We hit a pretty big milestone with the start of this school year: all three kids are now in school full time! Our littlest started kindergarten and our oldest started middle school. It's been exciting. And overwhelming. 

For reasons not entirely in our control, the three kids ended up at three different schools. Two of the three schools are near each other geographically. The third is close to our house. 

On the first day of school, I had Dan take the morning off, because I didn't know how else we could get all three to their schools. The second day, we drove. I drove the kids to school the whole first week, I think. But then, as I'm apt to do, I reconsidered: we could bike? Couldn't we?

Up until this year, our school commutes have been pretty short. We made decisions about schools to keep the kids within a mile or so of our house. We walked. We biked. We drove only when it was super snowy or we had to pick up a friend.

This year, other factors took priority, and the schools are farther away. But not that far. Like I said, one school is walkable, but the other two are about 3.5 miles from our house by bike. It takes about 20 minutes to ride. Doable, right? We've been training for this!

However, here's the issue: after we drop off at the school near our house, we have exactly 20 minutes to get to the other schools so the kids aren't late. It's tight. If we forget something, we'll be late. We feel rushed every morning. I hate rushing. My kids don't like it either. It's stressful for all of us.

I've spent a good amount of time whining about this situation. But whining doesn't solve anything. In terms of solutions, here's what I've come up with:

one. // Change schools. Not possible in the short term. Maybe possible in the longer term. TBD.

two. // Take the cargo bike more. My oldest, W, is a great bike rider. She's fast. She's aware of her surroundings. But I can still make faster time when she rides in our cargo trike and I'm the only one biking. We probably save 3-5 minutes with this option because I bike faster and no time has to be spent locking up her bike at school. She just jumps out.

three. // Drive more. I always say that driving is only 5-10 minutes faster than biking. Unfortunately, in this case, we need those 5-10 minutes. I know we'll be driving more in the winter months, so I'm trying not to drive for every school run right now. If there are 10 school runs each week, I'm currently driving for 3-4 of them. So biking 60-70% of the time. I'm happy with that. But I don't want it to be 100% of the time. That will make me feel like I've given up.  

four. // Find more carpools. In my experience, carpooling with others works better in the afternoon. Mornings are hectic. It's hard to coordinate your family's timing with another family's. And with three kids, that's a lot of logistics...

four. // Have on of the two older kids go to school solo. This is on the horizon but I’m not sure we’re quite there. But going to continue to consider it.

five. // Move. Neighborhoods or to a city with school buses. I've heard that's a thing. It sounds glorious. Do your kids ride one? (We’re not moving.)

Before I conclude, it feels important to acknowledge how privileged I am to even have the time to do these school runs. It takes a total of 3 hours a day. This is a whole other issue that I might discuss another time: our transportation system is a policy failure.

One way or another, we'll figure it out. Mostly I just wanted to document and share the ways we're trying to continue to bike as our kids get older. It's hard. We live in a society where too many of us are rushing too much of the time, and we need cars to get us quickly from point A to point B. I don't like it, but I'm also realizing there's not much point fighting it. Or maybe, I fight it a little but not with my full force. I need to adapt some, too. 

How about you? How's your school commute going? Are you walking or biking? Do you wish you could? Is your middle schooler going to school solo? I'd love to hear how other families are managing! 

Do you want to bike to school with your kids? AWESOME! Do you want to help plan a ride for this year’s “Bike to School Day?” FANTASTIC! It’s on May 4th, but you can also pick any date that works for you school!

There is a wealth of guidance about how to plan an event on the national Walk, Bike and Roll to School website. Start there! I particularly appreciate their “plan an event in 7 days” guide.

Because I’m such a bike to school enthuiast, I’m also including my own tips below, in case those are helpful. If you have questions or just want to talk through Denver bike routes or what might be best for your child’s school, don’t hesitate to contact me!

Steps to take ASAP:

one. // Check with your child’s school to see if they already have an event planned. You can also check the national Bike, Walk and Roll to School website to see if an event is registered for your child’s school. If so, participate and spread the word! Maybe volunteer to help out. If not, continue to step 2.

two. // Take charge! Plan an event to get more people to ride to school on May 4! That can take a few different forms:

• If you don’t have a lot of time to dedicate to planning, you can keep it simple - talk to your school’s principal/head about the event and then spread the word to other parents. Maybe include it in the school’s newsletter, announcements, or on their social media. If you’re able, you can also provide support by suggesting routes and giving safety tips.

• If you are able to commit a bit more time and effort, you can plan “Park and Bike” event. Pick a meeting spot a short distance from your child’s school (0.5-1 mile away) and have people gather there on the morning of May 4, 30-45 minutes before school starts.

• Similarly, if your child attends a neighborhood school and you know others who live near you attend the same school, suggest meeting at a spot in the neighborhood and riding to school from there. If people from the school community who live elsewhere in the city want to join, they can drive to your neighborhood and join the ride.

three. // Spread the word! No matter how you’re involved in planning, it’s always important to spread the word to get more people to ride. First off, register the event. Then think of low-tech and high-tech options: flyers around school, phone calls, emails, social media, school announcement letters, text messages and more.

If you’re just promoting “bike to school” day, then you’re all done! If you’ve planned a group ride, here are a few more Steps to take 1-2 weeks before may 4:

one. // Share a map with those participating. You can also do this the day of, as you feel appropriate for your event.

two. // Ask for help! Get other parents who are enthusiastic about biking to help you. You’ll want volunteers to:

• Be the ride leader, if you’re hosting a group ride. You also want someone to bring up the rear of the ride.

• Help “staff” the route: Adults wearing fluorescent clothing should position themselves at intersections to help those in the group ride safely cross streets, particularly busy ones.

• Provide snacks at the meeting spot or at the school (optional, but always appreciated).

• Distribute maps at the meeting spot.

• Welcome kids and parents to the school.

How to lead a group ride on “Bike to School Day,” may 4:

one: // Make sure everyone knows the meeting spot, and make yourself available by text message for any questions or issues.

two: // Designate someone to lead the ride. This might be you, or another adult. This person should announce the route, and remind people of safety measures (where to turn, stop, watch for cars, etc.).

three. // If you have people staffing the route, send them out to their stations.

four. // Remind parents to ride with their kids.

five. // Depart with plenty of time to get to school before it starts! You don’t want people to be late!

Have fun!

What more info on biking to school? Check out my blog post “9 Tips for Biking to School.”

I’m a “less is more” kind of gal, and I like to really think through purchases before making them. I’m wary of the idea that stuff is made to make our lives easier. Oftentimes more stuff just complicates things.

But there are a few bike accessories that have definitely made our daily rides better. Whether it be a pannier that accommodates my kids’ large backpacks, or a speaker that makes longer rides more festive. Below are my five favorite accessories for family cargo biking and bike commuting. Plus one extra because safety is cool!

one. // Wald Folding Back Rack - This rack is ubiquitous; I’m sure you’ve seen one before. It’s a metal folding rack that goes on the back of your bike. It’s installed with hardware so you can’t easily take it on and off. I like how it gives me a place to throw bags etc. and not have to worry about taking it inside when I lock my bike up.

two. // Green Guru Freerider Pannier Bag - I bought this bag recently to accommodate my eldest’s growing backpack. It’s easy to put on and off the back rack, and is quite large. I love the way it has side straps so you can attach random items and squeeze in extra coats and the like. It’s listed at $70 but I was able to get mine on sale for $48. It is also made with reclaimed materials, which is awesome.

three. // Kids’ Bike Basket - I bought this basket for my daughter’s bike years ago, and even though the handle has fallen off, it still easily mounts on the side of our cargo hold. It’s a good way to contain my kids’ items, such as water bottles, so they can easily access them during rides.

four. // Slap Bag - I’ll be honest: I resisted buying this bag for a long time. I’d seen them around, but at $34 each, I couldn’t quite stomach the investment. “I can make something similar,” I told myself. But then one day I found myself at my friend Arleigh’s bike shop, and decided to buy it under the pretense I was just supporting her business (I mean, I was!). But it’s the best bike accessory ever. I use it on every ride: for my keys, my phone, my mask…I can open and close it with one hand. So great. Just get one. Ideally from a local bike shop you love ;)

five. // Clearon Bluetooth Portable Speaker - We use this speaker multiple times a day, every day. It’s not only great for biking, but also for stroller walks, camping, audio books around the house…$40 well spent!

bonus. // Visibility Flag - It’s not fun to talk about, but being hit from behind by a vehicle is a common way bikers are injured. Make yourself as visible as possible with a large flag!

What’d I miss? What are your favorite accessories for making your bike rides more fun and functional?

I talk all the time about how much I love my cargo bike, but this year I’m finding myself in a new situation: my two older kids are riding on their own more and more. I have several friends and acquaintances who are biking to school with there kids as well. One of those dear friends prompted me to put together this list of tips for biking to school! And just in time for Bike to School Day, too! That’s coming up on October 6, 2021. So get your gear together and reduce your family’s emissions by getting some glorious exercise in the bike lane.

one. // Make sure bikes, helmets, and other gear are in good condition. You need a certain about of gear to be able to ride a bike to school: a bike, helmet, and lights, at minimum. Before you ride, make sure everything is in good, working condition: tires have air, breaks are tight, lights are charged. In my experience, kids’ bikes are pretty easy to find used, and there are also lots of excellent high-quality bikes on the market if that’s what you’re looking for. Make sure the bike fits your child well, and they feel comfortable riding it. A test ride around the block is always a decent idea.

two. // Organize all your gear before your ride. You want to make going by bike as easy as other transportation options! Make sure you have a good system in place for where you store the bikes, helmets, and other gear. You want everything to be ready to go in the morning when you’re trying to get out the door for the school day. Set yourself up for success!

three. // Plan your route carefully. You rarely want to bike the same route you would drive. Often the route you would drive has more traffic, and biking is better on quieter streets. Google Maps has a biking overlay option that will show you which streets are city bike routes and where there are bike lanes. Check out local bike maps, too. For Denver, I recommend the Bike Streets Map. Also, talk to anyone you know who bikes regularly. They’re often the best source for figuring out a safe route.

four. // Make a plan with your kids and talk about it ahead of time. Don’t wait until you’re on the road to talk about bike safety. Before you ride, talk to your kids about where they should ride in relation to you, turn signals, and more. Make sure you’re all aware of the general route. It’s also great to “debrief” afterwards and make sure the speed was good for everyone and they felt comfortable with how the ride went.

five. // Wear high-visibility clothing and use lights, even during the daytime. I used to only wear bright colors on cloudy days, but now I wear high-viz gear every time I ride. I have a few fluorescent coats for cooler weather and lighter safety vests that the kids and I wear on hot days. We always turn on our lights when we ride, even on the sunniest days. I figure it doesn’t hurt anything and it might help keep you safe.

A note on lights: you want a white light on the front of your bike, and red lights on the rear. The white light should be flashing when it’s light out, and solid after dark. The rear red light can be flashing or solid; ideally have one of each.

six. // Make sure helmet straps are tight. You should only be able to slide 1-2 fingers under the chin strap. So often I see people with loose helmets. If you’re going to wear it, make sure it’s able to do it’s job if there was ever any impact. And yes, your kids probably will complain that it’s tight, but tell them it’s important for their safety.

seven. // Go on the sidewalk if necessary. Yes, it may go against local laws, but you have to stay safe when bike infrastructure is lacking. All parents approach biking with kids a little differently in terms of riding on the road or on the sidewalk. I have my daughter ride on the road with me and my cargo bike, but during one stretch of our commute she goes up on the sidewalk because the road is narrow and there is a lot of traffic that tries to pass us. Do what you need to do to stay safe.

eight. // Use hand signals. Pointing the direction you’re turning is simplest for kids and drivers. I do the “official” hand signals sometimes too (left arm up at a “L” when turning right and left arm straight out and pointing left when turning left), but it’s amazing how often someone thinks I’m waving at them.

nine. // Use a high-quality lock. If you do an internet search for “best kids’ bike lock,” you’ll get a lot of options that are not particularly robust. I think this is because the suggestions are for locks that kids can easily lock and unlock themselves? But if you’re going to be riding with your child to school and helping them lock up their bike, I’d get something that provides more security. Kryptonite is a good brand, and on their website they rate the security of their locks on a scale of 1 to 10.

Happy riding!

There was a time when I wouldn’t order take out because of the material waste. The containers. The styrofoam, shudder.

That ship has sailed. I mean, don’t get me wrong: I still don’t love the waste. But my view on our planetary crisis has evolved and also, I am human, and sometimes I just want some delicious food delivered to my doorstep. We’re not going to restaurants in-person like we once were, amiright?

I still try not to order out too often, and when picking restaurants, I think about their overall commitment to sustainability. I order vegetarian; mostly vegan. I don’t waste any of it! And another thing I think about is: how am I getting the food? Delivery is super convenient, but at what cost to our health? I sure don’t want more cars zig-zagging the city delivering food and spewing out toxic emissions. Transportation emissions are one of the main sources of CO2 emissions and causes of our region’s poor air quality.

I know, I know, it’s not that fun to think about the environmental impact of our take-out habits. Can’t we just enjoy that pad thai we’ve been craving? Well, in this case, it might actually be possible to have our cake and eat it too, if you will. Below you’ll find a draft list of restaurants in the Denver area that deliver food by bike.

But first, some disclaimers: this list has not been thoroughly vetted. I’m adding to it all the time based on information from my own experiences, and that of friends and acquaintances. Most restaurants only deliver within a certain radius. Restaurants might change their delivery mode at any time, and it could vary day to day. Always call ahead to inquire (and let me know what they say!). Please do tell me about of any other low-carbon food delivery options you know of!

Denver Restaurants That Deliver by Bike:

Rosenberg’s Bagels

Rye Society

Famous Original J’s Pizza

Ian’s Pizza

Giordano’s Pizza

Trattoria Stella

Aloi Thai

Mint Indian

Little India

El Camino

Humbolt Kitchen + Bar

In March 2020, to create more room people to recreate while physically distancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Denver Parks and Recreation closed roads in several city parks to vehicle traffic. Now, one year later, they’re determining which closures to make permanent. Several parks will maintain the pandemic-era closures, but Denver’s central park, City Park, will be returning to more-or-less the way it was pre-pandemic (read: full of cars).

As a local resident who utilizes City Park daily for transportation and recreation, I’m firmly in favor of keeping City Park car free. To be clear, this does not actually mean there will be no cars in the park. It means that there will be parking available for cars in multiple locations around the perimeter of the park (as well as ADA parking in the center of the park for those with mobility limitations) and cars can drive on short stretches of park roads to access these parking lots. A car-free park means that vehicles are not allowed to drive through the center of the park.

There are so many reasons I support a car-free City Park, but here five of my top reasons we need people-full park that’s light on cars:

one // It’s safer for everyone. Three of the four roads that form the boundaries of City Park are on part of what is called the “High Injury Network” (HIN). This is not a positive achievement: the HIN “represents the corridors in Denver with the highest number of fatal and injury crashes. Collectively, the HIN accounts for 5% of streets in Denver, but 50% of traffic deaths” (Source: Denver Vision Zero).

Colorado Boulevard to the east of the park, 17th Avenue on the south side of the park, and York Street on the west side of the park are all arterial road that are part of the HIN. They’re busy roads that get a lot of people where they need to go every day. Speeding on these roads is common. Entering the park via any of these roads is dangerous, for pedestrians, bicyclists, and people driving motor vehicles.

Furthermore, allowing cars to drive within the park decreases the safety park goers. Kids riding bikes, people walking their dogs, families having picnics. Cars often cut through the park to avoid the traffic on the busy roads mentioned above. These cars often don’t follow the speed limit and are mostly just concerned with getting where they need to go.

As urban dwellers, we need safe spaces to recreate. Low-income residents are twice as likely as high-income residents to be killed while walking. And African American children are two times as likely to be killed while walking as white children. Latino children: 40% more likely. No matter who you are, being out and about poses significant risks. We need safer streets. But in the meantime, we need parks to be a respite from the risks of the roads.

Limiting the routes cars can drive through City Park is not a limitation on people. It’s a prioritization of people. It puts the safety and health of our citizens ahead of convenience or presumed desires. It’s not about closing the streets to cars. It’s about opening them to people.

two // The people want it. In a survey conducted by the Denver Parks and Recreation department in late 2020, 78% of the 1500 respondents who commented about City Park said they wanted to see the road closures made permanent for the long term. The survey respondents were predominately white (89%), and the survey notes point out that “The amount of people who identify as Black or African American and do not want roads/lots to remain closed is significantly higher compared to all other race/ethnicities. The amount of people who identify as White or Caucasian and do want roads/lots to remain closed is significantly higher than all other race/ethnicities besides Asian/Asian American.”

These are important takeaways. Nevertheless, to ignore the preference of such a strong majority because of conjecture about what hypothetical respondents may want? It doesn’t make sense. More outreach and data collection could have been done. But if the city is confident in the role equity considerations played in their survey outreach, then they should listen to results.

three // Exercise is good for everyone. In the context of championing road closures in City Park, exercise is a factor in a few different ways:

First is the idea that you don’t have to park directly next to your destination. This seems hard for some Denverites to wrap their head around. But unless you have a mobility limitation, parking a short walk from your destination is usually a good thing! It’s a chance to exercise, get fresh air, and enjoy your surroundings. It rarely pours rain in Denver, so really those 300+ days of sunshine per year make this a great walking city.

Additionally, open, car-free space in the park allows more people to move their bodies without safety concerns. People can rollerblade, bike, run, skateboard, stroll…The Mayo Clinic recommends at least 30 minutes of exercise everyday, and a 2018 study revealed that only 23% of Americans get enough exercise. 

This is again a great context within which to emphasize the point that no one is arguing against driving to the park, I’m just arguing that cars shouldn’t be driving through the park.

four// It’s good for wildlife and the environment.
In a stretch of trees adjacent to one of the closed roads on the west side of City Park, two red-tailed hawks are nesting. My children look for them every time we walk in the park. I don’t have hard data on the increase of wildlife in the park since the roads have been closed, but my observations tell me it isn’t insignificant. Our cities have always encroached on wildlife. Parks are a small refuge for all animals amidst the urban chaos.

Additionally, Denver residents endure elevated pollution levels daily. The air quality in our region continues to deteriorate each year despite stated goals to address the problems causing it. Our city leadership knows that we have to reduce car traffic and increase walking, biking, and transit trips to curb the negative effects of transportation emissions (between 1/4 to 1/3 of greenhouse gas emissions come from transportation!).

The parks department should be protecting nature and the environment by implementing policies that prioritize transit and help residents take fewer polluting trips.

five // RTD buses serve the park and surround attractions.
City Park is a regional park that should be accessible to people from the whole city and region (and beyond). In conversations about access and parking, it’s important not to make “access” synonymous with “car access.” City Park is well served by public transportation. The park is surrounded on all four sides by arterial roads with bus lines.

Of course, the convenience of Denver’s bus system can be debated and these bus routes will not provide the most convenient access for everyone. But as a city, we are striving to meet stated climate goals, and to do that we must continue to discourage the use of single-occupancy vehicle. As such, plans for City Park should incentivize walking, biking, and using transit to get to the park. And maybe make some convenient parking for electric vehicles too. The Parks and Recreation Department’s current plan to open the park back up to cars for events and everyday use is not forward-looking. It prioritizes and normalizes an outdated view of modality. We, as a city, have an opportunity to set forth as we mean to go on. Let’s reduce our air pollution, improve the health of our residents, and keep our friends and family safe.

Last week, I took the kids north of Denver to the Broomfield Bike Park by McKay Lake. I’d been on my list for awhile as a great place to let the kids play outdoors. I wasn’t sure how my older two, ages 7 and 5, would take to the “pump track.” Willa expressed some hesitation on the ride up, but once we were there they were eager to try riding.

We explored the playground first though, while we were waiting for friends to join us. I loved the way it incorporated nature; my kids love flinging themselves down the rock “slides:” angled rocks that you could climb or slide down. (I didn’t get a picture unfortunately, but there are also plastic slides built into the landscape.) The playground is right next to the beginner bike track, so it was easy for the kids to go back and forth between the two spots.

The beginner pump track was great. Kids who know how to ride a bike, or are adept at a strider, can do it no problem. Of course there’s a chance of falling, but it didn’t seem overly dangerous in my opinion. Even my 2 year old wanted to get out there and give it a whirl

It didn’t take long before my kids realized there were bigger tracks they could try. The track visible from the beginner one looks HUGE (see picture below), so I wasn’t keen to head over there. But I heard some people talking and realized there were two more beginner (or maybe intermediate?) tracks on the other side of the big track. We headed over there, and my kids enjoyed it so much! It was a tad more challenging than the beginner area but still doable for them.

We had a glorious day at this park. We were there over four hours and the kids didn’t even want to leave when I said it was time. I have never been to a bike park before so I don’t really know how this compares to others, but my sense is it’s a good one. If you live in the Denver area, I highly recommend checking it out, even if it’s a bit of a drive for you!

If you follow me on Instagram, you’ll notice I post a lot about biking. Switching to a “car-lite” lifestyle has been one of the most significant intentional changes our family has made in the past couple of years. I am a huge believer that biking or walking more instead of driving has a profoundly positive impact on one’s life. It also is a change that helps minimize your environmental footprint. Transportation is the largest contributor to C02 emissions in the US. And most of the driving comes from short trips around one’s town or neighborhood. Of course the automobile has opened up so many opportunities to us, but next time you go to jump in the car for a short trip, ask yourself if maybe you could get there by a smaller, cleaner vehicle instead. (Or a larger one with lots of people on it!)

In order to making biking your norm, you need a bike to suit your needs. Enter: the cargo bike. We bought ours two years ago, and as cheesy as it sounds, it has truly changed my life. I get a decent number of questions and comments about my bike, so I thought I’d do a little FAQ here for anyone who’s interested. Let me know if there’s anything you’re curious about that I’ve missed.

What type of bike is it?
Our bike is a Nihola 4.0.

Nihola bikes are made in Copenhagen, Denmark. Their “family” model is the most popular: it has one bench which fits two children. Our model, the 4.0 has two benches so it can fit up to 4 children with seat belts.

Where’d you get it? Is it custom?
We ordered our bike from Practical Cycle, a bike store in Sacramento, California. They import Nihola bikes from Copenhagen and have sold them to customers across the United States. The bike was shipped in a truck directly to our garage! The cost of shipping was minimal relative to the overall purchase.

Why not just use a trailer or bike seat?
We’ve used both of those bike attachments to transport our kids. But when I was pregnant with our third child, I realized I really wanted a bike that I could use in place of a car to go almost everywhere we need to go. I didn’t want to bike just for recreation or occasional use. A trailer and/or bike seat can be heavy and awkward depending on your set-up. I loved the idea of a “bucket bike” where I could just throw everything in the cargo area and not worry about attachments or the kids dropping things etc.

Why a bucket bike instead of a longtail?
Longtail bikes were some of the first cargo bikes for carrying kids available to the American market. I remember over 10 years ago I watched a video about a family using an Xtracycle for errands (they bought a tree at a nursery, haha) and seeing that lit the flame that turned into a burning desire to own a cargo bike. But later, I saw a Madsen bucket bike (basically a longtail with a cargo bin on the back) and thought that would be much better for kids. More research led us to the Nihola, and I love having the kids in front of me so we can talk and I can keep an eye on them. And I love having the ability to just throw everything inside the cargo hold and get on our way. I don’t have to think too much about adding bags or attachments. And I don’t have to worry about the kids dropping their belongings en route!

Why do you like it so much?
This might actually be the hardest question to answer, just because it’s hard to put it into words. Riding a bike gives me a feeling of freedom and excitement while simultaneously making me feel calm and at peace with the world around me. The sensory experience of the breeze in your face and the weather all around you is truly good for one’s soul. I love getting my exercise while also getting somewhere. I like talking with the kids about the things we see around us. When I see traffic, I am gleeful that we’re not stuck in it. Riding a bike makes me feel strong and independent. The most mundane errand, is more fun when you’re biking. At least, it is to me!

When are you going to let your kids bike on their own?
When Denver has more protected bike lanes? ;) Kidding. Kind of. Willa is 7, and her biking skills are improving. Cameron is almost 5 and he’s good on a bike too. They bike on her own for recreation and in parks. But generally, the traffic and roads around our neighborhood do not feel safe for children, in my opinion. Even the large park we live near allows cars on the roads, and the drivers go too fast while looking at their phones. I wish my kids were able to bike more on their own, because I think it’s important for kids to be independent. And I’m a parent who is ok with kids taking on a bit of risk. But I also have to be honest with myself about where we live and central Denver just isn’t the best place for kids to be biking on their own at a young age. I’m hopeful the bike infrastructure will continue to improve though.

All that said, I plan to keep riding the Nihola with the kids for years to come. Often we bike to places that others would drive. This morning I took Willa to her soccer game 5 miles away. She’s not going to bike that on her own any time soon.

Is it hard to ride?
In short, no. It rides much easier than I thought it would before buying it. Even though we have the electric assist, we don’t use it all the time. The Nihola is relatively lightweight as far as cargo bikes go. The challenges with riding it are more related to navigating streets and obstacles in the city. It doesn’t clear steep curb cuts, so I have to angle the wheels to make sure the front doesn’t bottom out. It also doesn’t have the same turning radius as a two-wheeled bike, so I sometimes have to do three-point turns. Locking it up can also be tricky sometimes, depending on what types of bike locks are available.

Where do you ride it?
Pretty much everywhere! We live in central Denver, so we can get to so many places within a mile or two. We use it almost every day for school drop off and pick up, as well as trips to the grocery store, the doctor, friends’ houses, and more. I love having the cargo bike in the garage ready to go at all times, so we can just jump in it without too much rigamarole. I try not to drive unless I’m going somewhere over 5 miles. Last summer, we did swim lessons 4 days a week for 4 weeks about 45 minutes away (biking). I biked most days. It was a great way to spend time together with the kids and for them to decompress after swimming. Last year, I used the bike to bring my son’s classmate home from their preschool a couple days a week. I call it my “bike minivan:” I use it for everything!

Do the kids like it?
Yes! They’ve gotten very used to it over the past two years. They often complain now if we’re going to drive somewhere. But, just like anyone, they can get crabby if it’s hot or we’re on a long ride. They sit pretty close to each other so kicking and yelling at each other is not uncommon. But neither is singing songs or laughing. Mostly, we have a good time when we’re biking around the city.

Is it just for carrying kids?
No way. We sometimes load it up with lawn chairs and a cooler for a picnic in the park. I regularly use it for grocery shopping. Occasionally I’ll ride in it for a date night! (When we were in Copenhagen, that was commonplace!) Whatever kind of cargo you need to move around, there’s a bike for that!

How much cargo can it hold?
The bike can carry 265 pounds plus the rider. People often ask when the kids will be “too big” for it, but going by their weights, it will be a long time before we out grown it!

What about when it’s cold or rainy?
There’s a rain cover for days with inclement weather. We use it occasionally, but thankfully we don’t get too much precipitation in Denver. On days that are just cold, I have the kids bundle up with coats and blankets. The cover makes kids cozy for sure, but it’s hard to get them in and out of their seats and it’s sometimes a bit claustrophobic for them. I stay warm by using no assist and getting my heart rate up!

How much was it?
The Nihola 4.0 was $3500 and we added a BionX e-assist battery for an additional $2000. I sometimes feel uncomfortable when people ask how much it cost, but I also remind myself and them that it was much less than a car! And we are now a one-car family, so we feel like we came out ahead! There are definitely more inexpensive cargo bikes available, but we wanted one with high-quality parts that would last for years. We are hoping to use it for many years to come.

Should I get one?
YES! I’m a big believer that everyone needs some sort of cargo bike. Even if you don’t have kids, we all have stuff we need to carry around. You’re more likely to bike places if you have a way to carry cargo (hello, grocery store!). There are so many types of cargo bikes, there’s definitely one that would suit your needs.

If you’re in the Denver area, I highly recommend MacKenzie at Hardt Family Cyclery in Aurora. In other cities, search “cargo bike shops” and I’m sure you’ll find something not too too far away. They’re becoming more common all the time.

There’s tons of information available online too. Check out Denver Bicycle Lobby on Twitter or Cargo Bike Republic on Facebook; both communities have tons of advice to offer!