Biking with Toddlers

The choices for gear are numerous – from seats attached to a parent’s bike for one child, to carts attached to the front or back of a parent’s bike that will hold two children to cargo-style bikes that can hold three kids.

All offer advantages and disadvantages. Seats on the parent’s bike, for instance, keep the kids close, but make the bike more difficult to balance. If a toddler will be riding in a seat attached to a parent’s bike, make sure the seat and the rack it’s sitting on are secured to the bike. We suggest spending the extra money to get the child seat professionally installed at a bike retailer.

Families we know enjoy the iBert Safe-T-Seat (up to 38 lbs.) mounted to the front of the bike and the Topeak baby carrier (up to 48 lbs.) on the back of the bike. Bike carts or trailers put the children behind or in front of the bike rider and at a different eye-level, but they are less likely to tip in an accident and they’re easier to manage with two kids. Families we know like the Burley Kids’ Honey Bee trailer (up to 100 lbs.). Cargo bikes are more expensive than the other options, but they have a sturdy frame, wider tires and good balance for hauling a heavier load. A bike retailer can help you sort out the pros and cons and find the right bike carrier for your family.

Biking with Young Children

If children aren’t quite ready to navigate on their own, a Trail-Gator tow bar may be the solution; it connects an adult bike and a child’s bike and lifts the front wheels of a child’s bike to stabilize it. As children grow and gain confidence, parents can detach the tow bar and everyone can ride independently.

Pedal trailers, which have only one wheel and a seat, also attach to an adult bike with a bar, and allow the child to pedal as the parent tows. 

If children are graduating to their own bikes, make sure they’re able to handle them well. It’s best to start out in a driveway or around a neighborhood clubhouse, a flat area with no inclines until they get the hang of it, before venturing to a greenway.

One mistake parents sometimes make is to buy a bike that’s a little too big for their child, thinking the child will grow into it, says Jeremy Leifheit with Atlanta Cycling in Vinings and Ansley Mall. “A bike that’s too big can also be unsafe,” he says. “If you buy a quality bike, it will have some resale value or you can pass it along from child to child.”

A good bike is not as expensive as you might think. A 12-inch beginner bike for a 2- to 3-year-old costs about $170 and comes with training wheels.

Discuss the rules of the road and itinerary for the ride before the family sets out, Leifheit says. Let children know they might encounter other bikers or people walking, running or on roller blades; some of them might be using headphones and not able to hear someone approaching from behind. Make sure the kids know how to respond and avoid accidents.