Thread by @MrBikesABunch

Yesterday I rolled over 1,000 km on our #CargoBike since installing the electric assist on it in April. This thread is an ode to my favourite vehicle with some lessons, experiences and insights. CC @bikeshopgirlcom @urkaiinc

We put the electric assist on this bike because we were talking about needing another vehicle. With 2 working parents and 2 young kids, there’s a lot of travel that happens in our house. The cargo bike has entirely eliminated that conversation.

When I tell people I’ve put a thousand km on, they’re stunned. But that’s almost all in-town travel. Short trips, 2-6 km. Nothing in #Collingwood is far away - we’re very privileged in that way. We also have great trails and calm residential streets to ride on. So it’s safe.

For me the most important aspect is how much my kids love it. They would pick the bike 100% of the time over the car. We can listen to music, talk about what we see and generally enjoy being in one another’s company. They’re active participants as we travel.

Putting the electric assist on it completely changed my relationship with this bike. Some days before the assist it was a real slog. Riding a 135lb bike with a huge box on the front into a 40km/h wind on a February day up a slight hill? Not fun.

The assist gets rid of that.

Now it’s a pure joy to ride. It’s like having that same wind at your back.
All. The. Time.
I’m still pedaling and being active, but I’m not an out-of-breath mess when I get my kids to school or daycare anymore. It makes every trip fun.

When I say every trip, I mean it. I haven’t had a single ride in the 5 months since I electrified the bike that didn’t bring a smile to my face. Not one. It is a consistent source of joy and energy in my day.

The other thing that makes it so joyful? The connectedness that I feel to my community. People know me even if they’ve never met me. They know my bike, they know how I get around & they often ask me about it.

If you don’t love talking to your neighbours, don’t get a cargo bike.

The cover keeps my kids warm and dry, even in the harshest conditions. And I dress for the weather. Once you start pedaling, you warm up quick so winter won’t stop us. 3 wheels makes it stable on ice and snow, which is nice.

People assume I’ll park it for the winter, which I find odd. We live in a ski town! People here voluntarily go outside in the winter to do active things, so why not keep your travel around town active in nature too? While I wish our trails were cleared, winter is still great.

So yeah, in closing, I ♥️♥️♥️ my #CargoBike.
It saves me time and money.
It gives me more quality time with my kids.
It connects me with my community.
It keeps me active every day.
They’re the electric vehicles we SHOULD be subsiding and incentivizing. They can change the world.