Carry Kids on Bikes

Cargocycles in Brunswick East sells premium cargo bikes and electric bikes specifically designed to carry toddlers and children safely and effortlessly.

You’ve probably seen people carrying children on bikes near you (especially in the inner north) going to and from school, swimming lessons, the park and shops. You might notice they’re also smiling – the rider and the children! Their secret is… it’s not as daunting as it looks! Especially when the bike is designed specifically for carrying kids or is an electric cargo bike.

Check out our range of Yuba bikes or our Benno electric bikes – two of Cargocyles’ best-selling brands.

Thankfully, it’s easy to carry kids on bikes using electric bikes with child seats and it’s becoming an increasingly popular alternative to sitting in traffic every day. Not only do you get a bit of exercise (as much as you want depending on the level of assistance you set on your cargo bike ) – but your children get an exciting journey and benefit from an early experience of being outdoors instead of sitting in a car. You’ll also be helping reduce traffic congestion in and around schools and childcare centres by choosing active transport. Read about how the Open Streets Program is transforming the school run in this Bicycle Network article.

Many of our customers have commented that their children are generally happier (especially in the mornings) and more willing to go to school, knowing a thrilling ride is in front of them!

See all our cargo bikes here.

That’s a question we get asked often, by parents with babes in arms. And before we can answer that question, there are variables to consider – sorry, it’s not that simple.*

There are currently no studies available regarding the safety of young babies on bikes or in trailers, and in some places like New York, Children under 1 are prohibited from being transported on a bicycle.

So, while there are no hard and fast rules here in Australia – common sense applies. You must be able to answer these 2 questions…
Can your child support themselves when sitting upright?
Can they wear a well-fitted helmet?

Can your child sit up and play unsupported?

A child must be able to support their own head unassisted (plus the weight of a helmet) before they are transported on a bike/trike in a properly designed child seat. This would normally mean the stage where they are able to sit up and play unsupported.

While some parents want a ‘what age is that’ answer, given the huge range in ages children hit their developmental milestones, there is no single correct answer for all children (regardless of your child’s stage of development, helmets only start at the age of 1 year old).

In our experience, the ability to sit up unsupported – after a child is 12 months old – should be the bare minimum that should be used as a measure. In a typical child seat mounted to a bike, smaller passengers are constantly jostled and bounced around and trailers/chariots are no better – they are close to the road and parents often forget how rough the ride can be. Even a slow ride can present serious jolts to a young baby’s neck. Adult riders also need to be competent to avoid the most common crashes (which occur standing still). Think about how often an adult rider bounces on the seat navigating potholes, curbs, tram lines and all the other objects we encounter on a typical ride.

Carry older kids on bikes too

With the right bike, you can carry older kids too! When your toddler outgrows their baby seat (about 3.5 – 4 years old) they can sit on the back of a longtail cargo bike on the seat pads that go with it (read below) or in the box of a front loader cargo bike. (some 4 year olds have trouble holding on and sitting still – so this age range may or may not apply to your child)
You can carry a 12 year old child on the back of a Benno Boost or a bigger teen or adult on a Yuba Mundo, Yuba Fastrack or Yuba Kombi. Trikes can also carry bigger kids or multiple kids!

* This article is intended as general advice and before carrying a toddler or young child on a bike you should consult your Maternal and Child Health Nurse or healthcare professional to determine if your child is ready.

In Australia, wearing helmets on bikes is mandatory – this includes children being carried on bike seats, in cargo bike boxes, trailers or chariots – even if you ride on the footpath or in a park. Helmets need to be correctly fitted and comply with ASNZS 2008:2063 Standard for Bicycle Helmets. If you are outside Australia, check your local requirements for children’s helmets, bike seats and harnesses.

Cargocycles stocks specially designed helmets for children 1-year-old and up – check ’em out in-store!

The mounting of a child seat to a bike should not be undertaken lightly. You need to ensure the mounting system is strong, and secure, and will not compromise the integrity of the bike frame. Remember, some bikes simply are not designed to carry loads. This would include the majority of modern carbon road bikes. When something is built with lightness being a priority then often the bare minimum of strength is incorporated and typically carbon tubes do not tolerate being “crushed” which a lot of carrier/child seat mounts rely on.

When carrying young children our best advice is to choose an appropriate bike from the outset (obviously here at Cargocycles we have a bias towards cargo bikes 😉

If your bike is suitable, the next decision is whether to have a front-mounted, or rear-mounted child seat. Both have benefits and drawbacks.

By far the safest and most popular is the rear-mounted child seat. These often rely on a rear carrier/rack being mounted to the bike and require specific mounting points on the bike which need to a into the frame. Some carriers can be mounted to the seat stays and seat post but this does add considerable stress to these areas which are often not intended to have force from those directions.

View our range of Yuba Cargo Bikes

A better option is the seat tube mounted carrier design. These clamp around the bike frame beneath the seat post/chain stays. This area is typically a stronger area of the frame and has the additional strength of the internal seat post supporting it. The design of these also offers some compliance which helps soften the bigger hits as you’re riding.

Some models also offer a quick release option, so if you are dropping off kids at Creche, you can leave the seat in the pram room (if they have one) to make the rest of the journey easier.

All racks should be weight rated, and this should NEVER be exceeded. We recommend a safety margin after calculating the weight of the seat and its passenger.

Rear mounted child seats are suitable for children aged 1 – 5 or up to 22kgs, they come with an adjustable 5-point harness and adjustable footrests and foot straps. Some child seats offer additional support with padded ‘wings’ that reduce the head dropping to the side and some tilt backwards. This reclined position adds support to the back of the head and helps prevent it ‘flopping forwards’ especially if your toddler is tired, or falls asleep on the way home from childcare.

Check out our range of Baby Seats & Child Seats

There are a couple of options for front mounting a child seat, and probably the simplest is a seat that attaches to the top of the handlebars – however, the added weight on the steering and much higher centre of gravity can affect the handling of the bike. They are also difficult to load and unload as the steering is inclined to flop to the side unless supported.

Better options are front seats that attach to the top tube and steerer of the bike (which requires a level top tube), or to a bar that mounts between the seat post and head stem (good for drop bar/step through style frames).

In our experience front mounted seats are best suited to smaller passengers. As they are situated under your chin as you ride, height becomes an issue. Some riders also need to resort to pedalling with their knees splayed out which can be uncomfortable on longer journeys. The big benefit of a front mounted seat is you and your child are able to interact easily, and they often participate in the riding experience (holding the handlebars, ringing the bell etc). They are a great introduction or stepping stone for shorter journeys and will help your little ones get used to being a passenger on a bike.

The boxes can be configured to carry the smallest through to the largest of passengers (or pets) and our various models come with seating designed to carry from one up to six (yes 6!) passengers. They are fitted with substantial seats with built-in safety harnesses.

The construction of the box adds another layer of protection for passengers with some of our brands going as far as crash testing their models to validate their claims of ‘the world’s safest cargo bikes’.

By carrying passengers in front of the rider you can easily interact (and keep your eye on them) during your journeys, plus they can spread out, and even safely fall asleep when they need to. Kids also tend to love the unique sensation of being in the front of the bike.

Box bikes also have amazing accessories for weather protection, from simple rain covers through to full-on rain tents with zipped windows and roll-up sides and even sun hoods for when it gets warm and you want to let the breeze through.

The downside of a box bike? The size of the bikes. They are designed for one thing and that’s carrying loads and loads of stuff and there is no option other than to take the entire bike everywhere (i.e. you can’t remove it like a trailer/child seat). They are heavier than a standard bike or even some bike/trailer combos, so are better suited to shorter journeys (there are some racier versions that are an exception… but they are not the norm).

Due to the helmet laws in place in Australia, we do not recommend carrying infants in box bikes (there are capsule carriers available from some manufacturers but these are mostly used in countries where helmets are not mandatory)

Trailers are a great option for existing bikes that are unable to have a child seat fitted, or if you have more passengers than room on the bike. They typically attach to the rear axle of the bike and once set up can be easily and quickly attached and removed. Much like the box bike, they offer loads of space, and passengers are well supported and are able to recline and rest/sleep. Being undercover they are also out of the elements and it’s worth checking the UV rating for those summer days (you do need to be aware of rear tyre spray when it rains though).

Some models also have options to use them as prams when not attached to bikes, which is a great option if you’re planning on doing some exploring off the bike when you reach your destination.

Their effect on the handling of the bike is minimal but care does need to be taken when descending hills, and/or when braking. During cornering as they tend to deviate from the path of the bike so watch your lines (don’t cut corners !).

There is the increased drag caused by an additional set of wheels, and obviously, the additional weight involved. You may spend a bit more time enjoying the sights along the way as a result. The ride can be a little bit rougher for passengers (depending on the design) as most have them sat upright directly over the axle. Big soft tyres or better yet suspension will be of benefit to counter this.

The other concern is visibility to other road users hence we do recommend the use of flags and plenty of lights etc when being used.

One other thing to remember with trailers, most states in Australia prohibit them being towed on a footpath even when accompanying a child under 12 on their own bike, and passengers must be under 10 years of age.