Cargo 301: Cargo Bikes For Families
Here in the shop by far the majority of cargo bikes we sell are to young families seeking a healthier, lower-impact way to get around town. This fills our team with great pride, not just as cycling advocates, but as cargo bikers ourselves. Over the years we've learned some critical lessons about riding around with the kiddos in tow we hope will help you enjoy your riding every day.
Protected heads and strapped in kids, all ready to roll!
Step 1: Strap In For Safety
Getting everyone safely aboard your cargo bike is always priority number 1. Start with a child seat approved for your bike and rack, such as a compatible Yepp Maxi seat. Follow the exact seat’s age, weight and height limits, and make sure your child can sit upright unaided and wear a properly fitted helmet. A maximum weight of 22 kg applies to the Yepp Maxi; age alone does not tell you whether a child fits. Some longtails can carry two child seats, but check the bike, rack, seat and adapter compatibility before fitting them.
If you are considering carrying a child under one year old, speak with your paediatrician and check the bike and child-seat manufacturer’s instructions first. Do not improvise a car-seat mount in a cargo box. Only use an infant-carrying system explicitly approved for the bike and the child’s age and size; a rain cover does not make an unsuitable seating setup safe.
Once your kids are out of their child's seat it's time to size up their riding solution. At this point, they're likely riding on their own just not quite confidently enough for daily commuting, that's why many of these solutions engage passengers almost like they're a second rider with seats and hold on bars that put them in a riding-like position. This is most evident with long tails where high-backed seats are replaced with soft spots to sit on, running boards to put feet on, and bars to hold on to.
Some longtails can combine a child seat with a seat for an older passenger. Others can carry two older children with the correct seating, handholds, foot supports and wheel protection. Check the manufacturer’s passenger guide for your exact bike and model year: a surround such as Yuba Monkey Bars is not a replacement for a child-seat harness. Stay within the bike’s total load limit and each rack and accessory limit, counting the rider, passengers, cargo and fitted equipment.
For front-loaders and cargo trikes, use the manufacturer’s dedicated passenger seats and harnesses. The number of passengers depends on the exact bike, seating kit and weight limits. Some models can combine front seating with a rear child seat, but ask us to check the complete setup rather than assuming every cargo box or rear rack is passenger-ready.
Step 2: Separate Your Cargo
With our years of cargo-carrying experience, we've had some hard-learned lessons about cargo organization and separation. Clearly, there are two things you'll be hauling kids and cargo (goods for work, the days shopping, picnic supplies, sports gear, extra nappies, you name it). By and large, you want these to have their own dedicated areas on the bike.
This is one reason why we're fervent advocates for front cargo trays on longtail bikes. There may be plenty of room out back there to affix a couple of pannier bags for your shopping, but a bunch of bruised apples and crushed milk cartons (not to mention some awkward riding positions for your passengers) have sent us looking for a better solution. That solution almost always is a front cargo tray with a yuba grab and go bag. Fortunately, most of our longtails have dedicated high-capacity trays that go on in a breeze and look great on the bike. This gives you a heap of protected carrying space for just about anything you'll want to carry on a regular basis. It also ensures your bike is weighted more evenly, front to back.
It's worth pausing for a minute here to address the myriad of specific rear cargo bags for different long tails. The Tern GSD, Benno Boost, and Yuba Spicy Curry all have bags specifically designed to make the most of their long rear racks. Whether bags can be used alongside passengers depends on the exact bike, bags and seating setup. Follow the manufacturer’s guidance on loading or folding them when passengers are aboard. Use the bike manufacturer’s approved foot and leg protection, foot supports and handholds whenever you carry passengers. Bags only count as wheel protection where the manufacturer explicitly approves that exact setup; ordinary panniers are not a substitute for guards.
For front-loaders, the problem is reversed if a bit minimized, with passengers typically riding along upfront. The easiest way to add extra cargo space is to throw a couple of waterproof pannier bags on the rear rack that can otherwise go overlooked. That said, if your rear rack is otherwise spoken for there usually is enough room to throw a storage crate in the front of the box with legroom to spare for your passengers.
Separate cargo and a bit of cold-weather gear, make riding every day a breeze.
Step 3: Gearing Up To Ride Every Day
 While many families add a cargo bike to their household as a secondary vehicle, deferring to the car or public transit when the weather turns nasty, a little advanced prep can have you riding comfortably in a surprisingly wide range of weather. This can be critical to increasing the utility and enjoyment of your bike; plus, as we've found, the kiddos are usually the heartiest riders of the bunch.
First things first though, helmets. Every rider and passenger should have an approved, properly fitted cycle helmet with the straps fastened. Being able to hold their head up is not, on its own, a sign that a child is ready to ride as a passenger. Check the seat and helmet instructions and, for children under one, seek your paediatrician’s advice. Measure head circumference just above the eyebrows around the widest part of the head, then check the fit in person.
A lid like the Giro Scamp II is designed for small heads. Choose the size using the current helmet’s label and fit guide, rather than age alone. The helmet should sit level and snug without rocking, with room to adjust as your child grows.
As for weathering the elements, you'll want to make sure all your riders have a good quick-dry raincoat and a pair of gloves, along with some emergency rain pants for you. It can be quite advantageous to look for options that collapse down quite small and dedicate a part of your porteur or pannier bags solely to their storage, that way you won't get caught out by an unexpected squall. For many families, it may make sense to use existing rain gear during the winter season and use your collapsable gear for shoulder seasons and summer rains.
 Step 4: Getting In For Maintenance
Just like the family car, keeping your cargo bike in tip-top shape is critical for longevity, safety, and enjoyment. For everyday riders, we recommend a full service every 6 months, with a quick check on consumables every 3 months or 1000km (read more about this in our cargo bike maintenance post).
We know how hectic schedules can get between school, work and sports practice. Contact our team to check current opening hours and arrange your service drop-off and collection before you make the trip.
That's it, a few easy steps and your family is ready to roll on your new cargo bike! Thanks for reading, and if you have any specific questions about your cargo setup or are curious about what we'd recommend for your ride and family don't hesitate to give us a bell.
