Public subsidies for private cycling

I ride a Danish cargo bike and this is my pride and joy. The minute I heard about this type of machines, I knew it was for me. Carting a double buggy around is not all that much fun (the kids are still only 2 and 3) and I just missed the exhilarating feeling of freedom that comes with cycling in the windy, brazing, English air.

So how does this work? well, two small persons can easily fit at the front of the bike in a kind of bucket situated between the two front wheels (that bucket does not come off and the bike is a tricycle, not a standard one). They get a bench, one safety harness each and full protection from the elements with a zippable cover that leaves them to enjoy the ride whilst mummy is getting soaking wet at the back.

What's all the fuss about this? well, it's a heart-powered zero emission vehicle that does not even try to hide its carbon foot print.

So why aren't they mandatory for all mums taking their kids to school? Because people haven't heard of them and because they are still rather expensive at just over 2000 euros a piece. This is an extraordinary price tag for what is only, after all, a bicycle. But it becomes acceptable if you think of it as an alternative to the car. And although the benefits are more difficult to cost, they are clearly outweighing the costs, at least for me. Think about the time saved from not having to sit in traffic during the school run rush hour, all the avoided stress of not finding a spot to park. Not even mentioning fuel savings and the avoided occasional parking tickets. And the best of all, the kids love it.

I look forward to the day where the bicycle will have overtaken the car as the standard mean of private transport in dense urban settlements (that's another thing that the Chinese had gotten right, until capitalism struck). For this to happen, serious investments in infrastructure must take place, to set aside cycling lanes and bike parking areas. And why not consider subsidising mums who want to take their children to school in a way that can preserve their future but cannot afford the initial outlay for such an exciting but rather dear machine?