Cargo bikes
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Anonymous
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Hi,
We recently decided to replace our second car which is about to die with an e-cargo bike. We plan would both like to use the bike but primarily my husband will use it for transporting our average size 7 year old (approx 35 lbs). We will use it to (eventually) fir drop off/pick up at school which about 2 miles away and summer camp which is 4 miles away. It doesn’t look like a lot of bike shops carry cargo bikes to test out. Are there any brand people recommend for this type of commuting? Thanks! |
Anonymous
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I am personally not a fan, but Surly makes the types of bikes who use their bikes as part of their life, rather than just a sport that they engage in. Reading your question I immediately thought of Surly as a possible brand, and sure enough, they make a e-cargo bike called the Big Easy.
Granted, it costs about the same as a 12 year old Toyota Corolla, which is probably just about fully broken in at this point, but it is probably the best cargo bike for people looking for that kind of life style. Again, not a fan of the brand, but this is what I'd be looking at if I was in the market. There are a few Surly dealers in the area, maybe reach out to one of them? |
Anonymous
| Hey, awesome choice! I haven't taken the route of the cargo e-bike, but I think there's a facebook community on DC family biking and #bikeDC on Twitter can probably also point you in the right direction. |
Anonymous
| Why not just get a scooter or small motorcycle? That would make a lot more sense not too mention being safer. |
Anonymous
| Not safe enough to let me sleep at night with a 7 year old on there. Buy a second car. |
Anonymous
This. |
Anonymous
Just to reframe that: It's too dangerous for biking with your kids because of people driving cars so the solution is to be part of the problem. Huh. |
Anonymous
How is a motorcycle safer than a bike? |
Anonymous
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There is a lot of info online about ebikes— might be better than relying in DCUM.
There are also some shops in DC specializing in ebikes, so you might start there. I’d be shocked if they didn’t have some cargo bikes for you. A lot of people recommend buying from a shop because you can get service there. The alternative is buying from an online only vendor like radbikes. Your purchasing $ will probably go further if you buy from an online only store, but the downside is limited support (I have heard that velofix, which is a mobile bile service is expanding to service radbikes). |
Anonymous
| We were in a similar situation about 4 years ago and bought an xtracycle with a motor. We really love it and it made our life so much easier to bike than drive. I second the recommendation to look at the Facebook group- lots of helpful people there. |
Anonymous
What is the name of the FB group? Thanks! |
Anonymous
What? How is a scooter or motorcycles safer? You have heard of bike lanes right? |
Anonymous
| 35 lbs is a very tiny 7 year old by the way. My 7 year old is on the light side at 49 lbs. most 5 year olds are 35 to 40 lbs. |
Anonymous
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I have a radwagon: https://www.radpowerbikes.com/products/radwagon-electric-cargo-bike?variant=32100542316640
It is really fun, but obnoxiously heavy. If it’s going over, you’re going down. It’s a big bike — If you’re short, it is hard to separate yourself from the bike to avoid a hard fall. |
Anonymous
Because they are. They can actually keep up with traffic, instead of being in a situation where you are constantly being passed by drivers who might or might not give you enough room. Motorcycles are actual vehicles. They take a lane, and unlike a bike, they move at the same speed as traffic. That is definitely safer. You cannot possibly argue otherwise. |