Can no longer drive due to health

[3lilbeans]

I can no longer drive due to health problems. I'm not a keen walker and would prefer to not be restricted by buses and times etc.

How would be the best way to transport 3 kids under 5 around on a bike, keeping in mind we are ttc #4.

Cargo bike:

www.londongreencycles.co.uk/product-category/bikes/

What medical conditions make you unsafe to drive a car but safe to ride around on the road with lots of children?

Are you fit enough to pedal that? Because in all honesty I can't imagine carting four kids around on a cargo bike - the weight involved would be immense and you'd have to be extremely fit and strong. Also forget it unless you live in a totally flat area...electric bikes weigh a ton so carting round a battery on a steel bike AND four kids would be highly impractical as well.

Sorry OP but I can't see that working.

The thing is that not being able to drive WILL affect someone’s ability to parent 4 children. The reality is that 4 children whose primary carer doesn’t have the ability to travel easily or far will inevitably have a different childhood to 4 children whose primary carer does.

Even in terms of potential trips to A&E or the doctors, let alone the day to day experiences that will be missed. I think PP was just questioning the wisdom of making the situation even harder for parent AND existing children …

@Holly60

The thing is that not being able to drive WILL affect someone’s ability to parent 4 children. The reality is that 4 children whose primary carer doesn’t have the ability to travel easily or far will inevitably have a different childhood to 4 children whose primary carer does.

Even in terms of potential trips to A&E or the doctors, let alone the day to day experiences that will be missed. I think PP was just questioning the wisdom of making the situation even harder for parent AND existing children …

This culture of thinking is what has brought the whole world to the brink of destruction.

We can plan and live without cars, and in the very near future, we all will be doing, as we will have no choice.

Meanwhile, no one, not one single person who drives a car can ever guarantee that they will still be legally allowed to drive next week, as this OP shows.

Unexpected and unpredicted driving bans for new medical conditions are very common. The medical condition does not even have to be particularly serious to leave you unfit to drive

But if you are unfit to drive a motor vehicle would you be any safer on a bike towing multiple children?

I have developed an eye condition, I am unable to take in what I see for example going at 30mph through the centre of town and fully take in my surroundings however would be fully able and safe whilst able to take breaks when on a pavement on a cycle path at 5-10mph or park in my local area. In no way would I consider towing my children on an open road with or without this condition.

I used to ride my DD to school...well one on the back of my bike on an attachment and one on her own bike..she was 7. The thing you need to watch out for on cycle paths is idiot men on racers. They speed and don't really expect you to be there. Don't be scared to take your space but always be at the ready. Another thing is dog walkers....for some reason our path wasn't split into two clear lanes so you'd be riding along and some dog walker would be heading towards you on your side....and expect you to move with a heavy bike full of kids.

Good points FortunesFave. I live near the trans Pennine trail, and there is a constant battle between cyclists who treat it like a race track, dog walkers and horse riders.

3lilbeans I'm sorry this is happening to you. Losing the ability to drive must be very difficult. I hope you can find a workable solution.

Are you allowed to drive a mobility scooter with a trailer?

It must be so difficult for you trying to adapt to your change in sight.

But it is illegal (and I personally think irresponsible) to cycle on a pavement which is not a cycle path. I know plenty do it but I personally have a very low view them.

You may find bus more convenient than trying to follow non road cycle paths alone. I hope you find a workable solution.

In all honesty, it's was very hard with 2 and no medical condition. I didn't pass my test until youngest was 7.

I rode a bike with trailer, I wouldn't do this without good eyesight, it's not legal nor would it fit on many pavements

One of these? Not sure how you'd do it, single handily when heavily pregnancy though?

My DP is disabled with restricted mobility and unable to drive/cycle etc, plus public transport is often inaccessible to him. When we go out with the kids we take taxis. Is there a good taxi network where you are, and can you set aside a monthly budget for them? We are looking to move house at the moment and somewhere with a good taxi service is pretty much essential.

@Holly60 so what if it's different, that doesn't mean worse? We are restricted by my DP's disability, we can't go for long walks in the countryside with him and he can't do many sports. We make up for that by a) doing lots of fun things we can all access and b) me or wider family taking them to do the things he can't. It's not a tragedy to have a disabled parent.

I've got a Dutch cargo bike & it is heavy. Maybe think electric but with 4 kids, it's going to be difficult.

I think OP it might be better to wait until two of the DC can manage a bike themselves. Mine could at 7...some won't be able to but I can't drive so mine had to learn.