http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Backies en Sun, 31 May 2026 23:11:31 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15275#post-195486 Tue, 11 Aug 2015 12:38:01 +0000 slowcoach 195486@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The <a href="https://www.flyingdutchman.bike/the-art-of-carrying-a-passenger-on-a-bicycle/">Flyingdutchman</a> says "there has never been a test case to clarify what exactly the law means by this ... it is completely normal to carry a passenger on your bike in the Netherlands, we must conclude that our Dutch bikes have, in fact, been built with the carriage of passengers in mind."<br /> I suspect some of the cycling illustrated there could lead to charges of careless, and inconsiderate, cycling if persisted with. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15275#post-195478 Tue, 11 Aug 2015 12:02:40 +0000 cc 195478@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>My mighty Dutch beast can take a load of 250kg if memory serves! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15275#post-195474 Tue, 11 Aug 2015 11:51:28 +0000 ARobComp 195474@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>At uni my best mate and I used to share my bike and would often give backies. Usually with one of us on the saddle and the other standing up. It was great fun. I do remember trying to fit three people on (one on the rack) and the back wheel collapsing in short order. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15275#post-195468 Tue, 11 Aug 2015 11:31:26 +0000 gembo 195468@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>yes he got the idea from the name of the bike</p> <p>The handsome tree chopper wrapped his cotton plaid shirt around his manly torso and got down to work</p> <p>Is that the sort of thing you mean? He wrote with a woman's pen name </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15275#post-195467 Tue, 11 Aug 2015 11:30:32 +0000 wingpig 195467@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><blockquote><em>"...one of which could be a human being..."</em></blockquote></p> <p>Nope. It probably says in the shrugblurb associated with racks these days. Not sure what the specific requirements for a not-just-a-child seat for a bike would be, so don't know if a cargo bike with a rear platform which doesn't specifically exclude humans from intended usages or if you'd need official footrests, to prevent wheels eating feet.</p> <p>Wasn't there once a thing in a newspaper about a bloke being policed for riding with a child on a proper child's saddle which he had duct-taped to his crossbar?</p> <p>Childhood backies on those sub-coat-hanger-thickness spring-loaded wire parcel racks only worked until the rack bent and the extra person's weight started causing the rear mudguard to act as a brake. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15275#post-195466 Tue, 11 Aug 2015 11:28:51 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 195466@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Mills and Boon had a chopper"</p> <p>Quite a few I'd imagine. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15275#post-195464 Tue, 11 Aug 2015 11:27:31 +0000 gembo 195464@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I use cushion and panniers to keep legs out of wheels for my youngest daughter (she is 10). I have given two grown ups backies recently (two separate backies not chineses state circus routine) where they sat on the saddle and I stood on the pedals. Has worked fine over short distances on empty suburban roads early evening and after midnight. Quite good fun.</p> <p>Backies were more prevalent in my childhood when not everyone could afford a bike. I had a raleigh chico, cheapest bike in the Kays Club Book (catalogue). But neighbour's on our council estate whose dad wrote for Mills and Boon had a chopper. Backies on a chopper could often end in over the handle bars double acts. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15275#post-195462 Tue, 11 Aug 2015 11:24:22 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 195462@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Technically I think the 'adapted to carry one' means specifically adapted with a human carrying bit of kit (such as a child seat), rather than 'bodged something that means a person can sit there'.</p> <p>Rear racks in the Netherlands and Denmark must be particularly strong as folk ride on them all the time - there are even videos about the subtle ballet of getting off and on as the bike stops and goes. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15275#post-195461 Tue, 11 Aug 2015 11:21:45 +0000 dougal 195461@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I don't have a rear rack that's capable of taking the weight of anyone I know, <a href="http://www.topeak.com/products/racks/supertouristdxtubularrack_disc">even assuming for engineering tolerances</a>. Though I suspect my fixing bolts would give out first. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15275#post-195458 Tue, 11 Aug 2015 11:17:28 +0000 paulmilne 195458@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The law states "You MUST NOT carry a passenger unless your cycle has been built or adapted to carry one."</p> <p>So if I strap a cushion onto my rear rack to give someone a backie, I've adapted my bike, right? In fact, a rear rack by itself is meant to carry loads, one of which could be a human being, so that in and of itself could be a pertinent adaptation.</p> <p>Having given and received backies more than once in this country, I find this law a trifle silly. </p>