Bakfiet = Freedom

First post to a new blog. My goal with this new blog is to spread the word about bakfiets in SF, but also to find the other 8-9 bakfiet owners in SF and have them post their experiences to the blog as well. Changing the world, one pedal turn at a time.

I love bikes. Anyone who knows me, knows this. Bikes are all about freedom, political smugness, environmental responsibility, ease of mobility and, most importantly, having fun like a little kid. But I am also paranoid about safety (too many broken bones and hospital stays for this not to be the case), so I never wanted a kid bike seat or trailer for Isabel. Enter the bakfiet, my new Daisy Bike. She holds 200 lbs in the front box and 80 lbs on the back rack. She is the station wagon of our family. Yesterday, we came home from the farmer's market with the following in the box:

 - Isabel

 - Stroller

 - Diaper Bag

 - 3 big bags of groceries

 - water bottles, hats, jackets and toys

This was so easy! I hardly felt the weight. If we had to take public transportation, I would have been miserable because it would have been too much to carry. If we even had a car, we still would have had to schlep everything to the parking lot and then deal with being cooped up in a glass and metal box in traffic (I REALLY hate cars a lot and always dread being stuck in one). But with the bike, we carried our goods to the bike rack, loaded up, and chatted to the hoards of people asking questions about it. Most people get very excited about this bike, from other commuter cyclists and fixed geared hipsters, to construction workers in big trucks. Everyone can see how much fun it is. 

I really believe that if we can make the roads feel safer to people, this type of bike will be the future of our cities. And I mean that people only need to FEEL safer because once you get more people on bikes, then all of the cyclists really are safer because car drivers and city officials became used to bikes and work with us. I want to see a day when getting around by cargo bike instead of car is boring, not a traffic stopper.

Okay, back to the fun. In the photo above, you can see Isabel and Roxie going for a ride along Mission Creek, near where we live. I would love to live in one of those houseboats behind us, but that is a different post. Isabel loves the bike, but Roxie is going to take some convincing. Once she realizes that it is her ticket to the beach, she will relax.

And yes, the bike handles very easily. Much easier than I thought it would. Because of it's weight, once it gets going, it is very easy to keep it going at speed, even when fully loaded. Hills are more of a problem, but we modify where we go. Living along the Embarcadero is easy because it is flat and traffic is not too bad. We ride every day. Even if just to the playground. I am always so happy when on my bike and love that can share this love with my daughter.

Ride on!

Comments

[Jason]

How is the Bakfiet on hills? Did you have to change the gearing? Do you avoid the hills in SF? Also, how far are you commuting with the Bakfiet.

Thanks

Jason from Seattle

[Emily]

My husband and I saw one of these riding around Foster City (just south of SF) and we are totally interested in this bike! Where did you get yours? On the net I can only find international dealers... Let me know where we might be able to procure this amazing bike!

[Amsterdamize]

tiny but important correction: it's 'bakfiets', not bakfiet ;)

[jamie]

Hi Emily

there is a dutch bicycle importer in NYC whom sells these type of bicycles in the US starting at $2100, I have bought mine recently on Ebay and am loving it!!!!!!

[High Fi]

What a perfect blog post. So cool!

[Shaun]

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