This article is part of a series we are writing on getting started biking for transportation. Articles include:

• Taking the Plunge
• Picking a bike for everyday transportation
• Putting it all together: The accessories you need to successfully bike for transportation
• Locking Your Bike: Will your bike (and wheels for that matter) still be there when you return?
• Biking Safely in Traffic Video
• Tips for biking with kids
• Fixing a flat (coming soon)
• Basic maintenance of your bike (coming soon)

My children, Clara and Miles, in the bike trailer

Cycling with children (preferably your own) can be a joyous experience that can help unlock the thrills of your bike riding youth. Or it can be a tremendous pain in the butt. I hope this article will help the parent of young children have a good experience biking with kids so that you will realize the automobile is not the only form of child transport.

I am a parent of 2 young children, ages 4 and 2, and I take great joy in shuttling them about by bike. We see things at a pace and on a level that is impossible when in a car. I also believe my children will be better off growing up realizing there are other, more enjoyable ways to get places. They will learn that the car culture many of us have been lead to think is the only way is in fact the least preferable way to go. By telling our kids this now, we are giving the next generation the tools to make our community a better place to live.

But I digress. Let’s get back to the practical needs of the parent on 2 wheels.

Regardless of where you stand on bike helmets for consenting adults, please, please, please put a helmet on your kid when riding with them. Most places it the law, and it is just a good idea. Plus, your supposed to be a role model for God’s sake. So just do it, OK?

On other thing in regard to the very young, it is not recommended that children be put in trailers or any other carried without full neck support until they can hold up their heads by themselves with a helmet. This is usually 1 year but it may be later. The first time we tried the trailer with my son he cried because he had a hard time keeping his head up.

I’ll put away my soap box now.

Options for transporting kids on bikes

Option 1- Bike Trailer

This is the option I currently use with my kiddos, and for the first 3-4 years of life, it is a good one especially with multiple children. Trailers attach to your bike on your chain stay, and there are many options from many manufactures that range in price from around $100 to nearly $500. The lower end will get you a basic trailer that will usually haul 2 children with at least a 100 pound passenger/cargo capacity. I’d avoid any model that only accommodates one child. Even if you only have one child and no plans for others you may want to tote one of their friends around.

Bike Trailer with Stroller Conversion Attachments

The higher end models will be made of a lighter material and possibly offer the option of converting to a stroller. The Chariot line even makes a ski conversion kit (snow, not water!) for their top of the line trailer. The stroller option can be nice if you have very young children and will be doing a lot of walking at your final destination, however it is by no means a must have. A baby front or backpack can work just fine for the very young and I like to make my children walk whenever I can to wear them out!

The positive side of the trailer is that is allows a low stable way to transport children safely. Passengers can be buckled in when they are throwing a tantrum ( wish this were an option for adults), and my kids inevitably fall asleep on rides of more than 10 minutes giving you the built in nap inducer all parents crave. The trailer can also serve a secondary duty as a cargo hauler if you want to go shopping or pick something up on your bike.

While I think this is a great option, there are drawbacks. These include limited use potential past about age 5, negative effects on bike handling, and lower visibility to drivers (though this can be helped with safety flags). I don’t like keeping the trailer on my bike all the time, so I have to budget extra time to hook and unhook it and it seems to take a long time to get my kids in and out of it. I would also say while trailers are fairly sable you still have to be care on turns. I’ve flipped my trailer twice taking turns too quickly. The kids were fine, but it scared me to death.

My final minor gripe is that the rubbery grip that attaches to my bike has worn away thus exposing the metal underneath and scratching the paint on my chain stay. This probably has more to do with the quality of the lower end model we picked up used and the amount we use the trailer (which is a lot!) I’d avoid attaching one of these to your $5000 carbon bike with the custom paint job. But if you read my bike picker article, your not riding one of those, right?

Option 2- Child Bike Seat

Rear Mounted Child Seat

This option is good for those only needing to transport one child who is at least a year old and will be good until the child reaches 4 or 5. There are two options currently available: behind the seat models that attach to a rear rack or a front seat option which will mount either to your top tube or handlebars. Seats range in price from $50 for the most basic models to well over $200 for higer end models. The higher price models tend to have more padding for comfort and are made of more durable materials.

Front Mounted Child Seat

The advantage of the child seat is that it is easy to just leave on the bike (especially the rear mount ones), you are more visible that than a trailer and they are lower in cost. Also, the front mounted versions allow you to keep an eye on your child and allow the child to see more than the back of your body.

The down side of these include a higher center of gravity which makes the bike easier to go off balance, limited cargo hauling capacity, and the fact they will not fit on all types of bike frames. Road frames without frame eyelets for a rack will not work for the rear mounted seats, and bikes with a compact frame may have trouble accommodating both a front seat and your legs. One other tip it to make sure you have a kickstand, preferably a double foot stand, installed on your bike to make loading easier.

Option 3- Cargo Bike

XtraCycle with Child Seats installed. Install instruction available at longwalktogreen.blogspot.com

If you are looking to truly take the biking as transportation plunge, getting a cargo bike can also be a good way to haul your kids and has the advantage of not outgrowing your child. The most economically option is the Xtracycle which is available as a conversion kit for your current bike at a little under $500 or a full new bike starting at around $900. The weight limit on these are 200 pounds in addition to the driver so adults can ride too. You are going to need to make some additions to the bike to safely accommodate younger children. These include foot rests (Xtracycle sells ones called Footies) and a rear handle bar or for smaller kids attaching child bicycle seats. (Click here for an article about the handlebars I created for my Xtracycle.)

My Xtracycle with home made handlebars

Another option is to look at Dutch style cargo bikes like the Bakfiets and Long John. These are the mini vans of the Netherlands and can haul multiple children or one adult plus lots of cargo. U.S. bike builders Bilenky and the Center for Appropriate Transportation build custom cargo bikes starting at about $2500 or you can purchase an import which will start at $3000 in cost plus a lot more for shipping.

Bakfiets, The Dutch Minivan

The advantages of these bikes are that they are more maneuverable than a trailer and have a lower center of gravity than a traditional child bike seat. You also do not need to worry about remembering to bring storage capacity if you happen to want to take something home. In addition to the much higher cost, the downsides include extra weight and slower handling than a traditional bike.

Option 4- Tandem

Tandem Trailer

Once your kids get old enough to hold themselves up on a bike, looking at a tandem can be a good way to go. This has the added benefit of adding an additional set up legs to keeping your bike moving forward.

The least expensive option is a child tandem attachment. This is a single wheel bike with a long arm off the front that attaches to your seat post. These can cost as little as $100 to over $250. The basic models come with a single speed while the more expensive will offer options like brakes and gears that shift. These other options are unnecessary but can help your child learn how to shift and brake. Most come with visibility flags as well. While these tandem trailers do offer more room to grow, your kids will eventually out grow them, however at that point they will probably be able to ride their own bike. The other down side to this option is that you have no built in cargo hauling capacity, so you’ll need to make other arrangements on that front.

Co-Motion Periscope

If you are really committed to riding longer distances or want to ride with adults as well, you may also want to look at a full tandem bike. Co-Motion makes a tandem called the Periscope that allows a wide variety of sizes in stokers (rear rider) through telescoping tubes. This option gives the ultimate room to grow. You can also add kiddie cranks to conventional tandems which are a second crank higher up the bike. Tandems are expensive however with basic models well above $1000 and touring models at $2500 or more. The other down side is that if you are riding by yourself, you are hauling a lot of extra weight around. The trailer models do allow you to easily remove them in contrast.

Tips on riding with kids

Once you’ve chosen a mode of child hauling, there are a few things to consider to make bike transportation with kids more enjoyable. First off, make sure you have everything you need for the trip. Did you remember their helmet? Good. Bring a small diaper bag and change of cloths if your child is not yet potty trained. Also, remember even if they are not pedaling, your child may get hungry or thirsty so I always take a drink and snack.

When traveling with children in general and especially by bike, do plan for extra time getting loading up and for travel time. Hauling the extra weight will probably decrease your overall speed, and I usually take more care in route choices to avoid heavy traffic when possible even if it means a longer route.

On your first venture out, keep the trip short and manageable, something like 10-20 minutes max. Now is not the time to do training for your first century.  I’d also make the destination fun like the playground or a friend’s house. You want your child to get used to riding on the bike and make it a pleasant experience. The first few times in the trailer, my son cried quite a bit, but now he gets very excited when we travel by bike.

Also, use the time on your bike to interact with your child asking questions and pointing out interesting features along the way. Not only will this make the trip more interesting, it is also part of developing a bond with your child which is an awfully nice side benefit.

Finally, don’t let a first bad experience prevent you from trying again. Children often need exposure to new experiences several time to adjust. Plus, I’ve known something as little as a skipped nap to cause a total melt down in a perfectly normal situation. Just part of the joys of parenthood. Good Luck!

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