7 Min Read
7 Surprising Ways Electric Cargo Bikes Improved our Family’s Quality of Life
"Picking the kids up in the e-bike felt so freeing, like I was truly done for the day, like the fun had started. I just rolled up to the front of the school, the kids hopped on, and I got to enjoy watching them observe the world as it rolled by."
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My preschooler would stop crying every morning on the way to school
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I would get waaaay more exercise
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It turns out that picking the kids up from school on an e-bike is a whole other thing
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I was able to slow down and not rush as much
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I was able to be present in my environment
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We went on so many more adventures
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I felt like a happier, better parent
1. My preschooler stopped crying every morning on the way to school
Who knew that the sheer joy of riding an e-bike to school would be enough for my son to forget about his separation anxiety?! This was the most unexpected and most blessed benefit of adding an e-bike to our day to day life.
Our e-bike was like an emotional support animal for the whole family. The kids started to look forward to transitions instead of dreading them, and this was a huge weight off of us as parents.
2. I got waaaaay more exercise
Recent research has shown that it is possible to get solid exercise even while e-biking. After my first weekend of e-biking, I was pleasantly surprised by how sore my legs were! I had chosen to use the throttle and pedal assist only when I needed it, and was able to really feel like I got a good workout.
Like most parents (and modern humans), I always struggled to get the recommended 150 minutes/week of aerobic exercise. By adding in e-biking, I started to actually hit this target…maybe for the first time since high school.
3. It turns out that picking the kids up from school on an e-bike is a whole other thing
It was truly shocking when I realized how different it felt to not inch forward in the car pickup line for 20 minutes each afternoon. I’m starting to think I’ll have to invent a word for this, but until I do, let me try to explain it:
I start my day early so I can wrap up my work by 3:00 in time for school pickup, and when I did this routine in the car, just that low-key soul sucking feeling of being stuck in the pickup line made it feel like I was still working.
But picking the kids up in the e-bike felt so freeing, like I was truly done for the day, like the fun had started. I just rolled up to the front of the school, the kids hopped on, and I got to enjoy watching them observe the world as it rolled by.
4. I was able to slow down and not rush as much
While the motors on e-bikes are truly amazing, you will find there is a top speed you feel comfortable riding at with your precious cargo. In addition, if you get an e-trike, you’ll find that turns need to happen at low speeds.
Going slower did something beautiful for me. I knew that if I was in a rush, I couldn’t trust myself to drive the e-bike with the necessary caution, so I timed out what it looked like to get to school, the grocery store, etc. These travel times were often a few minutes longer than taking the car, but were consistent, because I didn’t have to account for variables like parking, traffic, etc… That consistency offered me peace of mind and allowed me to rush around less.
5. I was able to be present in my environment
While e-trikes (e-bikes with low center of gravity) do feel stable, you still need to keep your hands on the handlebars, need to pay attention to your speed and your surroundings, etc. In other words, you can’t change the music, get distracted by a text, pass the kids a snack like you would in the car.
This need to stay present was great for my mental state. It took me out of my to do list, and the need to do everything for everyone all the time. It goes without saying that the roads were also a bit safer for my focused state!
6. We went on so many more adventures.
If you live in a big city, or near any type of attraction, whether that be an awesome park or a popular restaurant, you’ve probably avoided doing “x fun thing” with your family because you knew traffic or parking would be a nightmare.
When we started e-biking, I was shocked how accessible all the best parts of our neighborhood became. We ventured out to places and events that we would have otherwise avoided due to extreme luck/stress involved in parking.
7. I felt like a happier, better parent
This sounds like a reach, I know, but when I tallied up all the changes it made sense. I was now starting the day more resourced because my kids were excited for the bike ride to school…I was getting more exercise…being more present…not stuck in the pickup line…getting the mental lift of just being outdoors and in motion. And the family and I were adventuring more.
Safety Tip
Post turn, you can use your throttle or pedal assist to get back up to speed, so slowing to turn isn’t a physical challenge, it’s a mental one! Driving a trike requires you to not be in a hurry so that you can prioritize safety. Hence one of the pros above about being present.
"I have ridden many cargo bikes before and this cargo eBike is spot on for stability and control. While on other bikes my kids felt unstable, riding this bike makes them feel safe so that we all can enjoy the ride!"
Jamie
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