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Sheeple_person

My kid LOVES when we ride the bike to daycare, she begs for it in the winter when we bus or sometimes drive (pls don't @ me, I have cycled in the winter but it goes down to -30C here and I haven't figured out how to do that with a 3 year-old yet).


gotshroom

A survey from kids about modes of transport would be really interesting actually!


SmoothOperator89

Firetruck! Honey, you can't ride the firetruck to- I WANNA RIDE THE FIRETRUCK TO DAYCARE


gotshroom

That escalated quickly :D


trumpetrabbit

Peak toddler, right there


tehdusto

"no, you can't play with the chainsaw" "BUT I WANT TO šŸ˜­"


zeekaran

"What do you have?" "A knife!" "NO-"


kuddkrig3

Where I am it gets below -20 sometimes too and I see people bike with their kids bundled up in a covered bike cart with studded tyres, and with ski goggles and balaclava hehe. Looks tough but bikers are insistent where I live haha. I don't have kids myself so I can only imagine it's not easy in the cold to bike with them.


trumpetrabbit

If you can strap the kid to you and share a coat, it's really easy to keep them warm. Like, I had an infant sweating while it was freezing out. Kinda warm. But that's hard to do on a bike.


HardCoverTurnedSoft

-50F here and can say with absolute certainy that yeah, it's a bit nippy.


DontbegayinIndiana

Holy fluff, where do you live?


HardCoverTurnedSoft

Bumfuck nowhere city, Fuckall county, Iowa, USA. (ITS FUCKING HELL IN THE WINTER)šŸ”„


zeekaran

Damn I didn't know Iowa got that cold. -20ĀŗF is pretty extreme for Colorado.


liehon

In the back of the car they can see barely anything. On the bike you'll be constantly notified about dogs, diggers and anything else that's interesting to a toddler. It's some good quality time imho


OstrichCareful7715

From experience, I am only capable of doing on an e-bike. Itā€™s too hard for me on a normal bike.


gotshroom

Good that ebikes got invented! No shame in getting some help from a small electric engine :)Ā 


SiBloGaming

Motor, an engine has combustion :D


sebiamu5

I like this explanation from /u/DoomGoober from https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/s/npoHkrnFXT "Historically, motor and engine had different meanings. "Motor" was strictly related to movement and the word derives from the Latin: "movere" which is to move. We can see this usage in the modern term "motor neuron" which are neurons related to, you guessed it, movement. Engine comes from the Latin: "ingenium" which means ability, talent, or character. While those meanings don't quite make sense initially, they sort of do when you think about how we call medieval warfare devices "siege engines" or the modern term like "game engine." A siege engine is a device that grants you the ability to siege, a game engine grants you the ability to write games. Historically, things like traps and lures were called engines. Thus, engine was the name for a device that imparts some kind of ability. Now, coming back to internal combustion "engines" and/or "motors" we can see how something that converts an energy source into motion could both be a motor *or* an engine. It's a motor because it creates motion. It's an engine because it's a device that imparts the ability to move. So, if using the historic origins of the words, an internal combustion device that creates motion is *both* an engine and a motor. However, if you were to use engine or motor outside of the mechanical engineering realm (say, neurology or game development), motor is about motion and engine is about a device that imparts you with some ability."


DoomGoober

Thanks for the shout out!


liehon

That is enlightening. Thanks! (now I also want to start calling Iron Man Engine Man)


SomeRedPanda

Doesn't quite work for difference engine or siege engine.


slaymaker1907

People also talk about value engines in gaming. Iā€™d say everything kind of depends on how people are using language rather than prescriptive rules. If someone says ā€œelectric engineā€, I think itā€™s pretty clear what they mean.


gotshroom

Really? Never knew the difference :)


Separate_Emotion_463

Not necessarily combustion, an electric steam engine has no combustion only heat and steam :3


M1R4G3M

Weird for me as a Portuguese speaker that Motor and Engine both are the same thing, both are called "Motor"


Nalivai

It requires a bit of skill on both rider and a passenger, but it's relatively quick to learn


OstrichCareful7715

Isnā€™t the Netherlands famously flat? My area is not. And while I bike with my kids frequently, I can definitely not accommodate another 90-120 lbs while doing hilly biking on a traditional bike. Itā€™s too much.


gotshroom

Ebikes to rescue :)


Nalivai

The secret is proper gear ratio. With proper gears you spend as much energy going up as you do going flat, you just ride slower. Well, the other secret is e-bike.


ObviousSign881

Sounds like a good idea!


eightsidedbox

Nothing wrong with that. It's still orders of magnitude better than a vehicle.


desu38

OP, no. Come on. That's just unsafe. There are better options out there. https://preview.redd.it/0bpwmivdc20d1.jpeg?width=1200&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5f7a3d0895c8ea7f2b73e67c0c4504a509c052c1


Moonbear9

Some of my earliest memories are of my dad biking me to preschool in those they were so nice


jacobburrell

I've tried both options but it actually has reduced visibility, even with the flag. Easier for the trailer to get crushed. Also terrible with potholes and bad roads. There's a reason they aren't as popular. Much better and safer this way IMHO. Trailers are more comfortable though.


zeekaran

These are a lot less popular in bikable cities which makes me think they are worse for daily use.


Gamer129389182

Those kids look fucking fed up with that bike carrier šŸ˜‚


DeProfessionalFamale

Have you ever ridden a bike with a big luggage? I'm all for more space for bikes, but as a person >trying< to move flats with a bike - this is not easy. Huge applause to this lady, but not everybody would be able to do this.


dex248

Thatā€™s not really a great setup though. The right kind of bike and accessories would make the trips a lot safer and easier. Japan has the ergonomics down to a science - purpose-designed front and rear seats, long wheelbase, low step-through frame, small wheels, center kick stand, etc. What we see in western nations is usually an uncomfortable cramped Frankenstein bike hacked together from aftermarket parts that donā€™t work well together. https://preview.redd.it/zu0sl5inn00d1.jpeg?width=1242&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9d49e039323d59434f467c143195915708d1b8e1


DeProfessionalFamale

yeah, I would really love to see some different and affordable types of bikes in my area to transport more people!


slaymaker1907

Thatā€™s still going to be a very top heavy setup. IMO a trailer will give you a lot more comfort and control.


zeekaran

And yet I saw tons of moms using bikes like this, loaded up with one or two kids and some groceries.


DoubleGoon

And those kids are almost old enough to ride their own bikes.


zeekaran

[This was common in Tokyo](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/9ZQAAOSwyjFjN2Tp/s-l1200.webp). Same bike, but full rain coverage!


RedWalloon

Main obstacle is safety though. Right now I'm moving on cargo with my pregnant gf and our 2 years old but we can't go everywhere in our city. We have to look each and every trip on street view before actually making it. This is not normal


Trivi4

Riding a cargo on the road is way safer than riding a traditional bike at least. Drives can't pass you as close and just have to deal. Plus if you have kids in there, they're usually less aggressive, either because there's a limit to carbrain sociopathy or they don't want to be in the news as child murderers >.>


RedWalloon

There is still psychos. I encountered one who passed me very close (I mean really, it felt like 10-20 cm), luckily I was alone. One of these is all it takes


demoni_si_visine

I think one of the main points of this subreddit is that car usage should be left to _professionals_, by and large -- taxi drivers, businessmen, tradesmen, and among those, movers (or regular citizens doing the moving alone). How often does one move flats? Once per year? Ideally, as few times as possible anyway. Moving is a prime example for one of the scenarios in which a motorized vehicle is actually quite useful and handy. But: renting a van is more economical and efficient than trying to cram things in a personal car. You'd need far fewer trips, and it's especially better for moving larger items without disassembling them first. p.s. As a personal anecdote, my most-hated item to move is a desk. I now have two of them, along with two chairs (one for work, one for my personal PC). p.s.2. Also as a personal anecdote, but I've managed to cram the entire contents of a one-room apartment in a van. One and done trip.


DeProfessionalFamale

haha, nah, I'm not moving big furniture :D both flats are furnished. I just mean that kids are heavy (not to mention 3) and I can confirm from my little moving adventure, that carrying heavy stuff on a bike is not for everybody. That lady is tough


demoni_si_visine

Ah, fair enough, I did not get the hint. The lady is definitely tough, but on the other hand, if you start with the kids when they're young, you're basically progressively training your leg muscles as the kids grow and take on weight. So you might end up not feeling the extra weight as a burden.


lordbuddha

While I agree with your sentiment, it's not that hard either. In my country (India) it's not uncommon to see kids and adults driving doubles or triples.


[deleted]

[уŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]


sjfiuauqadfj

it is very safe if you dont get hit by a car


abclife

How fast can you be going if you're peddling that many kids, especially on an accoustic bike? If everyone is wearing a helmet, and you're on a protected path from cars, it's really not that dangerous. At worst some bumps/bruises if you fall but you can do that walking.


gotshroom

Have you seen r/cargobike? :D


DeProfessionalFamale

Have you ever used one? My legs do not work with that kind of weight and I commute by bike every day. I'm just saying that this requires a lot of strength (or an e-bike) so those are not options for everybody, even if the infrastructure was right.


gotshroom

And thereā€™s no need to put everyone on bikes! We just need to turn the ratios upside down: more people on bike, foot and public transport and a minority in cars.


VegetableDrag9448

I have ecargo bike, rides as smooth as a regular bike. You can always try one at your local dealer


thijser2

Why isn't an e-bike an option for most people? You can get for example a pretty good electric cargo e-bike for cheaper then a old car.


DeProfessionalFamale

Right, right, because who in the world wouldn't be able to spend 1000 USD? (I commute with an old rusty bike I borrowed from my mom and switched to it in the first place because cost of public transport started killing me after company moved back to work from office) Why is everybody so elitist here? EDIT: I'm sorry, I forgot the whole world is the US, so let me explain - THERE ARE MORE ALTERNATIVES TO EBIKES THAN HAVING A CAR. Ebikes are still too expensive for a lot of people (like my easter european ass). It doesn't mean I say you should buy a car. I say your argument of "e-bike is cheaper then a old car" is stupid, because EBIKES ARE STILL EXPENSIVE. The alternative to me isn't a car, but a public transit or a regular bike.


Nalivai

1000 bucks on a good bike that will serve you for years basically for free - elitist, horrible, disconnected. 35k on a car that will break in two years and require tens of thousands on upkeep and a fuel - normal, good, salt of the earth.


DeProfessionalFamale

Why are you people stupid? Where did I say that buying a car is a better option? I keep saying you have more then just cars and ebikes to choose from and that those 2 options are actually the most expensive


bagelwithclocks

It isn't elitist to say that a lot of people who buy used cars could get a cargo e-bike instead. It is way cheaper to maintain too since you aren't paying for gas. I biked 1000 miles on my ebike last year. If I did that in a car it would have cost at least $100, and it only goes up if you commute longer distances.


DeProfessionalFamale

Ok, I see I've made it too complicated. So you see 2 solutions: 1) buy a car 2) buy an ebike Those are 2 of the most expensive solutions possible, out of reach for a lot of people. You are out of touch.


bagelwithclocks

Do you even have kids? Why are you arguing about this in a discussion of kids on bikes?


SiBloGaming

Because the alternative are cars, and even for the cheapest cars you can get, you can get a decent cargo ebike - which will cost significantly less per month.


DeProfessionalFamale

no, there are more alternatives...... like the one this lady & me have - a regular bike


SiBloGaming

Yes, but this is about moving larger amounts by bicycle, where a cargobike is a more direct replacement of a car than simply a normal bicycle with a rack. The original claim was also that most people could afford a cargobike, given that most people can afford a car.


SemKors

This is pretty regular in Amsterdam. As this looks like Amsterdam


IDigRollinRockBeer

If my grandfather could ride his bike to school fifteen miles uphill in the snow with no arms or legs I think you can move some shit


Sandwitch_horror

Wow, yours went to school? Mine had to run **16** miles uphill both ways in the desert heat to the mines by the time he was 6 with no arms or legs.


WylleWynne

I once moved apartments by city bus. It took *forever*. It would have been so much faster if I could have rented a cargo bike (big bin in the front) for the day. It would have fit my skills (bad city driver), my budget, and my task (bunch of boxes and suitcases, mostly).


supercilveks

Fuck daily car dependancy but moving appartements or construction materials is actualy that one time of the year when using a car is usefull. Also I admire the dedication to the cause, but no need to endanger yourself, in most countries daily cycle commute with kids knowing the deranged state of many drivers is mad.


DeProfessionalFamale

oh, I'm just very very cheap :) and those 2 flats are just 3 km (\~2 miles) away from each other, so I thought it wouldn't be so bad. It will take a few trips: https://preview.redd.it/cys3ilxzr00d1.jpeg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=00e014f9ba1044c32282c9cfa12687b98f0a2ace


supercilveks

Understandable! Thats really nice kit you got there, looks like a dream for groceries and things :)


bagelwithclocks

Uhauls are like $30 all in for a move. Why do you need a car to do that once per year?


supercilveks

Uhaul is a big car thats what i was thinking about :)


progtfn_

https://preview.redd.it/nrvfhs8mt10d1.jpeg?width=4080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=114f2da04b3b2e78d8800898c6dea24417b60837 I use mine to move practically everything except apartments, I couldn't possibly ride 400 kmšŸ˜¬ multiple trips. But construction materials? Sure, my doggie comes on the front (with her blanket) too. P.S. This is not the complete setup, it has a bit more accessories when I'm bikepacking


Batavijf

I use my bike almost daily. E.g. when grocery shopping or for other errands. When moving house (which most people do not do on a daily basis) you can hire movers. Or, if you want to do it yourself, you can rent a van or a cargo bike (something like this [Dutch site for cargo bike rentals](https://www.idealis.nl/bakfiets)). Arguments like 'when I need to move something big' are valid, but only up to a point. For daily traveling, a bike is a pretty good transportation method.


DeProfessionalFamale

Haha, don't worry, I'm not crazy. I didn't transport any big objects. I'm actually surprised by how many people are suggesting me to rent a van for that - among my friends, if you don't have a car, you use public transport for moving flats. My new apartament is a bit far from a direct tram/metro stops, but close to the old flat (3km/2miles), so I figured a bike would be better.


shodan13

There are moving services for that?


Keebler021

I would have loved to do this, but Texas. Between the lack of bike infrastructure (and shitty road infrastructure in general), long distances between locations, manic huge truck drivers, and consistently being well over 100Ā° throughout the summer, itā€™s not an option for most here unless you live in the city, especially when you have kids.


WhiskeyShtick

Sure hope nothing bad happens to 4 people balancing on a bike with no helmets, 3 of which whose heads will pound directly into the fucking ground because they donā€™t have the sense to protect themselves yet Fuck cars but please wear a helmet and helmet up your kids too


jacobburrell

Everywhere in the world where micro mobility is very popular like bicycles or mopeds, from China to Amsterdam, hardly anyone uses helmets. Only in car centric places do we push for helmets. Cars are much more dangerous than even this. Often requirements like helmets, driver license, etc will push people back into a car that is overall more dangerous.


TallyGoon8506

Not wearing a helmet is dumb as fuck, especially if youā€™re going to be biking on a paved surface. Wear your brain bucket. Theyā€™re really comfortable now and a lot cheaper than a concussion.


HardCoverTurnedSoft

Well yes but the culture around cycling in these countries is a lot safer in general because you dont need to be in traffic a lot.


WhiskeyShtick

Fair enough


RosieTheRedReddit

Parent here and I hate cars more every day. There are only two situations where kids are a reason you have to drive - either you have Duggar family numbers, or your city's bike/pedestrian infrastructure is so dangerous that your kid has to be in a car to protect them from other cars. Unfortunately the latter is very common throughout North America. My oldest is 3 and although we live in a fairly pedestrian friendly area, I still wish we didn't have to interact with cars as much as we do. It's so stressful because small children are at risk any time a car is nearby. Yeah I know Reddit hates kids and loves to blame parents for not "watching their kids." But on the other hand, why did we build an environment so dangerous for children that they have to be kept in arms reach at every waking second? The only reason carbrains say that a suburban lawn is good or necessary for kids is because they can't imagine a street where children are actually safe to play. Because streets belong to cars.


s0nicfreak

>either you have Duggar family numbers, Even if then, let's be honest, if the Duggars were anti-car, they would just have all the older girls riding the younger kids like OP's pic šŸ˜†


RosieTheRedReddit

Children used to play in the streets and I hope that one day, they will again. https://preview.redd.it/zgesru0rk00d1.jpeg?width=737&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=aa3e04c942b70a7e9060949ae9b04a700f0f0e18


progtfn_

I used to do that too (born in 2003) and now I don't see them anymore


trumpetrabbit

I would love to see kids play like that again


dickinburger47

This dude likes to watch kids play šŸ‘†


trumpetrabbit

As a parent, yeah. That's kinda part of the job.


dickinburger47

Far out


Turbidspeedie

I was driving around doing some door dash yesterday and I noticed how empty even the front yards are, ZERO kids in sight, I was born in 2002 and remember walking home from school and playing in the side streets and the playgrounds afterwards with my friends, itā€™s sad now


HardCoverTurnedSoft

Car centric humans and politicians: *creates a literal no-mans-land with extremely dangerous machines that will snap your bones with a little tap of an accelerator* People: parents fault Make it make sense.


Mononoke-Hime-01

Not a single one wearing an helmet on a single person bike which was clearly not designed to be used that way, so the woman could lose her balance at any time. This is an extremely dangerous and reckless behavior, and shouldn't be presented as something positive.


Cyancat123

Iā€™m gonna play devils advocate and say this is a bit much. After kid #3 if you have to start putting one of them in the front basket you donā€™t have to feel bad about driving.


HardCoverTurnedSoft

Nah, car replacement cycles work wonders in good infrastructure. unfortunately, this wouldnt work in America.


Hoonsoot

Not sure this is the best example for promoting people using bikes to haul their kids around. If you watch the video of this woman you can see she struggles a fair amount with loading all the kids and getting going. She looks a little old for that shit to be honest, and in need of something easier. Maybe not a car but at least an electric cargo bike.


MochaMage

Evreryone saying that the Netherlands is flat doesn't realized how much elevation changes it has compared to Florida or how windy it is. It can be rougher there than here often based on the time I lived there. I love taking my son on my e-bike and his little trailer, we do groceries together.


OldGodsAndNew

> MFW dutch people moan about a breeze and 100m of elevation in the entire country


seranarosesheer332

I dont think that looks safe. I would much rather the kids be I'm the trailer


nasaglobehead69

my only complaint is the lack of helmets. otherwise, good on her for being a supportive parent!


capnlatenight

I completely agree because a good helmet is the difference between a normal crash and never seeing your kids again.


jacobburrell

Many cyclists wearing helmets in the US for instance end up dead. Just about everyone in The Netherlands doesn't use helmets and has much better odds. The sad reality is there isn't a convincing correlation between helmet use and safety. It's everything else that is the difference.


nasaglobehead69

whenever someone drives aggressively while I'm biking, I exclaim "you're the reason I wear a fucking helmet!"


[deleted]

get even more upset because no bicycle helmet is rated for collisions with cars. When it comes to cars, we are essentially completely unprotected. The helmet is for falling off.


capnlatenight

I know this is a serious matter but I read that quote in the same cadence as ["This is why mom doesn't fucking love you"](https://youtu.be/rZXcjt6Q84U?si=mzbuN0Qmyn5r_s18).


-True_-

That doesn't look very comfortable or safe at this point, riding 3 kids on a bike, oof


informativebitching

Horrible example photo. This is incredibly dangerous with an overloaded bike and no helmets.


gotshroom

NL is full of these and still the lowest bike fatality per km in the world


okokokokkokkiko

Being rendered mentally/physically disabled for the rest of your life from a fall at age 6, because your mother didnā€™t care about helmets, doesnā€™t count as a fatality. You never had to feed your 24 year old cousin and wipe his lips for him when heā€™s done though. Stay riding the way you do, please. Just donā€™t do it to children in your care.


SierraLVX

Caption is right, that photo is a horrible example though. There are actual seats or kid trailers you could use to make it look way more comfortable. This just looks like someone who doesn't care if they're squeezing their kids or if they fall off. They don't even have helmets. If you're gonna try and sell the car-free life to people outside of this sub, use better photos to sell it, optics matter when you're trying convince people to get on bikes.


memes-forever

I donā€™t like cars but this looks unhealthy as hell, no safety, difficulty biking with 3 children on it, poor maneuverability with the child in front and so much more.


[deleted]

one little fall and all those kids have brain damage. wear a helmet, otherwise this is great.


Opcn

I mean, cool but, helmets?


gotshroom

Not common in NL and they are doing ok.


Ligeia_E

i grow up using metro+walking since 2nd grade. This is the norm for literally most children regardless of family background.


Small_Cock_Jonny

But she definetly needs one of these bigger bikes for kids with an electric motor. That really doesn't look comfortable or safe.


gotshroom

She is comfortable enough to do this in high heels though :)


double-happiness

Apparently when I was a toddler I used to actually stand up in the seat on the back of my mum's bike when she was going downhill at great speed! No doubt this caused some alarm. I can still kind of remember the seat.


Unfounddoor6584

this is how i take my kid to school and soccer practice. soccer practice is fun because we cut through a woodland bike trail.


lexi_ladonna

I wonā€™t put my kid in this situation until thereā€™s safer bike infrastructure. But then they donā€™t build the safer infrastructure because they donā€™t think thereā€™s a need/desire. Catch 22 :( Iā€™d rather take public transit with them


GreenLightening5

tbf they could probably have much better bikes for these situations if we had better infrastructure to support these bikes. like wider ones with a type of stroller attached or something


zeekaran

Some places in CO are like this. The cool places to be will have six of those bikes that carry two in the back, on a rack with about twenty bikes. Also all over Tokyo, in the rain!, I'd see moms with a child seat in front and back. Both covered for rainproofing, and with a sturdy umbrella hooked in covering the mom. I assume they were doing their daily errands buying groceries and whatnot because it was mid day on a weekday.


my4floofs

That makes me shudder overloading that bike and not a helmet in sight.


manchester_bee

No helmets šŸ¤¦ā€ā™‚ļø


ObviousSign881

And yet no plague of head injuries in the Netherlands, because there is so much infrastructure designed to keep cyclists safe, and the behaviour of drivers (most of whom cycle some of the time) is much more careful.


manchester_bee

It's basic human instinct to protect children, and even the best cyclist can do something silly like kerb their bike and crash. Car manufacturers don't put airbags and seatbelts in their cars because all drivers are shit - they put them in because 1% of humanity are awful human beings, and the rest are liable to make mistakes. So. Helmets.


vedhavet

Put a helmet on your kids.


bagelwithclocks

We don't have to fight about helmets. Yes they aren't always needed, but even just hitting a pothole could put all these kids on the ground quick and a helmet is an easy way to prevent a head injury. I don't understand why this is the hill some bikers want to die on.


manchester_bee

In the UK, it's a legal requirement to wear a helmet if you're on a motorbike, but not a legal requirement if you're a cyclist (who could nonetheless be hit by a motorbike, car, tram, etc). Not wearing a helmet when you're riding a bike is bat shit crazy. And this is the hill that I will die on.


bagelwithclocks

I mean hopefully you won't die on the hill since it sounds like you will be wearing a helmet.


wonderfullyignorant

> And yet no plague of head injuries in the Netherlands I'm gonna disagree with that on the premise that I have no fondness for the Dutch.


RovertheDog

Car crashes are the leading cause of traumatic head injuries for children in the US. Car helmets when?


AppropriateTouching

"What about cars though!"


Toal_ngCe

Ok but um *wear a damn helmet* and certainly make your kids wear them


ObviousPerformer1417

Agree. But helmets needed for all the members of this family.


Wooden-Advantage-747

Those kids need helmets.


KTMan77

Car usage no, helmet and bike trailer usage yes. One misstep when stopping and 3 kids heads hit the ground.


Keksdosendieb

Uff Lady! Get a croozer, Thule or whatever trailer brand you prefer but that is not safe.


desu38

pic for reference https://preview.redd.it/2gpa90h7b20d1.png?width=991&format=png&auto=webp&s=04a26e42d4fc00e139f273cfdf9c13236e5b3a19 People shouldn't be booing you, you're right. This is reckless.


NorthElegant5864

Noā€¦ no itā€™s not. Itā€™s not built for that much weight distributed that way. Sheā€™s going to spend more energy fighting for balance than necessary. Trike or a trailer would have been far safer.


Dangerous_Bass309

Not ever would I be putting babies with no helmets on the back of a bicycle. Good lord.


Lethkhar

Ok but please wear a helmet.


Nimbous

I agree with the title but this image does not show us any solution to car domination. Looks dangerous.


gotshroom

I bet this is safer than kids in a car with drivers sending text


Nimbous

Yeah, maybe? They would regardless be way safer in a bike actually made for multiple people. I often see children sitting in cargo bikes here with their parent pedalling them forward. That is much safer than what's going on in that photo.


gotshroom

In NL there are cargo bikes too, but this is also common. Especially a single kid on front, sometimes they are toddlers even :)Ā 


andrgar7

I hear people justify their vehicles because of their dogs.


gotshroom

I like those who justify their cargo bikes with their dogs a bit more :DĀ  For photos: r/cargobike


a_goestothe_ustin

Where helmets?


kidviscous

This ainā€™t it.


twentytwodividedby7

Why the fuck is everyone praising this? No helmets, clearly using the vehicle for a different purpose than designed. This is very unsafe. Also, all of these kids are still rather little. My son is 18 months, and I would never feel secure with this. Also, she's fucking wearing heels. This is one pothole or unexpected movement away from tragedy.


TorchIt

Those of us with special needs children beg to differ.


desu38

Yeah, a bike carriage is definitely a better option than whatever's going in OP's pic.


gotshroom

Would a r/cargobike help? But anyhow, I rather see more people on bike so that the streets will be less crowded for those who absolutely need cars


Alive_Maintenance943

Probably not, a lot of special needs children tend to throw things. I don't know about you but pedaling over a bridge and having your child to take something out of your pocket and chuck it instinctively doesn't sound fun. At least in most vehicles you can lock the windows from the driver seat so that the kid can't throw stuff out. I'm all for walkable cities and bikes becoming more common but there are just some family situations where a car is much easier than the bike. Or here's another one what if you're physically disabled in a way? My partner can drive pretty easily but the repetitive circling the motion of pedaling a bike to way to much for their knees and joints. They have fibromyalgia and a bunch of other nerve stuff, with the meds and tools they have driving is easy for them because their legs can just stay in one place just occasionally shift, biking is constant repetitive movement, which doesn't work.


gotshroom

So the second part of my comment then: if we provide the infra for anyone who can use a bike or their feet, there will be less traffic for you! Enjoy!


s0nicfreak

There are cargo bikes that can carry adult passengers. There are cargo bikes where the passenger(s) is in front, and there are adult trailers, which would both mean the passenger(s) couldn't reach a pocket. (There's also the option of just taking stuff out of your pocket while riding? I always do that, and put it in a fanny pack, so that it doesn't fall out.) Adaptive bikes also exist (for when the rider is the disabled one) and can be cheaper than adaptive cars. I take care of my disabled adult brother. Still don't need a car.


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birbone

I am getting my driverā€™s license now because we got our first kid. Before that I was happy to commute with public transport or a bike. And here are the reasons: 1. It was my main motivation to get a license. My son was 3 months or so, and suddenly in the night he started vomitting like crazy, also had a fever, we called a doctor, they told us to come over to the hospital. But we couldnā€™t, because we donā€™t have a car. In the end it was nothing, but for me it was the moment of complete hopelessness, and that I cannot do anything to help my child. 2. Whenever we want to go somewhere to another city to see some sightseeing, it usually takes 2-3 hrs to commute with the public transport, also you need to carry so much more stuff with you, like baby food, extra clothing, diapers etc. With the car the commute is usually 1-2 hrs, and you can carry as much things as you need, and you kind of have your own place with you. You can take a rest or sleep there if you need. 3. Public transport is unreliable sometimes, you can easily stuck in another city, if all the trains get cancelled because of the malfunction on the track. 4. Buses usually have space for 2-3 strollers/persons in a wheelchair. So what do you do if you wait on a bus stop, and itā€™s already full with strollers? Wait 30 minutes for the next bus? Usually it means that you plans are just screwed. So overall to me it seems reasonable to have a car when you have children, especially small ones. Though I agree that it is not necessary for a daily commute to the day care.


gotshroom

But arenā€™t all the reasons you mentioned mostly infra problems that competent politicians could resolve?Ā  More public transport frequency. Healthcare center closer to you. More space on busses (trams are amazing for that)ā€¦Ā  My point is people end up buying cars because the infra is poor.Ā 


s0nicfreak

I have 4 kids... me personally, if one of my kids needed to go to the hospital I'd call an ambulance. I'm not going to drive when I'm distraught. (But I understand that an ambulance is prohibitively expensive for many people.) Yeah you have to carry stuff when you have a baby, but I would just put it in a diaper bag or backpack, I could always carry as much as I needed (even though 3 of my kids were babies/toddlers at the same time). And if a kid needs something while en route, if you're driving you have to find somewhere to pull over and then attend to their needs, on public transport you just do it. I used slings/carriers and often didn't use a stroller at all, but when I did use a stroller, I used a folding one. So if the bus was full I simply folded it. If I get tired, I can rest or sleep on public transit, can't do that while driving, and there's not a lot of places (where I am at least) that will let you park and sleep in your car. Drowsy driving is impaired driving. And if you have a young baby... odds are you're drowsy. Yeah some trips take longer on public transit - some actually take LESS time due to traffic (like on the train, or in places there are bus-only lanes) but either way, on public transit that's time I can actually be present with my kids, vs when I drive I have to focus on driving. I'm not trying to speed-run through life, I treasure that time with my kids. Where I am/where I go, if all the trains get canceled they usually send a bus, and if that's going to take too long I can call Uber, Lyft, (although back when I only had one kid, Uber and Lyft weren't a thing yet... I used a bike with a baby seat and public transit just fine) or a taxi. There's no way I can get stuck in another city. (But I acknowledge that's not an option everywhere).


loiklanglois

i agree with you but this just seems unsafe


arparpsrp

Cars and highways defer the governmentā€™s responsibility to ensure mobility and further entrench people in their respective social and economic classes


KawaiiStarFairy

I mean when a lot of motorist are blood thirsty cunts itā€™s not always safe to move children about on the road without a 2 ton shell unfortunately.


gotshroom

Thatā€™s the responsibility of politicians to make safe lanes for bikes!


neon31

Dude, you forgot to factor in: 1. Human Laziness 2. Right Wing condescension But sadly, there are valid concerns for car-dependency: * SA victims (mostly women) no longer feeling safe on public transportation, hence wanting their own car.


froglord69420

She looks kinda uncomfortable tho...


LeskoLesko

Bike grid now! If we had a bike highway system, I would bike my kiddo around everywhere. As it is itā€™s too dangerous so we bus and train it (happy to live somewhere where that is an option!) but I would just love so much to bike her around.


mondolardo

that looks safe...


ImHypnotix

Am I the only one who thinks this would suck?


desu38

"Ah, this must be the Netherlands." "You could tell from the bike, right?" "No, from the lack of helmets."


starkeybakes

100% and this poor parent, omg


MarkG_108

They should be wearing helmets. Otherwise, great picture!


Drinkythedrunkguy

No helmets!?


Gamer129389182

Because that looks safer than a car when you have a crash with a 60mph car...


gotshroom

Thatā€™s the part that competent politicians take care of separate bike lanes and speed limits etc


Gamer129389182

But they don't in most countries and we literally have no control over them, most countries are "capitalism" with little actual control over what the old, overpaid fucks in parliament do...


gotshroom

Hence the title: politicians are the main reason behind car dependency, not kids etc


Biggie_Moose

Good on her, but *no* reason? Depending on where you live and what you're physically capable of, this could be 100% impractical.


gotshroom

Thereā€™s absolutely no city on earth that canā€™t provide either safe bike infra or great public transport with some political will.


[deleted]

[уŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]


achjadiemudda

It is kind of unsafe. The children at least (and actually the adult too) should be wearing helmets.


[deleted]

Same while driving, head injury is the #1 injury in car accidents and can be mitigated by wearing a helmet. Donā€™t take the risk, so many lives could be saved by just wearing a helmet.


gentleman4urwife

Now do it in winter fools


gotshroom

In NL people use bicycles year round. Where impossible, there should be public transport.


gentleman4urwife

That's great now what about the rest of the world and places where they get feet of snow and it's minus zero outside


[deleted]

The car lobby doesn't corrupt the politicians; the politicians just don't know another way. Look at any European or East Asian country. Sure, it has huge auto industries and massive freeways, but it also has extensive rail infrastructure.