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When I started reviewing electric cargo bikes years ago, they were expensive, niche vehicles for a specific subset of eccentric people. Today, electric bikes are everywhere. But there’s one demographic for whom an electric bike is especially useful — parents.
Parents, especially moms, travel a lot. In addition to a full-time job, I have a 4-year-old and a 7-year-old. On any given day, I’m dropping them off at school and running back home to get on the computer, shuttling them to playdates, or volunteering at events. Without a motor on my bike, I simply wouldn’t have the muscle power to carry my kids and tote all their stuff. I’d need a car.
An ebike changed everything for me. It turned my endless boring errands into windswept opportunities to simultaneously work out, take my kids on a joyride, and stop and chat with our neighbors. I love my electric cargo bike, probably a little too much. If you’re thinking about taking the plunge, here are a few tips and tricks I’ve learned along the way.
Don’t see anything you need here? Check out our guides to the Best Bike Accessories or How to Layer Clothing.
Pick Your Ride
Photograph: Tern
Bikes are incredibly personal. Which bike is best for you depends on a number of factors, like your budget, how big and strong you are (sorry), and the terrain and traffic around your house.
In general, cargo bikes come in two flavors. A mid- or longtail has an extended rear rack to attach seats or panniers, while a bakfiets or a Long John suspends a cargo box between the rider and the front wheel. I ride a Tern GSD S00 (8/10, WIRED Recommends), which is a mid-tail bike. It has a maximum weight capacity of around 450 pounds, and it’s not very long, which means that it can’t carry as much stuff as easily as a bakfiets, but it’s lighter and more maneuverable. If you live in a flat area with roads that are in good condition, I’d recommend a bakfiets; most people just throw garden tools and children into the box.
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