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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to cycle my toddler to nursery?

54 replies

splashymcsplash · 01/05/2012 22:55

I have recently moved my dd to a new fabulous nursery, but unfortunately it is 2 miles from my home. (The nursery provision near me is woeful to say the least).

Dd loves her new nursery and I am totally happy with my move, but while 2 miles doesn't sound that far, it can take up to an hour in London traffic on the bus. Plus dd hates the bus.

I was thinking of cycling her in, which I think would take around 10-15 minutes. (maybe a cyclist could tell me how long it takes to cycle 2 miles?). This would mean far less of both our days wasted in traffic.

I would cycle almost exclusively through low traffic, residential, back streets. However my mum, and her dad, both think I'm nuts and it's far too dangerous.

What do you think? And if anyone doesn't think I'm nuts could you recommend a bike/child seat? (dd is 19 months)

OP posts:

milkysmum · 01/05/2012 22:59

I am not a cycler so have no idea re times or seats (I'm sounding no help I'm sure!!) but I would say in theory this sounds like a great idea and am sure with an appropriate child seat would not be any more dangrous than alot of day to day activities?

Sarcalogos · 01/05/2012 23:01

Yanbu sounds sensible (as I'm sure you will ensure you both have all available safety kit, and research the safest/quietest route to travel).

KnitterNotTwitter · 01/05/2012 23:03

totally sensible - we did it with DS from age 1 to 3.5 every day. London traffic isn't actually that bad and there are more and more cyclists around these days so drivers are more aware. Obviously you'll have your child in a seat on the back, you'll both be wearing helmets and at night you'll have lights on...

Go for it - I loved it as did DS

TheHouseOnTheCorner · 01/05/2012 23:04

We do it but you should be aware of the weather. It's DISMAL in the rain/wind and so you need to maybe have something else for those days. My DD is 4 and sits on a seat we were given on her Dads bike...I'm not strong enough to cope...I am but Im maybe not confident enough. Our ride is 2 and a hald miles...a little through residential streets and then a green cycle path. It's lovely and all the kids love it. Helmets! Remember them...and practice alone first.

WorraLiberty · 01/05/2012 23:05

Oh there's a Dutch mum at my DS's school and she's got the most amazing bike

It's got a proper box thingy that seats her two DD's (you know like a motorcycle sidecart but it's on the front?

I'll see if I can find a pic...it's got a website on the front in small lettering but I can't remember what it says.

Elenaki · 01/05/2012 23:07

Yes! Do it!

If you're responsible and safety-savvy (which it sounds like you are) then you should be fine. London has become so much more cycle friendly in the last few years. Try using www.walkit.com (meant to be for walking routes but you could use it for cycle routes as they all seem to be on cycle-able roads) - they have options to display the fastest/least trafficated/shortest routes. Some other mumsnetters recommended it to me for jogging routes.

Obviously your DD and you will be kitted out with a helmet. Having your daughter adopt a healthy and active lifestyle from such an early age can only be a good thing. If you're cautious then why not give it a trial run? If it feels unsafe then don't do it. You can use the child seat for days out/cycling in the park if it comes to that. But I think you will stick with it. Good luck!

WorraLiberty · 01/05/2012 23:08

This is it but hers is bigger

KnitterNotTwitter · 01/05/2012 23:11

FWIW I've got one of these - the plan being to put two children on the back of it in due course!

www.xtracycle.com/cargo-bicycles/xtracycle-cargo-kits/family-kit/freeradical-family-kit.html

KnitterNotTwitter · 01/05/2012 23:13

And this article seems to cover lots of the other permutations:

www.bikehub.co.uk/featured-articles/carrying-children-on-bikes/

inabeautifulplace · 01/05/2012 23:21

If you are not a frequent cyclist, how confident would you be on the road? Whilst I don't think you're nuts and I would personally do it, I have thousands of riding miles under my belt. My suggestion would be ride it on your own for a week, then you could make a more informed judgement.

Speed would depend on how fit you were, pootling speed could be 5-8mph so 20-25 minutes perhaps. When reasonably fit, I would do almost 5 miles in 15-20 mins depending on bike used.

Original poster

splashymcsplash · 01/05/2012 23:29

thank you for all the links. Worra while that bike looks fabulous it is far out of my price range, but I'll scour ebay for similar! Knitter that looks like a great article thank you.

inabeautifulplace, no I don't cycle, but know how to, and would test the route first if I thought it was viable. I do appreciate the honest opinion.

I will of course get all the relevant safety equipment, which I assume is lights, reflectors, helmets and a good child seat.

OP posts:

HolyCameraConfusionBatman · 01/05/2012 23:32

It sounds fine to me. I live in London and loads of people cycle their kids to school/nursery in really heavy traffic.

WorraLiberty · 01/05/2012 23:33

Oh I didn't look a the price I must admit

But I live in London too and lots of parents cycle with their kids so it makes sense.

5madthings · 01/05/2012 23:36

i would and i do! tomorrow i will cycle with dd 16mths in bike seat and ds4 4 on tag a long bike, its fine, helmets, all in one waterproofs for the little ones so they dont get wet, not a problem.

also have a trailer they can both go in together but want dd to be a big bigger and more used to being on the bike first :)

spartafc · 01/05/2012 23:38

I've recently got a weeride kangaroo, the seat goes between me and the handlebars. I like it because I can see DS and interact with him a bit. He seems to really enjoy it too, and he's not one for just putting up with stuff he doesn't like!
Having the child in front, sort of in line with your own body, means their additional weight doesn't throw you off balance. DS can bob about as much as he likes and it makes no odds to me.

inabeautifulplace · 01/05/2012 23:41

I think with a visible child on board you'll get more leeway than the average cyclist. That isn't always a great deal though! There are books like roadcraft (Google it) which would help you to be safer on the road.

If it takes 1hr on the bus, it must be quicker to walk. You could get the seat and push dd there and then cycle back?

oxeye · 01/05/2012 23:45

go for it. Go to your local bike shop they will have lots of help and hints

The transport for london website has lots of hints and tips as does the London Cycling campaign. Lots of cycle shops and councils run cycle training days. You need a good cycle seat and helmets and lights and flourescent

totally disagree about teh bad weather. we cycle in it all - get a good waterproof for your child and you much better than paddling on and off bus and coping with umbrellas etc we cycle in all weathers. remember they will be colder than you because they are not moving

and when they're older look at cargo bikes; tandems, the dutch bikes are christiana bikes - great but the cost of a small country and impossible to park securely in most london homes!

there's a wealth of info out there

Original poster

splashymcsplash · 01/05/2012 23:47

Spartac that sounds interesting, but how does it work with a lively toddler? My dd grabs and wants to be in control of everything!

Inabeautiful place, 1 hour is the maximum time, if the traffic is reasonable it can take 20 minutes. Walking is about 40 minutes, but it's difficult to predict the traffic! If I could I would move nearer to the nursery, but there is no way I could afford it.

OP posts:

spartafc · 01/05/2012 23:51

It has a sort of barrier thing between the toddler and the handlebars - it looks like a mini lectern or something. We call DS's Steering, he enjoys the illusion of power .
Because of that, and the straps (a 5 point harness), they're pretty much going to stay in one place (except for wriggling).
I can't recommend it highly enough. We've been out on the bike every day since we got it.

spartafc · 01/05/2012 23:52

it's this one:
www.weerideuk.co.uk/Weeride_Kangaroo.asp

I didn't describe it very well.

Softlysoftly · 01/05/2012 23:57

I wouldn't do it but then I wouldn't even drive in London as it was an unmitigated disaster last time I did, the aggressive driving scares me. I suppose if it's back streets it's safer but definitely practice first those cabs take no prisoners.

Oh and please don't use those trailer thingys I always imagine tootling along quite happily never realising they have been wiped out as they are too small to see and people cut into bikes quite closely.

KnitterNotTwitter · 02/05/2012 09:09

The other 'good' thing about cycling in London is that for most of the time you're actually going faster than the cars - they're all congested waiting for lights and you can slip along on cycle routes etc.

Use the tfl website to plan your route too. There might be a slightly longer route which goes on cycle paths for example. Also maybe take a cycling friend the first few times to support you. I would offer but am 37 weeks pregnant!!

AChickenCalledKorma · 02/05/2012 09:18

Definitely do some riding by yourself and build up your own confidence. And work out a route that you feel happy riding.

Having a toddler on the bike changes the centre of gravity and you will need to get used to the feel of it. But if you are already feeling reasonably confident of your own, that doesn't take long.

I cycled with my daughter to nursery. She absolutely loved it. And I had a wonderful smug serene feeling as I glided into the car park, past all the stressed out mummies in their 4X4s .

Oh, and regarding trailers, our experience has been that cars give them a much wider berth than ordinary bikes and, if anything, they feel safer than a bike seat. But they are a pain in the neck if you have to get through any narrow gates etc and much less easy to find somewhere to lock up when you arrive. We ended up using a trailer for recreational cycling and the bike seat for transport, if you see what I mean.

surroundedbyblondes · 02/05/2012 09:22

I agree, sounds like a good idea. What are your DH and DM's concerns? I do think it's important that your DH can feel okay about it if you're going to do it. Perhaps it's a good time to get out on your bikes all together and do a few practise runs first?

EdlessAllenPoe · 02/05/2012 09:29

depends what the route is like surely?

my dad had two nasty accidents cycling in london(one might have been a theft, he doesn't know, had concussion) though he was on a v busy road not a cycle path.

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