Transporting six children by bike

[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

[lph]

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

Awww That's really cute.

[Crankin]

Unless you live in a city, or near the core of a suburban downtown, you can't walk, ride, or take transit anywhere, especially in rural areas. I suspect this type of lifestyle is more prevalent on the coasts, where there is more infrastructure to support it. I grew up in a "streetcar suburb," only 6 miles from downtown Boston. However, I lived on the edge of the town, so I wasn't within walking distance of any of the 13 village centers. As a 12 year old, I either walked about half a mile to catch a bus to one shopping area, or walked about a mile or mile and a half to catch a bus to the "center." I could catch the T (subway) from either of these locations to get me just about anywhere. I never saw my parents use public transportation, although we only had one car until I was about 5 or 6 and I do remember dropping my dad off at the train on Wednesdays, so my mom could take the car to the store.
Right now, I live just far enough that it is not a short walk to get to Concord center for an errand; at 3.8 miles, it's an easy ride, but I've done the walk a few times, and 8 miles is not a short walk. My goal is that in a few years, we'll move closer to the shopping district, which is flat , and more conducive to riding. However, I know I won't be going to the grocery store there, as I really dislike that store and go to the one in the next town, which is the same distance away (up a big hill to get there).
I definitely do not want to live in a big city, where you have the ability to get anything, at any time of the day, on foot. I would enjoy living near services, in a quieter environment.
I never took either of kids to the store, especially together, until they were close to 5-6 years old. It just wasn't productive for me and caused a lot of stress. Mind you, my kids were pretty well behaved, but they were kids. I went to the store on the way home from work every other Friday, with DH going on the alternate weeks. The kids stayed at daycare until I was done.

[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.

[goldfinch]

I wonder if all the pushed back helmets on the kids was so they would photograph better.

[Veronica]

That's the way I see a lot of kids wear them. I think it may just be really hard to fit kids - they fidget, they don't really care if it fits (just let me ride my bike!), they think helmets are dorky - (at least give me a cool color!)

Veronica

[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
_____________________________

2012 Specialized Amira Elite, upgraded carbon handle bars, Jett saddle 143mm switched to 145mm 2012 Selle Italia Max SLR Gel Flow saddle

2011 Specialized Ariel Sport,suspension post,Serfas Rx Women's Microfiber saddle

[shootingstar]

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.

Am I the only person in TE forums so far, who grew up as a child in a household/family without a car until I was 14 yrs. old? (I am the eldest..)

If I can respond here as a kid who did have some stuff to do in terms of chores, etc.:

When it was cold /icy winter days, I did wish we had a car. I helped my mother pull the grocery cart over the ice. I helped her carry groceries. We took transit at times. Other times, it was a 15 min. walk to large grocery store. A family of 6 children requires alot of food. I mentioned this memory within first 3 paragraphs of this blog post on different farmers' markets that I've visited so far.

What I did, was also expected out of 2 other siblings below me. We took turns. It was my mother who determined who accompanied her each time. Others were too young. But later they each accompanied parents by car to supermarket.

Did I resent it? Of course, any teenager resents a chore/ adult responsbility at times. But what is the point of protecting children from drudgery of chores at times? If a kid is given lots of time to do a chore at their pace and only carry small weights of stuff, with adult parent near by, then that's the best situation for a child to slowly learn over time about self-sufficiency.

I viewed my upbringing..particularily when we didn't have a car, as how a family learns to cope by helping each other.

When we did get our first car, my father had it to get to work, 40 km. away from home. He worked at restaurant and hence, car wasn't even at home most evenings.

It sounds like...cruelty/harshness to some folks: but keep in mind, we lived in a residential street just 10 min. away from the downtown core. It truly was a liveable, walkable and bikeable area that I lived in....1960's -early 1980's.

My parents could not afford to pay for any team sports. So whatever we were involved were sports/art activities organized by the schools we attended. Those were the days, that we walked to and from school. Or took the local transit bus.

This whole way of living is the only way I've known how to live...near transit, walking and cycling. A childhood/teenage memory where I've lived and how we travelled locally, has influenced every home location that I've chosen for 4 other subsequent cities that I've lived later on, in adult life so far.

[goldfinch]

I grew up rural so we had vehicles. I learned to drive when I was 12 and learned on an International Truck, sitting on the edge of the seat barely able to press down the clutch. Different world than the city world.

And I got my first 22 rifle when I was maybe 8 or 9.

[PamNY]

It sounds like...cruelty/harshness to some folks: but keep in mind, we lived in a residential street just 10 min. away from the downtown core.

It doesn't sound like cruelty; it sounds like NYC. When I first moved to lower Manhattan, which had few residential services at the time, I walked much farther than 15 minutes to the grocery store.

Though many stores have delivery nowadays, what you are describing isn't at all unusual for cities. Lots of kids do similar things.

I do wonder if the woman with the six kids takes them all along shopping -- with four in the bakfiets, where do the groceries go?