Best Second Vehicle for Short Family Trips in Sydney? (Car Vs E-Bike Vs Scooter)

TaurusHead on 11/08/2025 - 17:07
Last edited 11/08/2025 - 17:08

Hi everyone,

Hoping to tap into the community's wisdom on a transport dilemma we're facing.

Our Situation:
We're a family of three adults and one toddler (under 2 years old) living in Parramatta. We have one family car which is our primary transport.

The Problem:
When one of us takes the car to work for the day, the rest of the family is left without a vehicle. This makes it difficult to do essential short trips, like running errands or the daily childcare run, all of which are well under 5km from home.

We're exploring our options for a "second vehicle" and are trying to find the right balance between cost, convenience, and safety for our little one.

Here’s what we’ve been considering, along with our thoughts and concerns:

  1. A Second (Small) Car

Pros: The simplest solution. Works in all weather, is safe, and can carry groceries and the baby seat without issue.

Cons: The most expensive option by far. We'd have to budget for the purchase price, plus ongoing Rego, CTP, insurance, maintenance, and the added headache of finding a second parking space.

  1. An E-Bike (with a quality child seat)

Pros: Seems ideal for short 5km trips. Very low running costs, great for incidental exercise, and environmentally friendly.

Our Question: We're concerned about the rules and practicality in NSW. What are the regulations for e-bikes (e.g., throttle vs pedal-assist)? More importantly, how safe and practical are they with a toddler in a child seat on local Parramatta roads?

  1. A Moped / Scooter (e.g., a Vespa-style 50cc)

Pros: Cheaper than a car, super easy to park, and nimble for navigating local traffic.

Our Question: We're not sure about the rules here. Is it legal and safe to attach a child seat to a scooter in NSW? What are the licensing requirements for a 50cc scooter versus a more powerful one?

  1. A Motorcycle

Pros: Also an option for getting around quickly.

Cons: We know this requires a completely separate motorcycle license, which is a significant time and cost commitment for just short trips. The safety aspect with a child is also a major concern.

We'd be grateful for any advice, experiences, or recommendations you might have. Has anyone in a similar family situation found a good solution?

Experiences specifically with e-bikes + child seats in Sydney would be invaluable.

Thanks in advance!

Poll Options

  • 64
    A Second (Small) Car
  • 20
    An E-Bike (with a quality child seat)
  • 1
    A Moped / Scooter (e.g., a Vespa-style 50cc)
  • 2
    A Motorcycle
  • 3
    A Push Bike (with a quality child seat)
Travel

Comments

  • Gunnar on 11/08/2025 - 17:18
    +24

    You have a toddler (and are parramatta based), please don’t consider anything without four wheels and a fixed roof

  • StonedWizard on 11/08/2025 - 17:22
    -4

    Just because you can post on the internet, doesn't mean you should. You need to buy whichever reliable car you can afford.

  • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 11/08/2025 - 17:27
    +3

    Needs a TLDR

    IF you plan to use it less than twice a week, look at GoGet a rent on a need basis.

  • spackbace on 11/08/2025 - 17:27
    +12

    How long do you want the child for? Coz given the number of other options to a car, it would appear not long

  • Lurk Hartog on 11/08/2025 - 17:30
    +16

    A decent proportion of Sydney drivers think cyclists are sub-human and will happily risk you and your toddlers life rather than tolerate 5 seconds of perceived inconvenience.

    Get a car.

    • Montyjpm on 12/08/2025 - 07:42

      I think it would be safe if there is a shared path(walker/bike) in those 5km.

  • brotherfranciz on 11/08/2025 - 17:52
    +6

    It really depends on the cycling infrastructure around you.

    I am only commenting on the cycling portion because I am a keen cyclist in Melbourne and commute to work by cycling ~94km roundtrip (and taking the train part way on occasions e.g. during dark cold winters) - I am relatively young and fit and there is relatively safe cycling infrastructure on my commuting route, so cycling makes sense in my case. I only mention my background so that you know what I'm about to say is not coming from an anti-cyclist…

    I don't know what your circumstances are, but I haven't heard great things about cycling in NSW, so unless you are a keen/brave cyclist who knows how to ride defensively, safely, and have good cycling infrastructure around you e.g. shared paths, separated bike lanes, etc, then I would be buying a car.

    I know we as a society shouldn't have to put up with dangerous roads, but this is the unfortunate reality of an (Australian) society designed around the car.

  • timthetoolman on 11/08/2025 - 17:54
    +1

    I noticed you left Segwey and baby carrier off the list?

  • onetwothreefour on 11/08/2025 - 18:04
    +2

    Pogo stick?

  • 87percent on 11/08/2025 - 18:31
    +3

    I’d get that Fiat 500e car.

  • freefall101 on 11/08/2025 - 18:49
    +5

    I'd take a look at what is walkable, what is doable on public transport and how much it would cost you to simply uber everywhere.

    I lived without a car in Melbourne for many years, it made financial sense. The amount of walking and carrying things home kept me in pretty good shape too. Car rental and uber were far cheaper than owning a car (I spent less on uber/rentals than I spend on insurance and rego now).

  • sumyungguy on 11/08/2025 - 18:54
    +2

    I think for the motorised two-wheel options you have to fit a sidecar, not cheap and becomes hard to park. Cargo e-bike is a healthy & sustainable option, also somewhat expensive and dependent on the quality of cycling routes in your neighbourhood. But likely your best option if there are no parking bays for a second car.

  • JIMB0 on 11/08/2025 - 19:19

    Ford Prefect

  • djones145 on 11/08/2025 - 19:20
    +4

    1. make friends with a neighbour

    2. uber

    3. walk

    4. if u at over 40 and currently in a mid life crisis, a sports car

  • bargaino on 11/08/2025 - 19:57

    I'd say e-Bike for <5km, but then I do not live in Sydney :-) (thank the Lord)

    Train, driving, bike … they all suck in Sydney, with some exceptions depending where you live.

  • morse on 12/08/2025 - 03:21
    +1

    If cost is an issue uber, goget, buses etc over e-bike/motorbike. I wouldn’t risk getting taken out by a car or truck on a bike with a child in Parramatta unless is all off-road paths and cycle tracks. Also good stroller and some nice long walks with the 2yo - you can chuck a balance bike or three wheel scooter under the pram and they can scoot some of the path bits until their legs get tired and bring a snack box, and other entertainment like fidget toys for the pram.

  • joka on 12/08/2025 - 07:09
    +2

    Is no one else curious to know who the third adult is? And why this third adult isn’t paying their way and at least chipping in for a second car?

    • brendanm on 12/08/2025 - 10:19
      +1

      I was curious, but couldn't come up with a funny way to ask about it, so didn't bother.

    • BobsYourAunty on 12/08/2025 - 11:04

      Sounds like a throuple type setup.

    • spackbace on 12/08/2025 - 11:32
      +1

      I'm thinking someone's mum

  • Peter Enis on 12/08/2025 - 08:21
    +7

    Does the current vehicle really need to be "at work" all day? Can that person not use public transport to get to work? Fair enough if the role requires a vehicle, but if it's simply for convenience to drive to work, I'd be looking at whether or not public transport is a viable option and freeing up the car for the other members of the household.

  • pao2x on 12/08/2025 - 10:29

    3 and 4 are not options for carrying a 2 year old child

    2 is only an option if you have good cycling infrastructure around. You can use foot paths if you are bringing a child in a carrier/ trailer/cargo bike. The cyclist would have to be very sensible and situationally aware and probably highly experienced. The ebike will also probably cost significantly compared to a second hand car

    Option 1 is probably the easiest. Get a cheap reliable car, mazda 2 yaris kia rio etc. Does not have to be flash. Can easily go under $5000 and maintainance rego insurance etc under 2k a year.

  • Jasongood on 12/08/2025 - 10:58
    -1

    You want metal around you other than you around the metal, especially in Sydney

  • colin5000 on 12/08/2025 - 18:51
    -1

    We got a Tern GSD and have never looked back. So many great memories already and we’ve only had it for a year. My 3.5 year old daughter loves it. No better way to get around town. Even my wife, who was a bit sceptical at first, absolutely loves riding it. A big investment to begin with sure ($9K>) but compared to the upfront and ongoing cost of a second car, it pays for itself:

    https://www.ternbicycles.com/au/bikes/472/gsd

    We bought ours from Glow Worm bikes in Marrickville - they were awesome!

    • brad1-8tsi on 12/08/2025 - 19:59
      +1

      You appear to live in Canberra or Marrickville. Parramatta is somewhat less bike friendly.

      • colin5000 on 13/08/2025 - 15:30

        Fair enough. That’s an important factor, if it’s not enjoyable/safe you’re not going to use it

    • sumyungguy on 13/08/2025 - 11:50

      I know Glow Worm well. Just wondering, do you store your GSD upright? It's a great feature but somewhat of a safety nightmare unless you're able to secure the front wheel.

      • colin5000 on 13/08/2025 - 13:24

        You raise a good point, especially if you’ve got kids roaming around. That said it’s pretty solid, so it would take a big push to knock it over. We’re lucky enough to have enough space where we store it horizontally. It is handy for cleaning the drive train though and inflating the rear tyre.

  • brad1-8tsi on 12/08/2025 - 19:57
    -1

    I love riding my pedal assist e-bike but I live in the City of Sydney LGA with lots of bike paths. Having worked in Parramatta 2017-2020 I don't remember it being very bike friendly.

    A half decent car will cost you $5k+ and have. So there's the opportunity cost of not having the $5k doing other things.
    Yearly Fixed costs (rego, green slip + TPP insurance) $1300ish. More if you want comprehensive because you can't afford a total loss on $5k.
    Yearly Maintenance (planned) $400
    Yearly tyre allowance $100
    Yearly unplanned maintenance allowance $1000

    You can buy a lot of Ubers/taxis for $2800 a year.

    If u do want a cheap 2nd hand car I'm about to sell our Accord Euro for $2500. It needs rego next month and may need some minor repairs to get through rego unless you "have a guy" (will still need some maintenance but not as quickly).

    • Fobsessive on 13/08/2025 - 11:26

      What's wrong with your Accord Euro?

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