Quote Originally Posted by pooks
But I'd like to do my part for the environment (and my health) but making this 1/2-mile to 1-mile errands bike-able. That would mean having a basket large enough to carry mail or a small package in, and or a couple of grocery bags. You wouldn't believe how often I go to the supermarket and pick up small items. The supermarket is closer to me than a convenience store!
If you are bringing back two grocery bags, and they are packed fairly full -- not like the baggers around here who seem to think you can't put more than a pound of things into a plastic bag, sheesh -- well, I'd want to carry that on the back where it won't interfere with handling. When I go to the farmer's market, the bags go into cheap panniers that clip onto the rear rack. There's also a teeny under-seat bag that replaces my purse -- ID, tire repair kit, tire levers, phone, insurance cards, cash, keys, inhaler, first aid kit. A purse loose in the bottom of the panniers seems an invitation to trouble -- or a MasterCard commercial (bike: $x00, seat bag: $x, having $2 for a bottle of water: priceless). A trunk bag is on order for my daily commute to hold lunch, shoes, lock, jacket.

One advantage of a rear rack is that it doubles as a rear fender. Although you couldn't put a golden retreiver on the rack either.