Biking Kids Around Bellingham
by Theresa Carpine5/16/2008 5:07:35 PM
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If you’re a regular bike commuter, there’s no reason for your habits to change just because kids enter the picture. There are several options of bike transports for kids that are safe and diverse to fit your lifestyle and needs.
A bike trailer is a good way to transport more than one child around town by bike.Before taking a child in any kind of bike transport, a child must be able to hold their head up and support the weight of a helmet. While helmets are not required by law in Whatcom County, they are strongly recommended for bike riders and passengers of all ages. According to International Bicycle Fund, some laws require that passengers on bikes be at least one year old.
Two of the most common options for child transport are a child bike seat that attaches to the rear of the main bike seat on a rack or a bike trailer, which is also attached behind the bike.
Mary Anderson, a safety instructor for EverybodyBIKE, uses a child bike seat to transport her daughter Izabelle around town. She and her husband have used the seat for about three years to commute to school, work and other locations.
“The seat works for us because I can put it on the bike rack when we ride the bus. Ad we live on the second floor of an apartment building, so taking the bike seat up and down the stairs is easier than a trailer,” she explained. Her daughter is also learning bike safety, making hand signals along with her mom. Her close proximity to Mary also means that they can talk and sing together, and Mary can answer Izabelle’s questions about what she sees during her ride.
Mary emphasized, though, that it’s a personal preference to use a child bike seat or a bike trailer. A trailer might be a better option if you are transporting more than one child, or a larger child. They also keep kids more protected from the elements and kids can keep themselves entertained with toys and books.
This Bellingham family uses trailbikes to help kids gain bike skills and confidence with extra security from mom and dad.In terms of safety, most riders agree that both are equally safe and it really depends on your own comfort levels. Attaching a bike seat creates a higher center of gravity, so you’ll have to adjust to that; you might even want to practice with a load of books strapped in the seat before taking your child for a ride. But if you’re looking for maneuverability, then you’ll get around in traffic much better with a bike seat than you would in a trailer. Once again, a child should wear a bike helmet, whether they’re a bike rider or passenger, in a child bike seat or a bike trailer.
Now that Izabelle is five years-old, she’s getting a bit big for her bike seat, but isn’t quite big enough to ride alongside her mom on the roads. “We’re getting a Trail-A-Bike soon,” Mary said. This ‘half-bike’ attachment, generically known as a trailbike, has handle bars, pedals and a back wheel that is easy to attach to an adult’s bike and a great option to help older kids learn balance and gain confidence as riders. There is also a Trail-Gator Bicycle Tow Bar that can attach to an ordinary child’s bike. Mary is excited for this next step in their bike commute because now Izabelle can “help with the pedaling.”
When deciding whether a bike seat or trailer will work for you, ask other parents how they decided on one or the other, as well as the staff of local bike shops; Fairhaven Bike & Ski and Kulshan Cycles both sell bike transports for kids and would be happy to answer your questions. Or contact Mary and other staff at EverybodyBIKE to get more information about safe bike commutes for kids.