commuting with a kid

[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.