Cycling in Melbourne Australia

Oi! I've got a kid on here!

After a while you get used to cars not giving you the space you really want, but when you've got your offspring loaded-up on the back you suddenly become re-sensitised to any lack of elbow room. Or at least I do, as I found the other day when the Co-Pilot and I were squeezed by a Saab driver on High St, Glen Iris, despite the empty right hand lane that the overtaker could have used.

And I'd have thought the presence of a small bike helmet sticking out of rear kiddie seat was obvious enough. I didn't think we needed to resort to "Baby on Board" stickers for bikes (and I've never understood their purpose on cars for that matter). But maybe we do need 'em, just for the slow-witted.

However, I think I've discovered a more subtle proxy: the Thomas the Tank Engine backpack. The Co-Pilot transports all his essentials around in his Thomas Bag and it was with him yesterday when I collected him from ~~periodic detention~~ the day centre. A charming look though it is, I didn't want to wear the thing myself (too hot for backpacks, that was my excuse) so I slung it around the headrest of the pillion seat.

We travelled some busy roads to get home with every passing car giving us plenty of clearance. And I can only put it down to the cheery countenance of the No. 1 loco smiling out at all those drivers from the back of the bike. And the absence of Saab drivers.

Does anyone else notice that they are treated differently when carrying a child on their bike?

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Kathy on March 26, 2008 at 11:01pm: Great story. My youngest hangs out in an inyaface blue and yellow trailer that no one can miss. I notice motorists usually give us plenty of clearance, and love hanging out of their windows to talk to the little tacker or simply point it out to others in the car.

I'd love to get one of those Mum's Taxi stickers to put on the back so that motorists to see there's another way to travel with your kids.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by LongLoad on April 30, 2008 at 11:09am: It's true, people are more accepting and friendly when you have children riding. It is even more noticable on paths, pedestrians are more accommodating, courteos and friendly when I have a child (or three) attached to when I'm on my own.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Anne Jovi on April 30, 2008 at 11:27am: Great tip there treadly - how old was your child when you started taking him on the bike?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Treadly and Me on May 1, 2008 at 12:09pm: Ummm, we can't exactly remember but it was around about 16-18 months. It was certainly well before two years because he had his first bike stack at about that age!

Basically the little one needs to have really good sitting balance with a helmet on. For a little tyke, a helmet is quite a bit of extra weight to keep balanced up there, so they need to be pretty strong. My brother tried taking his youngest out at about 12 or 13 months, but it wasn't hugely successful because the little guy couldn't hold his head up with a helmet on and the harness was too big and tended to catch him under the chin. (He's much older now, and just loves going on the back of the bike!)

I haven't tried it but it may be possible to rig something up with one of those fancy stroller/trailers for younger kids.

We've actually swapped over to a trailer because our passenger is just too big for a rear seat and not quite big/strong enough to go on a hitch bike--but it won't be long before he's up and pedalling for himself.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by LongLoad on May 2, 2008 at 12:40pm: I had my eldest two in the trailer from about 10 months, my youngest went on her first ride at 10 WEEKS.
We cheated with the youngest, we took the baby capsule from the car and strapped it into the trailer. Obviously you can't put a helmet on a baby this small, but strapped inside the trailer and strapped into the capsule we felt she was quite safe. She was obviously comforable, she slept most of the way. Of course I am not encouraging people to break any laws by not having helmets on young children, but a helmet added to this arrangement would tilt her head too much.
Now at 11 months old we are still strapping our youngest into the car seat which is in turn strapped into the trailer. She can sit in the trailer normally, but for longer trips she is better supported in the car seat. - and she loves it.
I believe one of the most important rules is that the parents and child have to be comfortable with the arrangement; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Anne Jovi on May 2, 2008 at 1:10pm: I'll be sending a link to this post to my other half for consideration. Which trailer do you have longload?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Kathy on May 2, 2008 at 1:26pm: Hi Anne, are you in the market for a trailer? If yes, I recently discovered that a very progressive and highly ethical Brunswick business (Human Powered Cycles) sells trailers. To be honest, I don't know the brand they sell: Phillips Kiddicarrier. I personally have a double Burley that used to take both my kids till my eldest started riding his bike. We now have the chance to offer lifts to some of my little tackers' friends - he loves sharing his trailer! Burley are distributed through Greenspeed in Victoria.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Anne Jovi on May 2, 2008 at 1:40pm: The Burley looks nice and sturdy. Low centre of gravity too by the looks.

I looked at the Chariot at the bike show a few years ago. A really well thought out and well engineered bit of kit but way over the top price wise for us - from memory it started at about $2K; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Kathy on May 2, 2008 at 2:09pm: $2K? I can't believe it! I even rang bikeNOW, the only Melbourne stockist, and they said it's true. I thought Burleys were expensive, but the costs are all on Greenspeed's website - they're not that much.

Kerry Ann Wickham, from Epic Cycles in Brisbane, says:
"The best trailers available in Australia are Chariot (a small family factory in Canada) and Burley (another small family factory in Oregon, USA). Other brands (eg Trek) are also manufactured by these companies." [Baby on board: a guide to carrying babies and toddlers]

Then again, you've got to think about the costs in perspective. If it's the difference between buying a bike trailer or a car, a trailer's going to be ultimately far cheaper, as well as keeping you and the planet healthy.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by barefoot on May 2, 2008 at 11:41pm: Excuse the plug, but I can sell you a whole cargo bike for less than the Chariot trailer.
http://www.cargocycles.com.au

I'm sure the Chariot is a fantastic unit, but that's a lot of money to spend on something you can't ride...

tim; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Anne Jovi on May 2, 2008 at 11:49pm: I hear ya Tim!

Permalink Reply by LongLoad on May 2, 2008 at 11:47pm

We have a Phillips kiddicarrier 202, we have had it for 5 years, and it looks like there is now a newer version this trailer. Ours has been used enough to fade the cover so it is not quite as bright orange as it used to be. We have had one bolt reinforced about 12 months ago, but have had no problems with the workings of the trailer. One advantage our trailer may have over the Burleys is that the outer rail extends right round the wheels, this means that as we scrape through some narrow bike path entrance gates we are not bashing the wheels around.
Go and check out the options for yourself, one deciding factor may be the way the harness for the child works, pictures I have seen of the chariot show a really good harness system.
We love our trailer and have got a lot of use and fun out of it. Of course as well as taking the kids, you can also fit a heap of extra stuff in, we seem to always have a picnic rug, nappies, clothes, food...

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