Cargo bike with child: Is it worth buying in the city?

They are called Bakfiets, Muli or Urban Arrow: cargo bikes are the new car – at least in big cities like Hamburg. Reason enough to take a closer look at these environmentally friendly means of transport. My family and I subjected the “Transporter2 65” from Riese&Müller to a long-term test. The German bicycle manufacturer specializes in e-bikes, cargo bikes and folding bikes. The company, with headquarters and production facilities in Mühltal, was originally founded in 1993 by Markus Riese and Heiko Müller as a garage company.

Getting around in Hamburg during rush hour is exhausting: congested subways, delayed buses, cars that drive so slowly that you can get there faster if you’re walking. The only way to get around fairly smoothly is by bike. But what do you do if you have a child? Our daughter is four years old and occasionally rides her bike by herself. In the morning, however, things usually have to go quickly: getting up, having breakfast, getting dressed, sometimes the simplest things can put family harmony at risk. Transporting your child to daycare should therefore be effortless and without any major dramas. It seems to work well for other parents, who transport their child on a cargo bike. Is this an alternative for us too?

The “Transporter2 65” is by no means a bargain: with full equipment, i.e. transport box, bench seat for two children, hood, charger, lock chain and two keys, the price comes to a hefty 7128.30 euros. You can get a used small car for that price. The competitor brands are also in the higher price segment. Bakfiets are available from 5500 euros, Urban Arrows from 6000 euros. Depending on the equipment, a few hundred euros more are added.

But how does the cargo bike perform in the big city? Is it really suitable as a car replacement? And does it work for a family with a child?

What is a cargo bike good for?

To get straight to the point, I don’t like to get bogged down in technical details. If the overall concept is right, including practicality and a fun driving experience, I’m quickly enthusiastic. First impression: The built-in motor is powerful and purrs like a kitten. The support is noticeable and really makes driving a pleasure. Other drivers sometimes complain that you can’t repair the bike yourself and have to go to special “authorized workshops”. But that doesn’t affect me personally because I couldn’t even fix a flat tire, let alone modify the steering.

Speaking of modifications: After about 100 kilometers we had the first bug. It rattled, the bike no longer rode as usual. Something had warped. “That’s normal,” said our local bike mechanic. “With new bikes you sometimes have to make adjustments.” It’s good that we don’t live too far from the local bike shop. It becomes problematic, however, when you have to travel a long distance to get first aid for your bike.

Another point to consider is the space you need for a cargo bike. We’re lucky: our apartment has a garage, too small for a car, but just right for the cargo bike – even if we had to make room there first. You end up hoarding quite a lot over a certain period of time.

The first ride

The first ride is a bit wobbly: As the center of gravity shifts forward because of the transport box, you first have to find your balance. Switching back to a normal bike is also difficult because the center of gravity is then further back again. You need a good sense of balance and a talent for balance. As with everything in life.

It only takes a few minutes and I’m ready to go on the cargo bike. Our daughter is different, she looks at the new vehicle skeptically at first. What was wrong with the child seat attachment on mom’s bike, she complains. Or with the car, which is great for transporting things, and “Bibi and Tina” is playing on repeat? The fact that mom arrives at the daycare center drenched in sweat and out of breath with 20 kilos on the luggage rack – or that she doesn’t feel like listening to children’s songs in rush hour traffic – doesn’t really matter to the child.

But then she lets herself be persuaded and we set off on our first journey with cargo (the child). The box is equipped with a side door that makes it easier for our daughter to get in and out. She loves opening the door herself with quick movements. Don’t worry, she can’t unlock the door from the inside, she is of course buckled in. The footwell can be used for older children’s legs or as a separate storage space for bags and shopping.

The child’s hood is already fitted, the plastic windows on the sides can be opened with a zip and attached to the roof with Velcro. But woe betide me if I do it wrong. My daughter doesn’t like the fact that I only have one of the two open; she wants full airflow. So I stop on the side of the road, get out, use jacking aid to lift the centre stand and open the second side window. Child is happy and the journey continues. On a busy road where we would normally be stuck in a traffic jam, we simply whizz past the cars. My daughter waves to each driver with a big smile on her face. A feeling of happiness comes over me, we are finally faster than the drivers, yay!

We – and about 20 other parents – can park the cargo bike in front of the daycare without any problems and lock it with a baker’s lock, which is actually called that because you only park it for a few minutes, for example to quickly get some bread rolls. In my case, it should be called a daycare lock. If you park for a longer period of time, there is also a chain lock that you can attach to a tree or a post. Safety comes first. “So, are you in the cargo bike game now?” a mother asks me. “At least we’re trying,” I answer her and hand the child over to the teacher.

The equipment

Return journey, this time without cargo. It’s really fun, and instead of the previous 15 minutes by car, we now only need exactly six minutes to get to the daycare center when all the traffic lights are green. Back at home, I take a closer look at the details of the bike: There’s a small net in the child’s hood in which I store my keys, my cell phone or my daughter’s Picasso-like paintings after daycare.

Probably nothing new for e-bike riders, but this is my first time: the bike is equipped with a small display that shows me how fast I’m going, how much distance I’ve already covered in total, and how long my battery will last. Particularly important for the ride to daycare: the time is shown – and depending on how late we are, we have to pedal more or less. I cycle at an average speed of around 25 kilometers per hour, my husband cycles at a more leisurely 15 kilometers per hour, and I rarely miss a race on conventional bikes. The wind and the effortless movement also give me a feeling of freedom that you rarely feel in the big city.

The battery charge level is displayed in percent; if it drops below 30 percent, I start to sweat, wondering whether I can even manage the journey. I have never broken down, and the battery is fully charged again in just a few hours. I can also choose between different support modes: Eco, Auto, Sport or Turbo. The higher the power, the faster the battery will run out. We charge about once a week if we only go to daycare (six kilometers round trip). If we drive longer distances, the charging frequency increases.

The bike must also be beautiful

The bike rides like a comfortable Dutch bike with a wide handlebar and comfortable seat, but of course you can travel faster with the motor than with a conventional bike. Good to know: the handlebar and seat can be adjusted variably so that several people can take turns riding the bike. Of course, in the big city, the look also plays a certain role, the bike has to be nice. I am a big advocate of minimalism, which is why the white painted frame and the black equipment quickly won me over. No frills, I like that.

Time flies far too quickly in everyday life with a job and a child, and I’m already rushing to daycare again. Stress, the clock shows that I’m already ten minutes late. When I arrive, my daughter practically begs me to let her friend go with her. No problem, I say, after all, the bench has two seats and two seatbelts. I realize that two 20 kilograms are a bit more difficult, but this challenge is also overcome in no time. The children laugh, my hair blows in the wind, I feel like I’m in a “Grace Kelly” film. Oh, exercise can be so beautiful.

Conclusion

For those who can afford it financially, a cargo bike offers a sustainable and flexible solution for everyday urban life. There are many alternatives on the market, which are also more cost-effective depending on the equipment. It is worth comparing prices and looking for leasing options, for example through your employer and Jobrad. Be sure to take a test ride before buying. The iron rule is: never buy a cargo bike without having test-driven it.

After more than 650 kilometers of riding, we can say that the bike is right for our needs: powerful motor, long range and cool details like the door on the transport box and a display that summarizes all the trip information. And the main argument: we’ve left the car at home since then – and overtake everyone else who is stuck in the urban jungle. Of course, the test took place in the summer, so it would be interesting to see whether we would also ride the cargo bike through rain and mud. For those who sit far too much during the day, the exercise on the bike is a blessing. And there’s no shortage of fun either. Even my husband, who isn’t much of a couch potato, is getting more and more enthusiastic about the cargo bike every day. We now affectionately call the bike “Lasti”. And the child also gets his daily dose of fresh air.

Transparency note: The cargo bike was provided by Riese&Müller for the test period.