Biking with Littles!

Yuba cargo bike with two kids from https://nateandrachael.com/gear-options-for-biking-with-kids/

Now that spring is near, i'm excited to write about biking with kids. I have no shame in saying we're a fair weather biking family, but biking around town in our cargo bike has eliminated our need for a second car. This is a topic I'm very passionate about because I love to get around town without a car and my first baby HATED the car seat for the first 3 years of his life. If you are thinking about biking with your baby or toddler, here's some helpful information about what you need to know about biking with littles in MA.

Safety First!

Neck Strength

When can you start biking with a baby? I was very enthusiastic about this, but babies need a minimum amount of core strength before they can safely ride, especially with the bumpy road conditions around MA. Before you head out on your adventure, check with your pediatrician about your baby's core strength and neck stability. Babies (kids under 12 m) need to a certain amount of neck strength before they can safely wear a helmet, and they also need to be able to withstand any bouncing on the ride. If your baby can't sit independently, they can likely not ride in a 5 point harness bike seat. I was told constantly before leaving the hospital "Do not shake the baby" and the same applies here for the baby being roughly bounced on a bike or trailer. If you are very eager to bike with your baby early, there are car seat adapters for infant bucket car seats, and specially made bike seats made for cargo bikes which i'll mention briefly at the end.

Helmets

There are two factors in getting a helmet for littles, and the most important is to get a good fit on the helmet (and they really can change helmet sizes quickly!) https://www.seattlechildrens.org/health-safety/injury-prevention/bike-helmet-safety/ has a great youtube video on how to check helmet fit. The other less important feature that comes with toddler helmets is MIPS: https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/what-is-mips.html

Harnesses

If you have a toddler, the most secure way to have them on the bike is with a 5 point harness, much like the upright carseats. There are so many great seat options that mount on various parts of the bike, and a lot have pros and cons. If you are interested in indepth comparison of products, check out the two wheeling tots website linked in further reading.

Bike Laws in MA

OK, let's talk about what's legal in MA in terms of biking with a baby next. Before they turn 1, in MA it is illegal to put your baby on a bike (which would be a setup like a bike seat mounted on a bike frame or bike rack). However, it is legal to bike with a baby in an enclosure such as a bike trailer (see https://www.boston.gov/departments/boston-bikes/bike-laws-boston) There are infant car seat adapters to put into the box of a bakfiets style cargo bike, but it is questionably legal as to whether this is "on" or "in" and with the very bumpy roads in the area, you should still exercise a lot of caution to do this. The lending cargo bike lending library (see more below) does not allow babies in car seat adapters on their bikes.

For an overview on how to take your littles along with you now that you generally know saftey, there are really 3 options for kids who can't pedal on their own: bike seats (mounted on the back or front or frame. this is a great guide to see what's compatible with your bike), trailers, or cargo bikes. If you are just starting your research, the link on the post photo has a good overview of the experience of each, and if you're ready to go shopping, https://www.twowheelingtots.com has great reviews for the different options.

Cargo Bikes

I'll put a special call out to the very active local cargo bike community. This group in particular organizes family bike rides with volunteers at lane crossing to help make the large group ride safe for littles: https://www.familybikeride.org If you decide the trailer is too bumpy for you and you'd like to bike with your kids closer, they also offer cargo bike test ride events where other owners let you try out their bikes to see what configuration works for you. I highly recommend this if you are cargo bike curious. You can find many members of these groups in facebook group Cargo Bikes of Camberville and in discord server Community Pedal Power. Community Pedal Power also has a free lending library where you can request a loan. More information on their website.

Teaching your kid to ride a bike

Two wheeling tots also has a great guide on how to teach your little to ride a bike. If you decide you'd like someone else to teach your kid to ride a bike, did you know there are also local bike school options! https://www.bicycleridingschool.org

Here's some recommendations on where to take your kid to learn. On the weekends, there are several unused basketball and courts in all of the APS (Arlington Public School) playground that are fenced and away from traffic. Parking lots are also great for this and are paved and flat. From recent Arlington Parents FB group posts and Moms of Camberville FB group posts, these specific spots were recommended

In Arlington

Thompson Elementary & Gibbs School both have parking lots and courts to bike around away from traffic Hardy Elementary has a big track and big open space in the middle with a parking lot next to the track that's empty on weekends

McClennan park has a small skate park and a few ramps

Magnolia Park has a small loop (but best to avoid the minute man bike path where there's a lot of cycling and walking traffic)

Parmenter playground on Irving street - has a slight slope on the blacktop which is good for learners

Biship - cute little track on the blacktop

St Paul Cemetery in East Arlington - wide roads and low car traffic

Outside of Arlington for weekends

On the weekends - Corporate parking lots on the weekend in Burlington or Lexington (along Hartwell Ave there are lots of office parks which obviously don't have people working on the weekends), the connected office parking lots in Waltham on Waverly Oaks Road past Might Squirrel Brewing before Beaver St

Filippelo Park in Watertown - wide shaded paved path around the soccer field, playground and splash pad in the summer.

Advanced Biking Spots

If your kid is a little older, or you are a little more daring, Arlington has a mountain bike park for mountain bikers https://hillshmrs.com

If you'd like a traffic garden to pratice the rules of the road, there is one in behind the mall with no car access in Burlington