Biking to Kids' Activities

Amidst all the challenges of the past several months, it can be uplifting to recognize a few "silver linings." Here's one: biking is having a bit of a moment. Bike sales are at their highest since the 1970s. Individuals and families around the world are jumping on their bicycles for both exercise and for transportation.

Those of us who were already “in the know” about the glorious biking lifestyle might feel a bit smug. But I’d argue that there’s always room for us to increase our dependence on our bikes. This is particularly true for those of us who have children. It’s common for avid cyclists to trade in their bike commutes for an SUV or a minivan when little ones come into the picture. Biking becomes more of a recreational activity for families and less of a transportation method.

But it doesn’t have to be this way! I’ve been biking as my primary means of transportation with little ones since 2012, and I plan to keep biking with them for years to come.

If you, too, would like to avoiding the prevailing car culture while getting your kids to and from school and activities, here are my top tips:

Invest early in your biking infrastructure. Often new parents start with a baby seat that mounts on the back of their bike, and then progress to a bike trailer. While both of these options allow you to bike with your children, to haul significant weight more than a couple miles, you need a cargo bike. Cargo bikes are increasing in popularity in the United States. There are many options in different price ranges and you can sometimes even find one used. But no matter what bike gear you choose, just make sure you're thinking ahead. Don't buy the bike accessory that works only for that moment; remember how quickly kids grow!

Don't over schedule your family. Biking does take longer than driving. (Not always a lot longer when you take traffic and finding parking into consideration though!) It's difficult to bike to one child's soccer practice if your other child has an art class immediately before or after. Try to keep your family's schedule relatively light and consider biking part of the activity. It's good exercise and family time, after all!

Select activities near home. The choices for kids' activities are plentiful these days. When looking for options for your kids, see what's within a few miles' radius. Also consider the biking routes you would take to each location. It's great for kids to be exposed to a wide-variety of activities, so try to let the availability lead your search. This will make it easier to bike instead of drive.

Teach older kids safe riding skills. Once your children are old enough to ride on their own, make sure you've done plenty of practice rides close to home. Kids should be well-versed on how to ride safely. For more tips on this topic, check out Bike Ambassador Erin's previous post on biking with kids! 

Pack well. Keep your bike(s) stocked just as you would your car. Have plenty of water and snacks for the family, as well as a first aid kit and extra clothes. Entertainment for little ones is a great idea, too. My family loves having a portable speaker on our cargo bike for music or audiobooks!

Remember the lights and safety gear. Kids' sports and activities can sometime go longer than expected. Make sure all riders have lights for their bikes as well as their helmets of course. Fluorescent jackets or vests and flags are a good idea too.

Just do it. In our modern society, too often we default to driving instead of biking. Maybe we're more used to it or we think it's easier or it's just what everyone does. But you can retrain your brain to think of biking as the default. The more you "just do it," the easier it becomes. The more second nature it will be for your whole family!