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.

They scare theife out of me they may be safe with straps etc but let's face it if a collusion with a motor vechilce happens the child is no way secured

Not any more as my 2 kids are old enough to ride their own bikes now, but I used one almost daily from when my eldest was 1 to when my youngest was 4. I still have it and use it to do big shops or for taking recycling to the recycling centre, stuff like that.

I love our trailer. I used it in all weathers, including snow and ice (studded tyres on the bike, not necessary on the trailer itself), and never found it miserable except in the strongest winds. We have a hill to go up and it is great for fitness. I used to detach it and leave it at the nursery before cycling on to work and it was a good system.

We only have 1 car which is used 1 or 2 times a week. The trailer has been excellent for child ferrying and has meant we never had any need for another car. I highly recommend them!

Cars are way more dangerous and people in cars are breathing in more pollution than people on bikes. People are just so used to cars that they 'feel' that they are safer, but the facts are different.

Yes, I use one daily for school drop offs and pick ups. I disconnect trailer and leave it locked inside the school grounds. I have a weehoo Pro, which is a bit different to a trailer as the child can pedal along too if they want. We use it most weekends to get to our activities, parks, shops etc. After a few weeks I was used to the weight and really noticed the difference when I cycled on my own! Any questions just ask!

I have a tag along bike that I use for the school run most days. It’s a wee ride propilot. It’s good because DS is raised up, and with his little high viz, he is bright helmet, the flag and a light attached, he’s very visible to overtaking traffic. I get a LOT more space and respect on the road with him on board. Your eldest may be slightly young for one of those but only a little, so that, with a front-mounted seat for your youngest, might work out. You can also fold the wee ride, so it wouldn’t need much space to be locked up.

OP this is trailer I use for 5 year old. They can chill out or help pedal.

We had a cargo trike with a seat for DD on it. Having used it for years (used to do more that 1000 miles/year on it), I can tell you what we got wrong! We bought something very old (as in 40 years old) and knackered, and ended up using it a lot (family circumstances changed) in all weather. DD was on an exposed seat; it would have been much better if she had been in a box of some kind with a rain cover.

We didn't go for a trailer for several reasons, not least that, despite being a fit, experienced cyclist, I just couldn't find the confidence to get started with one - you may not have that problem. We ended up cycling in a whole range of conditions, including using two lane roundabouts most days. People do use them with trailers, but that terrifies even me (and we had DD cycling on the road at 5....); on the cargo trike DD was the same height as me (specifically her bottom was) so she was really visible to drivers. That meant we were always given plenty of space - it was really noticeable compared to when I ride my normal bike.

If you go for a cargo bike, check the gearing - a family member has a bakfiets, and says that even with 7 gears, it's hard work on the south downs with two kids and camping gear (!) - having said that, I've got friends who have no problem getting a cargo bike to 20 mph; I also managed that on the trike. And there's always electric assist.

A warning: trikes are stable at low speeds, but don't corner well when going fast. I never overturned ours, but did end up on two wheels more than once.

Happy cycling!

Spudlet this is what I want to progress to next. Can I ask how much you paid for it please?

@Anythingbutsnow I think about £200 - DH ordered it as his lockdown toy so he could take DS cycling with him. Then we ordered an extra bracket so both of us can use it. It should be good until DS is about 9 or so, apparently.

I live near Cambridge and box bikes are common as muck. They’re fab, alternatively you can get a child suitable tandem such as a Circe Helios. There’s also a triplet version.

Better you than me