commuting with a kid

[Blueberry]

Now I want to rig that for my pup! Though he's way too big - an excuse to rescue a dog??

CA

[MomOnBike]

Speaking as a mother of grown kids, I really like that rig. I've always been concerned with the tow-behind trailers for communication and dust reasons, among others. Kids often look so miserable so far from the parent on the bike.

The advantage of a Burley-type trailer is that drivers have been acclimated to expecting a baby in them, so they might be more careful around them. They're also pretty darn visible.

I'm not a fan of the rear seat idea for balance reasons.

[HillSlugger]

My coworker has a bike seat for his son that mounts to the stem or something so that the seat is up front. It's supposed to keep the child's feet out of the wheels.

[boy in a kilt]

Both of our kids have done time in trailers and both seemed to enjoy it. During colder months, you can thoroughly cover them with blankets and pull down the plastic cover. Screen keep things out and other things in. Drivers tend to be pretty aware of them, although putting blinkies and/or high-vis triangles help.

[Blueberry]

My coworker has a bike seat for his son that mounts to the stem or something so that the seat is up front. It's supposed to keep the child's feet out of the wheels.

Is this what you're talking about: http://longleafbicycles.blogspot.com...perfected.html

Looks pretty cool!

CA

[xeney]

We have a Chariot trailer and our daughter likes it fine; we use it on the bike trail exclusively, usually for rides over 10 miles. We are about to get a Wee Ride front child seat for around town, though, because it's too hard to lock the trailer up at the grocery store, etc. (And the Chariot with accessories costs about $500, so I'm not leaving it unlocked.)

I like the idea of a front-mounted child seat but the idea of mounting it to the stem gives me the willies. We're going to put this one on a mixte with albatross bars. I see these around town a lot and it really seems like a great setup.

I like both trailers and seats ... I think they serve different purposes.

[singletrackmind]

I went with a trailer and most of the time stayed on side streets. If I were to tip over the trailer would remain upright and same if the trailer tipped over, I'd remain upright, baby suspended in his harness (yes it happened, no harm but for one very angry little boy....don't forget the helmet).
Everything went in there, toys, juice, pillow, blanket, food, etc. Mine was such that a cable could easily be run through it for locking up. There was also room for small side-trips to the store.

Can't say that about a baby seat, which I did get my foot caught in waaaayyyy back when I was a passenger in one. Then again, tons of people use them without a problem. I know I was dropped helmetless from one several times without too much damage.....

Something I've noticed in my area whilst riding around with a two-kid trailer:
1) Surprisingly many didn't realize there was a kid in there.
2) Motorists are more careful when there's a flag on it.
3) But not all motorists all the time, so be really careful.