As I always say, a woman needs a man like I need a fish-bicycle. Which is why I got married, I guess, because I need this fish-bicycle pretty bad.

Click to embiggen. (Photo by Chris Reynolds.)

The glowing anglerfish bikes are by Group D Creative Collective from New South Wales, Australia. The group built the fishmobiles for a light show called Vivid Sydney (which, as a bonus, kind of sounds like a stripper name). But they would also clean up at my local Kinetic Sculpture Race — at least, if these fish can actually swim.

“Basically, the idea is like Japanese origami,” Gafni says. Folding the cardboard on itself both shapes it and increases its strength, to the point where it can easily support up to 300 pounds of adult human. Here’s a video that shows his process — cutting out forms from cardboard an inch thick, rolling cardboard into tubes, coating it with resin so it won’t melt in the rain, and slapping on a coat of paint:

Then you just strap on your cardboard bike helmet and go!

This bike is the most beautiful object made out of cardboard that I’ve ever seen. It’s incredibly lightweight, apparently, and Gafni argues that at a retail price of $60 to $90, it’ll be cheap enough that it won’t really be worth stealing (or would be easily replaced if someone does take it). And riders can pretend they’re 6 again, when a cardboard box could be imagined into any vehicle. Only now, it’s for real.

New York City is treating wayward cyclists the same way a driver who’s racked up one too many DUIs might be: It’s sending them to class to review the basic rules of the road. The New York Times reports:

This spring, the Midtown Community Court began sentencing cyclists who had been issued tickets for certain offenses in and around Midtown Manhattan to a class to learn about bicycles and traffic.

Think remedial driver’s education — for bike riders.

In theory, it’s a reasonable idea: Bikers aren’t required to get a license the way that drivers are, and if they’ve been behaving irresponsibly, well, maybe they don’t know the laws. But a judge also admitted to the Times that it might be the laws’ fault, too: “There are a lot of laws and not always clarity about abiding the law,” she said.

Right — like that the time cops ticketed a New York City cyclist for leaving the bike lane in order to avoid a truck parked in a bike lane. The most common offense among the 30 cyclists who’ve had to go to biker’s ed was riding on the sidewalk — which, who hasn’t?

 “It was literally three seconds,” Steve Galiczynski said of his short sidewalk ride to his parking spot on the Upper West Side, witnessed by a police officer. He said he had already spent a day cleaning up trash in Times Square. “This whole thing is nuts. It’s like I’m in a Russian novel — a crazy Russian novel.”

Safety’s important, of course, but it’s not just cyclists that need education about bike laws, it’s the entire city.

In August of 1982, four men rode out of Los Angeles on the Great American Bicycle Race, the first transcontinental bike race ever — what ABC’s Wide World of Sports called “the latest bizarre product of this country’s rapidly burgeoning ultra-endurance cult.”

The route began at the Santa Monica Pier, where a small crowd of “devoted bike freaks” saw the riders off, ABC said. It began like this:

The route was 2,978 miles and ended at the Empire State Building in New York City. Nine days, 20 hours and two minutes later, Lon Haldeman reached the finish line:

The Bicycle Story has turned up a whole series of YouTube videos of ABC’s coverage, and they’re all amazing. (SO FRICKING ’80s.) Diana Nyad, the long-distance swimmer who’s attempting her fourth swim from Cuba to Florida this summer at age 63, is one of the correspondents covering the event. That opening song about bicycles is … unreal. And there are recumbent bicycles.

The Great American Bicycle Race still exists, as Race Across America. RAAM’s website calls the 2012 race “the best ever” but … I’m not sure anything could beat the original.

We love a good bike share, but you have to admit that the bikes all look the same. Meanwhile, people’s bicycle preferences and needs are as varied as … well, as their taste in books. Which is why Copenhagen, always first with the bike innovations, lets you borrow bikes from the bicycle library.

Unlike the book library, you do have to put down a deposit on bikes, the equivalent of $80. But that deposit is returned when you bring the bike back safely by the due date (you can borrow them for three to four days). Which means that you can try out all sorts of bicycles — tandems, cargo bikes, folding bikes, recumbents, Velomobiles — to figure out which one works for you.

The bicycle library isn’t intended as a replacement for a bike share or bike ownership. You can’t keep checking the same bike out week after week. But you can shop around for the bike that best fits your lifestyle, or have a fling with bikes that are hard to find or afford — and for no more money than getting 50 Shades from your local library branch. Now that’s an idea worth borrowing.

Hey, did you know that bike helmets in the 1940s looked kind of like a cross between a Devo outfit and a bouncy castle? Because I didn’t, so I was pretty surprised by this photo of Olympic cyclists at the 1948 games, unearthed by The New York Times. (That’s an amazing photo essay of nonagenarian former Olympians, by the way, and well worth a look.)

If you’re one of those cyclists who avoids wearing a helmet because they look uncool, please take a second glance at your aerodynamic head-carapace and think how much slicker it looks than these balloon-animal concoctions. And these guys wore them in front of zillions of fans! Surely you can put yours on to go to the store.

My daughter will turn 3 this year, and we just enrolled her in preschool. With all our childcare at home to date, we’ve been lucky to avoid lots of extra running around with the kid. So, no sooner had we signed little Audrey up for preschool than we began to fret about the logistics of getting her to and fro — without royally complicating our lives.

It’s a bit too far to walk, and since I try to commute as often as possible by bike, it seemed counterproductive to go the few miles by car. What would I do with the car? Drive back home and then hop on my bike? I don’t think so! Drive to work and pay to park downtown? No way!

So, I started to investigate my options for conveying my babe by bike — it appears to be the most convenient and sensible solution.

I asked other parents what works for them and for tips about equipment, safety, and getting started. I also asked for photos — and they flooded in, along with all kinds of inspiring insights about the joys of cycling with your kids!

No turning back

I have to admit that at first the idea of taking my small child by bike terrified me — partly because my own commute to downtown can be hairy. I also didn’t want to spend a fortune on gear (and since I’ve sworn off new stuff, I wouldn’t buy it new anyway). But talking with families who bike with kids has me convinced that it’s the way to go.

One woman told me, “It’s the best thing we’ve done for our family!”

From what I gather, you can do it safely (I won’t be riding in high-traffic areas) and fairly cheaply (used and borrowed equipment all the way!), and the payoff is health, family fun, special quality time out of your car, a deeper connection to your community, and a way to instill important values and attitudes in your kids that will last their lifetime.

And, if you think it’s too hard, or you’re not strong enough, or it’s inconvenient, all you need to do is read about this Portland mom who hauls six kids — yep, you heard me, SIX — on her one bike! (Sometimes she even takes along a neighbor kid too!) Whatever I do with my singleton will be easier than that!

Two kids? One bike? No problem. (Photo by Totcycle.)

Bike nurture and culture

I heard two things most often from biking families. First, they want to raise their kids outside of the prevailing car-only culture. Don’t get me wrong; these aren’t anti-car extremists. Not in the least! All these families own cars — and use them. But they feel it’s important for their kids to grow up knowing there are healthy, enjoyable, convenient, and environmentally friendly ways to get around without automatically defaulting to the car.

As the folks at Totcycles, a local family biking blog (and marvelous resource), pointed out, “this Madsen packs more kids than most SUVs!”

The Madsen, the SUV of family biking. (Photo by Totcycle.)

This father from Eugene, Ore., put it this way:

We bike 12 months a year, rain or shine. The most important part about getting to school this way is that our kids will grow up thinking that biking is a normal human activity, not something we do only during play time, or only on weekends. That’s how I grew up, and I’ve been riding ever since.

Here they are. Look at those big smiles!

Chris, Elena, and Sylvan on one bike.

Here are three generations biking together!

Top-notch quality time

The second thing I heard most often was that parents who pedal their kids around enjoy some amazing and unique quality time with them. When they’re riding together, the kids are usually jabbering away from their seat or trailer, keenly observing what they see (and what they smell, hear, sense, and feel) and talking with their mom or dad about it. Of course you could do this in a car too, but cycling parents feel like the connection is more powerful on a bike — between parent and child and between the child and his or her surroundings.

One dad told me that he preferred seats to trailers because “we get to talk about all the things we see along the way.”

Another parent agrees: “One of the great things about the front seat is we talk the whole time, pointing out the buses, other bikes, baseball stadiums, and garbage trucks.”

Clive, his mom Courtney, and their iBert.

And here’s how this mom described the special quality of time on the bike:

I bike with my 2-year-old a lot. We started when he was about 10 months old, and we use an I-bert, which is one of those green seats that goes on the front of your bike.  He loves it, and chatters and points at stuff constantly.

A Seattle dad said this: “I bike with my 2-year-old daughter onboard my bike. Every day we ride from Capitol Hill to downtown, where I drop her off at preschool before continuing on to my work in Columbia City. Our commute is the highlight of our day.”

A sense of place

Seeing things along the way isn’t just fun. Parents tell me that their kids are connecting with the community in new ways and getting to know the people, geography, and landmarks of their neighborhoods.

Research bears this out: Kids who are driven around in cars most of the time rather than walking or biking aren’t as likely to know their way around in their own neighborhoods — and they also feel less emotionally connected to their communities.

Think about it: Unlike traveling by car, when you’re on your bike you can easily stop and smell the roses (literally!) — or stop at a park, or a neighbor’s garden for a chat, or a food stand for a bite. Even when you’re zooming along you’re still going at a pace where you can take in sights and smells.

And the kids of die-hard parents get to experience their communities in all kinds of weather!

Madi Carlson and sons Brandt, 5, and Rijder, 2, bike through the snow.

Gearing up

I must admit, some of those fancy long-tail set-ups and Euro-style (or imported) box rigs and cargo bikes are pretty alluring. If I were planning on biking more exclusively with my tot (or if I had more than one kid), I’d probably consider the investment. But for hilly Seattle commutes, I think my mantra will be to keep it simple (and as light as possible!).

The double kickstand should be standard issue (my bike doesn’t have one at all, making it difficult — but not impossible — to get the kid in her seat without another adult to help.)

Sun and rain shields, anyone?

Theo, 1, in front, and Lennon, 3, in back.

A set-up where you can carry kids and stuff is essential for just about any biking mom or dad, though. Every parent knows that you don’t go anywhere with small children without plenty of provisions. And if you want to do your grocery shopping and other errands with kids in tow, a tough bike, solid wheels, and extra cargo space becomes even more important.

More than two kids? You probably need a special set-up!

Safety on wheels

Obviously, parents who bike with kids in tow need to be even more cautious than when they ride solo — your reflexes are the same but you just aren’t as agile. The bike rides differently when you’re hauling a trailer or balancing a 35-pound kid on the rear rack or handle bars.

Following the rules of the road, taking the route with a bike lane (or path), avoiding rush hour, and riding quieter streets seem sensible to me — especially as a newbie. Making sure your gear is intact and installed to the exact manufacturer’s specifications is a must.

Protect your melon!

And properly fitted helmets are a no-brainer (excuse the pun.)

A word to the wise: Dress in bright colors, use lights and reflectors, flags, and whatever else you can to be highly visible. A couple parents told me that car drivers are more cautious when they see that you have a kid on board.

One mom said that when she’s pulling the trailer, cars give her an extra-wide berth. Another dad told me, “It is also a great way of reducing any bike/car friction. Once people see [my son] up front, we’re usually smiled at.”

As Yes! magazine reported recently, “in 1969, according to the National Center for Safe Routes to School, 48 percent of kids aged 5 to 14 regularly walked or biked to school. In 2009, it was just 13 percent.” Getting kids on bikes early in life is probably one way to get a generation riding to school again. But, as Yes! points out, “a major reason for the [dwindling numbers] is that parents don’t feel safe letting their kids bike on their own.”

Here’s a cool safety idea for older kids: bike trains, “in which an adult chaperone rides a predetermined route, picking up children along the way.” This idea builds on the bike culture that so many parents with tots hope to instill early in their kids — health, community, stewardship:

Bike-to-school programs address large global issues from climate change to childhood obesity. With each group ride, children are empowered to take charge of their own transportation — they learn to be more confident cyclists, and that they don’t have to depend on cars to get around. They (and their parents) learn which of their classmates live nearby, making it easier to build networks for friendship and support.

And there’s a burgeoning bike train movement at several Seattle schools. (Is there one in your town? Let me know!)

Community resources

As one mom pointed out to me, “there are lots of resources and a great community in Seattle for those who want to ride bikes with children. From the Seward Park Bike Sundays to local bloggers and organized kid rides, you will find the support you want!” She’s right. I unwittingly entered a welcoming, helpful, and enthusiastic world of bike parents when I started researching this post.

As for online resources, there are old standbys like Bike Portland and Seattle Bike Blog. In Seattle, there’s also Totcycle, an informative blog about all things biking-with-kids, especially having your kid on your bike — by a local pediatrician and his wife (parents of two).

There’s also Seattle’s bike blogger and bike-kid commuter, Davey Oil. He also works at Bike Works, a nonprofit bike shop and community-building organization that’s beginning to offer a whole suite of programs designed to encourage parents to go by bike. (Stay tuned).

There are community rides as well, like the monthly Kidical Mass — a “fun, safe, easygoing, and law-abiding family bike ride for kids of all ages.” Apparently it started in 2008 in Eugene, Ore., and has since spread to other places (including Seattle).

Seattle’s not alone. Check out this Sacramento, Calif., family’s biking blog, Tiny Helmets Big Bikes. They link to local activities for biking families. And I’m sure there are other community events and resources across Oregon, British Columbia, Idaho, and Washington. (Send me links if you know of any!)

Love at first bike

One major reason to bike en familia: Kids love it! One mom reported that her son “loved riding so much that he typically left his helmet on for hours after a ride!”

A father of twin boys described how it made the morning routine more fun for the kids:

Best benefit: No matter how crabby or aggravated anybody is when we leave the apartment, we’re all happy and having fun together by the time we roll up to the school.

Riding in the bike trailer: even more fun with your twin brother.

And another parent told me, “[Our toddler] was really scared at first, then quickly loved biking. His very first crying fit — not related to sleep, food, or poop — was when we pulled him off of the bike for the first time; he had quickly become smitten.”

Photo by Brice Maryman.

Street smarts

Plus, parents report that even when they’re riding as passengers, kids learn some skills that make it easier to transition to their own bikes. Here’s how blogger Kelly Hogaboom described it:

I really do think the kids not only learn to balance, but also learn a lot of cycling habits (good or bad). My daughter knew how to shoulder check and use arm signals etc. right away, the minute she started riding her own bike. Both kids were a wee bit wobbly but had mastered bike riding by the end of one day on their own, no training wheels.

And according to a biking parent with older kids, riding builds confidence. It’s a big deal “when a 6- or 7-year old discovers they can ride up a hill that adults walk their bikes up (they have superhuman power-to-weight ratios), or when a 5-year-old gets his training wheels off.” One of his kids is also “keenly interested in how his drivetrain works.” The other, whose balance and coordination used to be a source of concern for his teachers, “now prides himself in the length and lateral drift of his skids. It seems worth the extra $40/year for new tires.”

Like many of the parents I talked to, I want to instill an active way of life in my daughter (and a sense of freedom from cars). We definitely drive her around more often than not, but she’d prefer the bus any day. And since she could barely even talk she’s pointed at every cyclist we see and said “Mama!” (Which makes a bike-commuting mother’s heart swell with pride, as you can imagine!)

My toddler is terribly excited by the idea of riding with me.

Some good friends loaned us a rear rack seat that appears to be as skookum as they come. And the look on my daughter’s face when she saw the seat installed on my bike was about as joyous as I’ve ever seen. On our first test ride on the Fourth of July, she kept yelling, “Faster, Mama! Faster!”

We’ll be getting the hang of it on more leisurely rides this summer, and I can already tell that we’ll enjoy our bike commutes together when she starts preschool this fall.

The author and her daughter, Audrey, getting ready for their first ride.

The City of New York was very excited about the partnership it made with Citi for the launch of Citi Bike — a program that will eventually put 10,000 bikes on the streets of New York (well, mostly Manhattan). And New Yorkers seem excited about it too, though they will undoubtedly soon be cranky.

But the launch date for Citi Bike has been pushed back for at least a month, thanks to the bicycle’s longest-standing enemy: more modern technology.

From the Times:

On Thursday … Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg offered a culprit: computer problems.

“Its software isn’t working yet,” he told reporters at a groundbreaking ceremony in West Harlem. “And just rest assured we’re not going to put out any program here that doesn’t work.”

Bah! Computers! Is there nothing you won’t ruin?


In this clip, replace the word “open” with “launch,” the words “pod bay doors” with “Citi Bike program,” and “HAL” with “Citi Bike software technology.”

All involved seem confident that the program will launch before the end of the summer. Which is obviously preferable, given that it is more fun to ride bicycles in good weather than in snowstorms. But, then, New York may not need to worry about snowstorms much, either.

Coworkers Jason Anello and Anna Boyarsky set up a bike-in movie theater in Brooklyn last year, and now they want to do it again — but bigger, better, and bicoastal. They’re raising funds on Kickstarter for permits and licensing, because the show itself won’t make any money: The plan is for tickets to be completely free, so that everyone in the community can enjoy.

Kickstarter rewards range from a ticket “hand drawn by our children and/or cats” to a tour of all the Bike-In-Theater shows, which will be in New York and San Francisco. They do not include the chance to pick which movie is showing, which I think would be an awesome incentive, but whatever, it’s not my theater (and apparently they watched Ferris Bueller’s Day Off last year so they have taste).

Unlike a drive-in, you don’t actually sit in your vehicle the whole time you’re watching the movie, so how is a bike-in theater different from other “free movie in the park” style showings? Well, first, it’s in an alley, which is less comfortable than grass but also has fewer bugs. But it also encourages using your bike to get to fun events, which we’re always in favor o. Also, they seem to have cookies.

If you live in a city with a thriving streetcar system, chances are you live in Europe and your burg is pretty bike-friendly anyway. But you have to admit that sticking to the streetcar tracks would make it much less likely for you to be hit by a car, while simultaneously making it much more likely for you to be hit by a streetcar. If that sounds like fun, or if you’ve just always wanted to “ride the rails” but don’t actually understand what those words mean, you can take inspiration from this project by German urban collective We Are Visual.

The Bahnradbahnrad (trainbiketrainbike) basically just adds training wheels (ha ha, get it? TRAINing wheels?), so the bike can slide through the streetcar’s track groove without losing stability. Off the track, you will look like a 6-year-old. But on the tracks, you’ll be able to get anywhere you might want to go — streetcars hit most of a metropolis’ best offerings — while being relatively unmolested by everything besides large multi-car vehicles bearing down on you. But hey, they run on a schedule, and they have to stop — you can outrun a silly little train, right? Go find out!*

* Don’t go find out.