/viewExhibitor.php?id=217
Not sure if these are available in the US but thought I’d mention anyhoo!

]]> By: norm http://www.commutebybike.com/2010/05/13/commuting-with-children3/comment-page-1/#comment-192623 norm Mon, 17 May 2010 17:06:27 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=4890#comment-192623 Interesting! I have not yet seen a bike sidecar. Sounds well thought-out. I can see it having some definite advantages compared to a full on trailer. Interesting! I have not yet seen a bike sidecar. Sounds well thought-out. I can see it having some definite advantages compared to a full on trailer.

]]> By: JRF http://www.commutebybike.com/2010/05/13/commuting-with-children3/comment-page-1/#comment-191510 JRF Sun, 16 May 2010 17:35:22 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=4890#comment-191510 It seems there is a continuum anchored at one end by the xtracycle which is a cargo bike with a variety of attachments for carrying different kinds of cargo, including small humans. At the other end is tandem which is about two riders. In my experience, kids in the non-recreational ride are a bit like cargo in that they often only partake in part of the ride...delivery to school, playdate, daycare and so on. So an interesting dimension, is whether the kid-carrying apparatus is something you can detach and leave with the kid. And if not, if it is adaptable to efficiently carry other cargo on the kid-less leg(s) of the journey. And on a different axis, as the kid gets older and capable of contributing power, does the apparatus allow the kid to productively pedal? I have a tandem and it wins hands down on the last point, but I'm still scratching my head about how to make it a good cargo bike for non-recreational purposes. It would need some mid-frame rack that can be (or get) out of the way of the stoker, when riding, and not interfere with the pedals when the stoker is not around. The trail-a-bike style affords productive pedaling from the "cargo", but doesn't carry other cargo well. On the other hand, it is easily detachable. Do trail-a-bike users often leave the trailer with the kid? Personally, I found the handling of the trail-a-bike quite disconcerting which led me down the tandem route. For the non-pedaling kids, an xtracycle, a trailer (or sidecar), or a dutch-style cargo bike seems the most versatile in the dual-purpose category, but I've never used any beyond a spin around the block. It seems there is a continuum anchored at one end by the xtracycle which is a cargo bike with a variety of attachments for carrying different kinds of cargo, including small humans. At the other end is tandem which is about two riders.

In my experience, kids in the non-recreational ride are a bit like cargo in that they often only partake in part of the ride…delivery to school, playdate, daycare and so on. So an interesting dimension, is whether the kid-carrying apparatus is something you can detach and leave with the kid. And if not, if it is adaptable to efficiently carry other cargo on the kid-less leg(s) of the journey. And on a different axis, as the kid gets older and capable of contributing power, does the apparatus allow the kid to productively pedal?

I have a tandem and it wins hands down on the last point, but I’m still scratching my head about how to make it a good cargo bike for non-recreational purposes. It would need some mid-frame rack that can be (or get) out of the way of the stoker, when riding, and not interfere with the pedals when the stoker is not around.

The trail-a-bike style affords productive pedaling from the “cargo”, but doesn’t carry other cargo well. On the other hand, it is easily detachable. Do trail-a-bike users often leave the trailer with the kid? Personally, I found the handling of the trail-a-bike quite disconcerting which led me down the tandem route.

For the non-pedaling kids, an xtracycle, a trailer (or sidecar), or a dutch-style cargo bike seems the most versatile in the dual-purpose category, but I’ve never used any beyond a spin around the block.

]]> By: Bike Shop Girl http://www.commutebybike.com/2010/05/13/commuting-with-children3/comment-page-1/#comment-191380 Bike Shop Girl Sun, 16 May 2010 13:18:14 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=4890#comment-191380 Maureen, Added weight behind does increase the force going down hill. Some places rent trailers which would be a good way to try them. Maureen,

Added weight behind does increase the force going down hill. Some places rent trailers which would be a good way to try them.

]]> By: Maureen Sklaroff http://www.commutebybike.com/2010/05/13/commuting-with-children3/comment-page-1/#comment-190970 Maureen Sklaroff Sat, 15 May 2010 06:38:09 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=4890#comment-190970 The way the sidecar is designed, we're not very wide. Supposedly no wider than a double trailer. It is on the right. It won't tip over if I do either. I also worried about that with the seats, I'm just not experienced enough of a rider right now. If I had known about these cargo bikes before I bought my bike, I probably would have bought one of them instead. Right now, we can't ride enough places that I could justify the expense, but if we move closer to the city that we spend most days in, I'm going to buy one of those. The way the sidecar is designed, we’re not very wide. Supposedly no wider than a double trailer. It is on the right. It won’t tip over if I do either. I also worried about that with the seats, I’m just not experienced enough of a rider right now. If I had known about these cargo bikes before I bought my bike, I probably would have bought one of them instead. Right now, we can’t ride enough places that I could justify the expense, but if we move closer to the city that we spend most days in, I’m going to buy one of those.

]]> By: norm http://www.commutebybike.com/2010/05/13/commuting-with-children3/comment-page-1/#comment-190855 norm Fri, 14 May 2010 21:23:00 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=4890#comment-190855 Wow, a sidecar! I would be concerned about riding in traffic as the sidecar would make you pretty wide. Is the bike on the left or right side of the sidecar? I used to pull two kids and groceries in my old Burley d'Lite and I'm pretty sure I was close to the 100lb weight limit a lot. I used a mountain bike with a wide gear ratio range so it was easy to just downshift when I came across a steep hill. Also, if I were to fall off my bike (happened once or twice) the trailer never tipped. I was afraid of that happening if I had a kid in a back-mounted seat. Wow, a sidecar! I would be concerned about riding in traffic as the sidecar would make you pretty wide. Is the bike on the left or right side of the sidecar?

I used to pull two kids and groceries in my old Burley d’Lite and I’m pretty sure I was close to the 100lb weight limit a lot. I used a mountain bike with a wide gear ratio range so it was easy to just downshift when I came across a steep hill. Also, if I were to fall off my bike (happened once or twice) the trailer never tipped. I was afraid of that happening if I had a kid in a back-mounted seat.

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