Why more parents are riding cargo bikes and skipping the minivan

If you live in any major city or suburb in the United States, you may have noticed more and more parents transporting their children on bulky cargo bikes. Some families give up their second car, give up a minivan, or give up the car altogether.

Cargo bikes have been around for over a century, and are very popular elsewhere in the world. But until a few years ago, they were all but forgotten in North America. Now they are coming back.

There are several reasons for the surge in cargo bike riders, including better bike infrastructure, and bikes that are easier to ride, even if you’re not an athlete.

Lilac Almagor wasn’t a biker before she bought her cargo bike.

"I’m a very lazy person," Major says.

She thought she would try the bike and maybe return it.

"But by the third day I was like, “Oh, this is really going to change my life.”" says Almagor, who lives in Washington, D.C

She now takes her three children to school every day, even when it’s raining or hot and humid.

"It’s a better start to my day, as there’s no weather I’d rather be driving in now," Major says.

She bought the bike six years ago — at the time, she was probably seeing another cargo bike parent at school. Now there are dozens crowding the bike racks, not to mention the riders you see heading to other schools. Almagor went into the cargo bike business, left her teaching career and now works for a bike company.

Bicycles designed to carry children

Today’s cargo bikes are designed specifically for transporting children, with comfortable seats, rain canopies, and, most importantly, electric motors.

Philip Koopman, a longtime D.C. bike shop owner, says there were no electric cargo bikes when his kids were young. He took them around town in a trailer behind his bike, climbing up hills.

"Most people don’t want to sweat when they go to work," says Koopman. "So having these different options makes cycling easier for more people."

On a recent Saturday, Koopman was helping people test ride cargo bikes in DC Family Bike Festival. The event attracted hundreds of parents, including Patricia Stamper, who was trying out different bikes with her two children.

"I’m 39 years old, I’m losing weight, and I need some help." The conclusion says. "This is cheaper than obesity surgery, it’s cheaper than Wegovy."

The bike you’re looking at is expensive, at around $2,500. But she thinks it’s worth it to get some exercise, take her kids to school, ride to work and go shopping.

Although cargo bikes are expensive, riders point out that they are much cheaper than cars, especially when you take into account the costs of gas, insurance, parking and maintenance.

Better cycling infrastructure

The first protected bike lane in the United States—separated from automobile traffic—was constructed in 1967 in Davis, California. But 40 or 50 years later, in the 2000s, other cities followed suit. Now such passes can be found all over the country.

Minneapolis is Often tidy As the best cycling city in the country, it has more than 200 miles of bike lanes and paths.

"If it is not safe to ride a bike, it will be difficult to force people to ride bikes." says Laura Mitchell, who lives in the city.

Mitchell says having a cargo bike was great "Game changer" For her family. So, earlier this year, I created the Minneapolis Cargo Bike Library, where residents can check out a bike for free, test it out, or take the occasional trip to a big box store. It was so popular, she soon had to limit the number of users.

People ride bikes with their children not only in cities with great infrastructure. Unlike Minneapolis, Houston is often near the bottom of bike rankings.

Brian Jackson, who lives in Houston, often drops his two children off on a cargo bike. He is the only one at his school and daycare. He gets a lot of questioning looks.

"Many people say: “I’ve never seen anything like this before.”" Jackson says.

Jackson sees a few other parents using cargo bikes on bike trails, and he hopes more people will try it. Houston says it has "strong underground bike culture," Drivers usually give him plenty of space, especially when they see children on the plane.

A second bike boom

Since the first bicycles, people have equipped them to transport goods, including passengers. The heyday of the cargo bike—at least in North America and Europe—was almost a century ago.

At that time, cities were full of workers riding bicycles.

"There will be knife sharpening tools with a small studio mounted on the back of their bikes. There were glaziers – people who fixed broken windows," says Jody Rosen, author of Two Wheels Good: The History and Mystery of the Bicycle.

It all started with the great bicycle boom of the 1890s. We’re now seeing a new 21st century bike boom, and cargo bikes are part of it, Rosen says.

Lilac Almagor, DC’s cargo bike mom, says she thinks the biggest reason there are more people riding cargo bikes isn’t infrastructure or e-bike technology. It’s seeing other parents ride them. This makes it feel natural – just a practical way to get around with your kids.

Best ad for cargo cycling you say? Carpool line at school.

"As the line of cars wraps around the building, we just pass by in our small fleet of cargo bikes. There’s no way, as a parent, not to say, “Maybe we should do that.”"

Copyright 2025, NPR