Transporting six children by bike

[Veronica]

Reproducing six times in this day and age, when our world is so overpopulated, seems irresponsible to me.

I know god did say to be fruitful and multiply. But it seems humanity has done that.

Veronica

[lauraelmore1033]

That's pretty cool, but did you see this ad in the banner? Even cooler!

[lph]

I can think of a lot of people who live a lot more irresponsibly than raising six children to think that cycling is a normal way to travel and transport loads of stuff, helmets or not. I think she rocks

[Tri Girl]

I can think of a lot of people who live a lot more irresponsibly than raising six children to think that cycling is a normal way to travel and transport loads of stuff, helmets or not. I think she rocks

+1
She *could* be driving a giant gas-guzzling SUV and helping to pollute the planet, but she's choosing a greener alternative and teaching her children an alternative way to live life. Gotta hand it to a neurologits' wife to not be driving that luxury SUV and getting on a bike instead. I teach many kids that have high-profile doctors for moms and dads- and you can bet none of those moms would ever imagine riding a bike. The horror!!
I say, go girl!!
Great article- thanks for sharing!

Emily said "I started looking at my life...I was living in a giant house and had a nine-person Suburban. I remember thinking, there's no reason I can't walk or bike around town."

on her kids wanting to just get in a car instead or riding: "They've lost that sense of driving. They've forgotten what it's like to even be in a car"
LOVE IT!!!

[sookiesue]

That's pretty cool, but did you see this ad in the banner? Even cooler!

Ha ha! I like the way you think! You've got to love Portland's love affair with beer...oh, and bikes, too.

[shootingstar]

Reproducing six times in this day and age, when our world is so overpopulated, seems irresponsible to me.

I know god did say to be fruitful and multiply. But it seems humanity has done that.

Veronica

Overpopulation in North America is not a problem. Not really. Both Canada and U.S. need / want immigrants (and I don't want to get into the legal and illegal debate here) now to keep up the tax base when natural birth rate is declining in both countries.

I know you meant this as a joke...

From a family of 6 children.

Wonder how often the mother bikes around with all her children. Or maybe it's just on weekends. She's probably enjoying as much as she can now, since children grow bigger fast soon.

[Tri Girl]

Wonder how often the mother bikes around with all her children.

The article says she exclusively bikes with the kids. They own a car that only her husband drives. Sounds like she it totally committed to it!

[Veronica]

I am the youngest of 7 and no I did not mean it as a joke.

Maybe it just comes from what I see day to day at my school, but I have issues with people choosing to have so many children, especially when one of them is a special needs kid. Maybe it's very different for her family and I'm sure that a biziillion people are going to respond with "That's not always the case..." But in my experience when there are that many children, it's tough to meet the challenges that arise with each.


Yes, kudos to her for raising them to see alternative transportation works.

Veronica

[Grits]

I am torn between amazement and admiration and then this nagging feeling that it seems...extreme. It is a great example of what is possible, and it makes her happy, so kudos to her for finding her joy, but I would have to have a motorized option for some situations. What if I didn't feel well enough to pedal everyone? What if a little one wasn't feeling well? I wonder if they end up staying home in a lot of situations that someone with a car would be able to go. I wonder if people end up picking up the kids for playdates and soccer practice and gymnastics because they hate to ask her to pedal all six over? I don't think I would want to take my kids out on a bike in all kinds of Portland weather, even in wool and under a tarp. I really wonder if years from now the grown up kids will remember it fondly or wish they could have taken the the car when they had the flu and needed to go to the doctor or get some orange juice. And just the thought of how long it would take to get everyone ready for the excursion makes me want to beat my head against the wall.

And where on earth is dad, besides at work with his car? Do they do anything together as a family? Does he have his own bike and ride along? Does he ever take all the kids anywhere without mom? His absence in this article is glaring.

[PamNY]

I am torn between amazement and admiration and then this nagging feeling that it seems...extreme. It is a great example of what is possible, and it makes her happy, so kudos to her for finding her joy, but I would have to have a motorized option for some situations. What if I didn't feel well enough to pedal everyone? What if a little one wasn't feeling well? I wonder if they end up staying home in a lot of situations that someone with a car would be able to go. I wonder if people end up picking up the kids for playdates and soccer practice and gymnastics because they hate to ask her to pedal all six over? I don't think I would want to take my kids out on a bike in all kinds of Portland weather, even in wool and under a tarp. I really wonder if years from now the grown up kids will remember it fondly or wish they could have taken the the car when they had the flu and needed to go to the doctor or get some orange juice. And just the thought of how long it would take to get everyone ready for the excursion makes me want to beat my head against the wall.

I had similar questions. With six kids, there must be many occasions when someone isn't feeling well.

And I also wonder how the kids will feel about this when they are older -- they might end up hating bicycles (especially the one who got strapped on with bungee cords).

[lph]

Well, I know it depends a lot on where and how you live, and I realize that the US is a lot more car-centric than many other places. But still - I grew up without a car, and even though it could be a hassle some times, it never stopped me from socializing or going places as a kid. We have a car now that is mostly used to transport our kayaks or go on vacation with, and I can truthfully say that my son has never been taken by car to a play date or to socialize apart from the occasional family visit to the suburbs on the other side of town. I don't know if they have decent public transport where this woman lives. But to me the only extreme part about it is the number of kids, and the extraordinary bike. But just not using or having a car available isn't extreme to me at all. I'm thinking that people got around, with kids, and had social lives before cars too

Is all of the US really so car-centric that most everyone has to take a car (or bike) to get orange juice or go to the doctor? I have both within a 10 minutes walk, and it's fairly typical of how people live in the outskirts of Oslo.

[Veronica]

I'm thinking that people got around...and had social lives before cars too

For some reason this made me think about my grandparents. When they were courting in 1922 they lived about three miles apart and saw each other only on weekends. He was a farmer and had work to do every day and couldn't walk the 6 miles round trip. I have a copy of a letter he mailed to my grandmother. It's kind of mushy.

It costs him 2 cents to mail it.


Veronica

[Blueberry]

Is all of the US really so car-centric that most everyone has to take a car (or bike) to get orange juice or go to the doctor? I have both within a 10 minutes walk, and it's fairly typical of how people live in the outskirts of Oslo.

Yes - it really is that car centric. We are unusual - we can walk to a grocery and to a major medical center. But those are 1-2 mile walks, and most people wouldn't even think of doing even that without a car.

Heck, there have been stories about our schools not allowing kids to bike because of safety issues. It's very unusual for kids in my state to be able to walk or bike to school - generally, they are too far away.

[Irulan]

And I also wonder how the kids will feel about this when they are older -- they might end up hating bicycles (especially the one who got strapped on with bungee cords).

Hah. They might hate Oregon because they grew up there, they might hate big families because they are in one.... seriously....

[TigerMom]

I am torn between amazement and admiration and then this nagging feeling that it seems...extreme. It is a great example of what is possible, and it makes her happy, so kudos to her for finding her joy, but I would have to have a motorized option for some situations. What if I didn't feel well enough to pedal everyone? What if a little one wasn't feeling well? I wonder if they end up staying home in a lot of situations that someone with a car would be able to go. I wonder if people end up picking up the kids for playdates and soccer practice and gymnastics because they hate to ask her to pedal all six over? I don't think I would want to take my kids out on a bike in all kinds of Portland weather, even in wool and under a tarp. I really wonder if years from now the grown up kids will remember it fondly or wish they could have taken the the car when they had the flu and needed to go to the doctor or get some orange juice. And just the thought of how long it would take to get everyone ready for the excursion makes me want to beat my head against the wall.

And where on earth is dad, besides at work with his car? Do they do anything together as a family? Does he have his own bike and ride along? Does he ever take all the kids anywhere without mom? His absence in this article is glaring.

+1 Grits! Well said
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