It’s not uncommon for parents to feel nervous about taking their children out aboard their bikes for the first time. There’s worries over traffic, the stability of the bike and two (or more) riders, and of course the parent’s fitness to worry about as the bike weight increases substantially. All of these issues mean concerns are understandable.
However, for those of us for whom cycling is a lifestyle, it’s certainly not easy to give it all up in favour of cars, trains and buses – especially when many forms of pubic transport aren’t exactly buggy friendly.
The good news is that you don’t have too – and we love this compilation (scroll down to watch it!) which shows cyclists of all ages, genders and fitness levels transporting their children around – mostly in Bakfiets Box (or cargo) bikes. We loved the message so much we had to share it. And the soundtrack put us in a good mood, too.
Cargo bikes, already incredibly popular in Holland and Denmark, are becoming more popular in the UK. Though shapes and sizes vary, they’re basically utility bikes with a large cargo box attached, with a small extra wheel and elongated frame to accommodate the front end.
A cargo bike comes with all add-ons fitted, so you don’t have to mess around attaching anything – and box seats do come with safety straps. They’re suitable for children from 6 months to eight years (how strong are your legs feeling?!) and there’s usually room for shopping and more.
These bikes are a bit cumbersome to store (though not as cumbersome as a car!) and though they are heavy, most come with an optional electric assist motor.