To sell our part-gift car for cargo bike ?

[joanne34]

This week alone our car has cost us over £500 on a service plus now the exhaust is making noises. This was money we were going to spend on carpet !
I put £20 of petrol a week in to do approximately 35 miles !

I take ds2 to nursery first and then ds1 to school. All of this could be done by bike, and I do cycle to work and ds1 to school a couple of times a week, him propped on the back of my bike on the panier.

So basically I would like either a better bike for propping ds1 on the back and to add a bobike mini seat to the front for ds2 or a cargo bike of some sort, either bella bike or trio bike.... but they are approx £1500 each !

I part exchanged my car in 2009 for my mil to get £2k back for a brand new version of her old car of which she gave to us in exchange for my old car ?
It is a lovely saloon hardtop cabriolet, but has un-child-friendly bucket seats in the back and not alot of leg room.
It also is a cruiser, so the 5 miles I do a day cost a fortune because I spend most of it sitting in traffic ! ( when I could be whizzing by on a bike ! )

I feel like I am being ungrateful, but I was rushed into the decision but my old car was very old and a diesel....

So basically am I being unreasonable to sell this car ? It is my car as it is in my name on the Log book, but I feel like I am not allowed to. I know it would probably upset mil.... ???

The issue is more that you want to sell this car that was partly a gift from your MIL at the risk of offending her, right? Not so much the bike stuff (though for the record I agree that a bike or any version of a bike, if it's going to work for you better than a car, is the way to go).

I'd just gently tell your MIL of your plans so she's not suddenly hurt and surprised that you sold her old car (if she's the type who might be). Be prepared not to budge on your decision, but note that you understand her feelings etc. and apologise if you've hurt them.

But definitely don't keep the car if it's more expensive and less useful than other options.

Car clubs are quite handy in my experience. Don't listen to all those who insist you need a car "just in case". Do what you feel is right for you.

Mme- DS1 is 7.5 at the moment. we live on an A road, so that one is out of the question, plus there is no cycle lane for a mile and its narrow.

I would use back roads.

What do you mean by cycle paths ? Off road ?

No there are none of those, some cycle lanes, but I wouldnt let him on any main roads at the moment.

Yes, I meant off road - through parks or something. We used to live in Germany and there were often separate paths for cyclists off the roads.

My DS is 6yo and I am still very nervous about going on roads with him, even if there is a cycle lane.

Not least because he stopped right in front of me last year caused me to fall off the bike.

Mme - Well germany and alot of other european countries have far superior cycling facilities to us ! :)

Takver/Notmyproblem- Yes I do seem to have gone off on a bike tangeant ! Yes, subtle suggestion is the way forward. Im still crapping myself about it though.....

re how to start the conversation with your MIL:

"MIL, I really need to ask your advice"

That'll get her attention, and she'll be suitably flattered.

Then, "I'm thinking of selling the car, and replacing it with a bike, but I can't decide. What do you think??"

Make her think it was her idea!

Yes, I guess that cycling in UK, particularly in London would be daunting for me.

As to the actual AIBU - is your MIL the kind of person to take the huff about money?

I don't think YABU. It is what is best for your and your DC.

I know a couple of women locally, one of whom lives up a very steep hill, who do the school run with cargo bikes. They both originally had three children in the box, but as their elder ones have become safer cyclists they have progressed to tag-a-longs and cycling solo. They're fit, but not frighteningly so.

I use bikes/ public transport instead of a car. My kids are just turned 11 and 7.

Our set-up consists of:

• 11 yr old has his own bike. It's a good one which cost more than many adult bikes; lightweight, complete with mudguards, rack, lights, etc, and in a trekking style rather than the ludicrous 'mountain' bikes kids normally get bought.

• 7 yr old has her own bike - again, a 'proper' one rather than a toy - which can be clipped to mine using a Follow-Me Tandem: www.followme-tandem.com/english/index.htm. This is much more stable than a seatpost one-wheel trailer bike, and makes the child really familiar and confident with their own bike. The child's bike can be coupled/ uncoupled in seconds, so they can self-propel on flat, safe bits and link back up for traffic or tiredness.

• I have an electric bike (Raleigh Dover), which is a WONDER. It's made going car-free a cinch. I still have to pedal - it's not a push-button-and-go type - but it's as if all the hills have just disappeared and there's a permanent very slight tailwind, even when pulling the (slightly lazy) 7 yr old.

• I have really good mega panniers, which take around half a trolley full of shopping.

• I have a 2-child trailer, for larger shopping runs and trips to the recycling, things like that.

• I also have a seat on my rack for the 7 yr old: a cycle seat clamped to the rack, with footpegs coming out from the wheel nuts and a handlebar clamped beneath my seat post; like a tandem, without pedals. This is very convenient for short, 'chuck DD on and go' runs, or if I need to take DD and still pull the trailer. This will probably be phased out by this summer, though, as she's getting a bit heavy for the rack.

Go for it. It's not one of life's irrevocable decisions; this car doesn't suit you anyway, so sell it, try being car free and if it's not working after a year, then buy another car. No big deal, you're allowed to try and then change your mind, especially if you just make the most of existing kit (ie, Follow Me Tandem and baby seat) rather than dropping thousands on a new bike.

Have you thought about something like a [http://www.trikidoo.co.uk/default.htm?gclid=CIDa8tKV-6YCFQ4f4QodbXGfFw Trikidoo]?

Or this [http://www.kidsandfamilycycles.co.uk/page21.html site] seems to have a few more unorthodox but rather funky options.

I can't drive and am pg with DC1. While I want to learn to drive, we live in west London and I'll probably just become a member of a car club as money's tight and running costs are high for cars. Plus there's never anywhere to park near us!

Aaargh, I meant....

Have you thought about something like a Trikidoo?

Or this site seems to have a few more unorthodox but rather funky options.

I can't drive and am pg with DC1. While I want to learn to drive, we live in west London and I'll probably just become a member of a car club as money's tight and running costs are high for cars. Plus there's never anywhere to park near us!

cyclebump yes, I dont rate the trikidoo, I prefer the bellabike, christiana or triobike :)

I think at the moment, we should focus on ds1 practising on his bike.

Dp has more or less just bought a steamer

of which we are going to put a bobike mini on the front of for now and ds1 can sit on the back.... I'll have to wait for mine, or the cargo ! (im not letting go ! :) )

I just like the Trikidoo because it's pretty Plus a woman with one used to cycle near my work. She and the kids looked super comfy.

I have a Yuba Mundo, which is a lot cheaper than £1.5K. I highly recommend it, as long as you can be sure the kids won't fall asleep! I ride it for a 6K journey on big roads, it works fine.

I have a Christiania bike and it's been super convenient. It's still fine for the 7 year old when the weather's rubbish or late at night etc. It is heavy and there are sleeker and smoother options. If I was buying one now, I probably would go for the Trio or Kangaroo or even the Nihola. Trio wins for flexibility as you can loack up the cargo part and use as a regular bike.

If you lived in the country I would say no but I think go for it. If your heading out of town you can hire a car cheaply for the day in London, just join a car share club.

Could you put the money you spend on insurance, road tax, servicing, petrol etc into a pot to use for taxis and car hire for the few occassions you need a car? You could calculate the savings and discuss this with MIL - perhaps with an idea of what any balance would go towards and a suggestion that you would be grateful to her as now you would have an extra meal out once in a while (or something like that).