Does anyone use a bike and trailer for carting kids around daily?!

[soootiredddd]

We only have one car at the moment as DH and I work at the same place. We can both WFH twice a week and then go into the office the rest of the time which is only 3.5 miles away. Kids go to local childminder/preschool both of which are about 10-15 mins walk away. In august DH has a new job which is an hours commute, he can get the train sometimes but will need to drive more often than not due to timings of work.

We were going to get a second car for me to get to and from work and to drop and collect the kids but with fuel prices rising so quickly I’m starting to wonder if I can manage with a combination of walking (on my WFH days) and using a bike with trailer. I’d have to bundle them both in and cycle to the childminder, then preschool and then onto work. Same on the way home. As I said I’d only need to do this three times a week. Am I mad?! Kids are 3 and 1.

I’d save the cost of buying the car (minus the cost of buying a bike and trailer) which would have been at least £5-6k, approx £80 a month in insurance/tax/maintenance/MOT and probably £75 in fuel (think I could manage to use just one tank a month). In the summer and nice weather it would be fine I think but in the dark and cold and wet it could be thoroughly miserable.

Great idea - the kids will love it & it is healthy & ecofriendly.

But - do you have safe bike lanes? I wouldn't worry about the weather but I do worry about the cars etc.

This kind of bike which can take 2 kids in seats on the back is probably safer than a trailer because the kids are higher & closer to you.
velorution.com/tern-gsd-s00-performance-line-cx-500w.html?gclid=Cj0KCQiA95aRBhCsARIsAC2xvfy2lKPUDkTSFiVg_ZTOeNFxFCW2D4zieHv1caQMWxHtNxtTb-a7WGEaAsDZEALw_wcB
(I'm sure cheaper versions exist)

I did but on routes without many cars, just quiet residential streets.

Also these are fab - very common in Denmark & again they can take childseats with a harness and have a roof to keep the kids dry.

christianiabikesuk.com/the-models/families/

[quote parietal]Also these are fab - very common in Denmark & again they can take childseats with a harness and have a roof to keep the kids dry.

christianiabikesuk.com/the-models/families/[/quote]
I came to say about Christiania bikes. I my kids live over there and all my grandchildren travel in these.

THeure as lso known as box bikes as the trailer is actually a box on the front (also good for carting visiting Grannies in too!) the kids loves them.

It's also easy enough to DIY convert to electric bike; I did this for my sons family 5 years ago and it's still going strong.

I've seen these on English roads, in traffic, kids at right height for breathing in all the exhaust fumes, not to mention the other obvious hazards. Chills my blood whenever I see one. That said, I've never seen a reported accident so maybe I'm being neurotic.

If you have the budget, then definitely get a box bike. They come in different styles, two or three wheels, and it's worth trying out a few to see what you like.

We have a shotgun bike seat on the front of the bike which the older one hops on to, and a hamax seat on the back for the younger one. It works really well for drop off and pick up.

I've tried a Christiana bike before and it was awesome. It was an electric one and had plenty of room for my 9 year old in it. I really want one but I'm not sure where I'd keep it.

I love the idea of one - my kids nursery is a 3.5 mile round trip and I walk as often as my working day will allow, but I'd love to be able to cycle it.
The problem is the lack of cycling infrastructure in our (small) city. There are no cycle lanes, the pavements are very narrow. I'd also not cycle on the road with my children. Although I've seen them, like pps, they give me the heebie jeebies seeing them on the road. Plus they're right at exhaust height
I'd love it if we had the infrastructure to allow for this safely.

There's a fab Facebook group called Family cycling which can help, OP

I had a cargo bike like this...to get the kids around but in all honesty I was too much of a fair weather cyclist to do it the year round. I'm not sure we ever looked so happy either. But it was good most of the time.

Yes, we did - kids were similar ages to yours actually. We didn’t have a car at all so used bike/trailer for everything.

I did cycle my kids to nursery when they were wee but honestly, I'd just get a second car. It's just so much easier in the long term.

We did. No accidents. Very very experienced and fit cyclist though (DH not me!). We don’t have a car.

I used to use a trailer but only on very local roads, we have bike paths for longer rides.

I wouldn't have been comfortable leaving it in a public place in case it was stolen. Bit you could leave it at preschool of that is your last drop off and first pick up - but check how easy it is to hook and unhook from the bike.

They are heavy but with 2 young kids it's manageable. You will just get fitter. I used ours for fun not necessity- so no experience of using it in bad weather. But - we walk to school every day and in reality it is only a couple of times a year you actually get soaked on the walk. Mostly it's drizzle or intermittent rain.

Search Family Cycling U.K. on Facebook to find a really supportive experienced group.

Could 3 yr old bike along the pavement (on a balance bike if they can't pedal) or scoot? 1 yr old could go on the back of your bike? A 10 minute walk wouldn't take long on a bike.

Does the childminder have space to store a trailer all day or would you have to tow it to work? Do you have space to park it at work?

I tried a cargo bike with space for 2 kids on the back and I found it really heavy, even with the electric motor. It didn't feel unsafe, felt better than having the kids in a trailer or on a tag along bike, but it was heavy. We didn't buy one.

You also may not even need the trailer for the kids. I used to walk the kids to childminder/nursery and then bike off myself. I had a child seat on the back of my bike so the smallest could sit in that as I pushed it along.

You’d think from a PP that nobody successfully uses a trailer mind. I know many, many people who do.

@Cailleach you didn't have to be so repetitive! 4 messages all saying you aren't fit enough, bike too heavy etc. is a bit much.

In the right places, Christiania box bikes can be perfect.

There is also research to show that pollution levels inside cars are one of the worst exposures, so the car probably isn’t safer from that perspective than being on a bike. www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/jun/12/children-risk-air-pollution-cars-former-uk-chief-scientist-warns