Bike BetteR
22
PR: You’ve mentioned that your dream bike is a cargo bike.
HP: Yes. Preferably one of those Dutch ones with
the wood boxes where the kids are in the front and
the mom is in the back. There is also an American made
bike by Madsen Cycles with a big plastic bucket that
seats kids in the back. I have seen two moms ride those
here in town bringing their kids to school. I would sell my
car to get that bike, but I need to keep the Subaru because
that’s our adventure vehicle, to carry the canoe and stuff.
Also, the smallest bike helmet did not fit Astrid until she was nine months old. If I had a bucket or box bike I could have put her car seat in that. So there was a period of nine months where I could not go riding with Astrid. So that’s another thing I would say to prepare for if you want to ride. Do what it takes.
PR: How do you carry grocery bags and such now?
HP: I use my bike trailer to put bags in when we bike to Trader Joe’s.
PR: What does Astrid think about riding?
HP: She loves it! She consistently cooperates getting strapped into the bike seat, and I cannot say the same for all of the times that I have to secure her in her stroller, car seat, or high chair. With the bike seat I never get a fight; she's ready to go. She makes my ride so much more enjoyable. It’s like riding a tandem bike with the person you love. We sing. We talk about the things we see.
PR: What advice would you give to others considering making that first trip out for an errand or to work?
HP: If you’re willing to take that first step but you’re not sure where to go, just look at the list on the Bike Baton Rouge website of the bike friendly businesses that have racks and just try out some of those. Making that first trip is going to make you so much more confident about thinking of your own ways of using your bike for transportation.
PR: Really good tip! Thanks for taking time to hang out and chat.
HP: It’s been so much fun. I realized while we were talking how much I love to talk about bike stuff!