SF families tell us how it's done

by Michelle Stephens

Resisting Mainstream Myths
The Right Stuff
A Real Alternative

As driving becomes an ever increasing hassle, gas prices begin to reflect their true cost, and SFBC members continue their work improving the biking experience in San Francisco, more people are turning to biking as a means of daily transportation.

And it's not just twenty-somethings in spandex: biking is the transportation of choice for a growing number of urban families who'd rather spend time with their kids than their car.

But once you have kids you have to have a car, right? And what about all the stuff? Isn't it just too much trouble?

James and Ann, parents of Josie, age five, disagree with conventional wisdom: "It's fun, it's easy, it's convenient, it's environmentally-friendly, and most weekends, we don't need a car!"

James, Ann, and Josie also find it easy to enjoy recreational rides every weekend. "When Josie was small, we would just throw the diaper bag in the trailer and we were off," says Ann. They've biked to many of San Francisco's natural attractions, including across the Golden Gate Bridge. One of their favorites is biking to Giants games: "We love the valet bike parking!"

The greatest benefit in family biking, whether commuting or rec riding, is quality time. Lynda, who lives in the Marina and is the mother of Eric, 13, explains, "It's a way to spend time with my son. We have something we can do together, but still be independent."

Resisting Mainstream Myths

One of the biggest hurdles facing families on their daily rides is public perception. "A lot of people ask me if I'm sure it's safe. I get a lot of judgmental looks," explains Katy. Katy, her husband Peter, and their two children, William, four and a half years old, and Jessica, four months, are a carfree family that live in the Duboce Triangle. They travel everywhere by bike, except in inclement weather.

"Our current car culture is one of aggressive and dangerous driving," says Peter. "That's not a reason not to ride, that's a reason to advocate for slower streets. But every family has to decide what works for them. It's different for everyone."

Ironically, we're all more likely to be hurt in an automobile than on a bike. Automobile accidents are the leading cause of unintentional injury-related death for children under the age of 15. Add to that the real health concerns facing children who don't get enough physical activity, and biking provides too many benefits to be dismissed on safety concerns alone.

The Right Stuff

One of the considerations every family makes in deciding to ride is the safety and ease of use of family biking equipment. The main ways of biking with "dependent" kids (kids who aren't riding their own bike) are by means of a trailer, "trail-abike," or a rear rack- or top tube, center-mounted child seat.

Ethan Derner, father of 14-month-old Veronica and Alamo Square resident, chose the center-mounted seat, because he liked being able to see his daughter. "I saw this seat in Europe and it just made sense. It offers a better center of gravity than the rear-mount seats and it allows Veronica to see where we're going," Ethan says. Whether using a center or rearmounted seat, the child should be old enough to hold their head up on their own.

On recreational rides, Peter and Katy let William ride his own bike. When commuting, it's different.

"William's not old enough to commute on his own bike. We tried the trail-a- bike, but found it too independent and wobbly. The same with the Burley [trailer]," Peter says. So William sits on an Xtracycle frame extension on Peter's commute bike, fully outfitted with his own handlebars, foot platforms, and horn.

James, Ann and Josie live in the Inner Richmond, and at least once a week, James and Josie commute to her SOMA preschool by bike. "Josie started in a Burley [trailer]," James recalls. "Her car seat fit in it perfectly. We used the strap in the trailer to secure the seat and then we just used the car seat to secure Josie."

Josie now commutes on a trail-a-bike. "It's a great way to transition Josie to her own bike and to teach her proper signaling. It's a great learning opportunity," James says.

Proper safety equipment is vital. A crash-tested and approved helmet is a must, for riders of all ages. Other than that, the families take the same precautions they do when riding solo. "We don't bike in a heavy rain, but otherwise, we bike every day," Peter says.

In addition to the weather, families choose their routes thoughtfully, often consulting the SF Bike Map. (Check it out at sfbike.org/maps). "If there's a bike path, we'll use it; otherwise, we consider the traffic," James explains. "If the cars aren't too fast, we'll just take the lane."

A Real Alternative

Biking in the city isn't just a great option for grown up commuters - it's a practical and healthy way for families to get around the city. The economic, environmental, and relational benefits just can't be beat by slow and stuffy car travel. Family biking is as much about the journey as it is the destination.

Originally published in the June/July 2006 Tube Times (Adobe PDF, 644k)