E-Bike for Suburban Use / School Run

airzone on 19/07/2015 - 20:58

Hi all,

The missus has expressed interest in getting rid of one of the cars and herself using an e-bike around town, primarily to do the school drop and any top-up shopping during the week. Which is all she uses the car for anyway.

The bike has to be able to take 2 kids, such as this one.. http://www.gazellebicycles.com.au/gazelle-bicycles/gazelle-m…. Kids are 6 and 3.

I suppose I am looking for 2 opinions -

1) Has anyone owned, used, or even seen a bike like this getting around? How did it go, etc.

2) What are people's experiences in using a bike as a car replacement around town.. i.e. around one or two fairly quiet suburbs in SW Sydney (with bike paths and such), not the inner city hipster ghettos.

To ditch a car for a bike is a fundamental change in mindset for the standard 2 cars, 2 kids outer-suburban family. And these bikes are pretty expensive - probably around 6k (which equates to 2 years in direct car running costs). Rationally, I can see it bringing benefit, such as exercise, not battling for a carpark at school, and paying back over the course of 2 - 3 years (at which time, she will probably go back to work). But since we (like most aussie families) are married to the idea of cars, we want to collect as much practical experience as we can before deciding to take the plunge.

Alternatively, since we live close to a small airport, and I work on another airport, I might trade my car in for a plane..

Poll Options

  • 9
    No chance, these big e-bikes are shit and you'll be back to a car in no time
  • 12
    No chance, you cannot survive without a car per household member, including pets
  • 2
    Yes, it's scary but we ditched the car and ride around our suburb like hipsters
  • 1
    Yes, I have one of those bikes and it's so awesome you can have mine
  • 0
    Screw the bike, buy a plane
Sports & Outdoors

Comments

  • OzBestDeal on 19/07/2015 - 22:33

    I'm really questioning the balance of the bike.
    With only 2 wheels, long wheelbase, and heavy passengers, there's always a chance the bike get unbalanced and tipped over, injuring the kids (and yourself).

    I personally won't recommend it.

  • Woodyg22 on 19/07/2015 - 23:00

    These things look so unsafe and clumsy!

  • pointless martyr on 19/07/2015 - 23:34
    +1

    If you value your familys safety, an ebike is not the answer.

    This is the answer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDoRmT0iRic

    • airzone on 20/07/2015 - 09:35

      My thought exactly, and we can fit in with the local populace a bit better! The only problem is the twice daily maccas run.

    • O O on 20/07/2015 - 13:00

      Lol, no more car hoons dare to mess with you.

  • bargaino on 20/07/2015 - 01:28

    Why the E- ? Hills to traverse?
    The 6yo should be big enough to ride their own bike, following mum. Or even a scooter, if you are close enough.
    How far is it to school? to shops?

    Why not a more conventional bike plus trailer? The trailer can hold two kids or shopping.
    And can be easily detached when not needed. It does slow you down, but you might only want the motor for hill climbs.
    I've seen those cargo bikes in Europe, but they are awfully heavy. Have never seen one in Australia.

    Lots of little kids pedal to/from school with their parents here, but I guess we are closer to "the inner suburb hipster ghettos."
    Are there other families cycling at your school? Talk to them.

    These are good: http://croozer.com.au/

    • airzone on 20/07/2015 - 10:31

      No hills, it's pretty flat. But with the weight of the bike and kids, she wouldn't be able to pedal it (or would lose motivation very quickly).

      Having a trailer on a regular frame is another option we are considering (and actually I reckon it's the better option) as you can still cover the kids up if it's raining in the trailer, have a much lighter bike, and in a year or two when the older kid is too big to fit, then don't need to worry about what to do with an uber expensive and very niche bike. There are a few minus points, (the biggest one is she can't see when the kids are fighting) that we are debating over.

      Distance is about 2km, with the school close to shops, and there are paths the whole way. They do get some use, but not a terrible lot.

      As to why the 6yo doesn't ride herself, that's a byproduct of our own laziness and until recently, having lived in a bike unfriendly area. The kid owns one and nobody else does. So she hasn't wanted to learn. I suspect using a bike more often will push her into riding through just being an example.

      • bargaino on 20/07/2015 - 11:05

        Flat is good. Weight affects acceleration and hill climbs, not so much steady riding on the flat.
        A 2-side-by-side kiddie trailer means extra wind resistance, but that drops rapidly with speed, so plodding along at 12km/hr, its an easy 10 minutes.

        (the biggest one is she can't see when the kids are fighting)

        Invest in a rear-view mirror that attaches to the helmet of sunglasses.

        I'd be afraid the big cargo bike will most likely become a white elephant. And the gearing on it is insufficient, as Rocky says, meaning you'll rely on the motor for starting, and even slight hills.

        • airzone on 20/07/2015 - 16:42

          Excellent points. Actually it makes me think that having the kids fight in the cargo bike will destabilize it… Where as the trailer is probably less likely to do so.

          But the trailer hitches are supposed to swivel right? It would be awkward to try to steer while bolt upright.

  • Davo1111 on 20/07/2015 - 06:30

    why dont you take public transport/walk/cycle to work, and she takes the car?

    • bargaino on 20/07/2015 - 09:10
      +1

      He lives in SW Sydney :). And doesn't work locally.

      • airzone on 20/07/2015 - 09:41
        +2

        Therein lies the problem. I used to take PT to work when I lived at my old place, and worked at my old place. Currently, it's a 30 minute car trip up the M5, or a 2.5 hour 2 train, 2 bus, and 2klm walk to work via PT. A bike would be suicidal and still just as long if avoiding the M5.

        • [Deactivated] on 20/07/2015 - 15:50

          I feel your pain, I have a 45 minute drive/2.5 hour PT trek myself.

  • moo on 20/07/2015 - 06:58
    +1

    The question of safety comes to mind. How bike friendly is the area of commute? I find that drivers across Australia isn't that bike friendly/aware and therefore increases the risk of accident especially towards those inexperienced riders.

    Also have you considered how comfortable your wife will be riding under heavy rain etc?

    • airzone on 20/07/2015 - 10:36

      The area we currently live is a newish estate and has of bike paths everywhere.. Unlike my old place where even crossing the road was dangerous, and you were liable to get run over on the footpath even. If you didn't get stabbed by a junkie trying to get his fix from the dealer over the road (but realistically he would have been run over by the local hoons when trying to cross the road).

  • kima on 20/07/2015 - 09:15

    could you get one of those bike trailers? wouldn't it be better?

  • RockyRaccoon on 20/07/2015 - 10:02

    Logically

    Kids are 6 and 3.

    in 2-3 years time at least 1 will be capable of riding themselves, so the usable lifespan of this $3K bike is limited for you.

    Plus its only 7 gears, your wife better be quite fit, the weight will increase tyre resistance, making it harder to push around

    Limited amount of Grocery carrying capacity if she takes the kids (75kg max)

    • pointless martyr on 20/07/2015 - 12:03

      When i was 6 years old, i could do front flips on my bmx and mono most of my street.

      If your kid cant ride to school under supervision yet, you are doing it wrong.

      • airzone on 20/07/2015 - 12:42

        When you were 6, did you live in a high density apartment estate, where people come out of driveways without regard to pedestrians, where the narrow street you were on was a throughfare for traffic between 2 main roads, where the footpath was constantly choked with rubbish and old furniture due to the transient nature of high density living, near a corner that had to have it's armco railing replaced every 2 or 3 months due to cars coming off the road, and other corners having their footpath and gutters disintegrated by trucks and buses clipping the corner?

        We are all a product of our circumstances, and until recently our circumstances weren't bike friendly.

        • pointless martyr on 20/07/2015 - 12:53

          Fair points. That sounds like a bad place to live.

        • Noblejoker on 20/07/2015 - 15:19

          I think you just answered your own question
          If I wouldn't let my 6 year old ride his bike (which I iwouldnin the area you describe) then I wouldn't let my wife ride a bike every day with my 6 & 3 year olds in it

        • airzone on 20/07/2015 - 15:30

          Sorry if I wasn't clear. I moved into the suburbs about 3 months ago. It's a significantly different environment.

  • blitz on 20/07/2015 - 10:39

    She's never ridden one of them, has she.

    • airzone on 20/07/2015 - 10:41

      No, but she will try it out first.

  • Davo1111 on 20/07/2015 - 16:15
    +1

    After reading all your responses, i'd put this in the 'too hard' basket. I think it's going to be too much effort, cost for little benefit (and risk to safety).

    If it were me, i'd start using public transport and getting into the rhythm of not using a car. However, i don't think an e-bike is feasible.

  • Euphemistic on 20/07/2015 - 22:04

    I've ridden around a fair bit with a trailer on, while its flat it's fine but can be hard work on a hill. A low geared mountain bike works ok though. The trailer I have is probably a bit small for a 6yo but squeezed my two boys in it at about age 5 and 3 a few times. Now they are older they ride on their own and have been doing so since no.2 was about 6. Lately it's been 2 bikes and no.3 in the trailer along with any shopping/picnic gear.

    Sounds like time to get the whole family out on bikes to start the ball rolling (and for the love of all things bike, don't purchase at Kmart). You should be able to get decent bikes for $500ish each adult, a trailer for $200. Build up to it, don't go all out spending $3k without getting some practice first.

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