CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Questions/Support/Help

Cycling with kids in trailer - ideas?

(6 posts)
  • Started 7 years ago by Lezzles
  • Latest reply from Lezzles
  • This topic is resolved

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  1. Lezzles
    Member

    Hi All,

    I've recently aquired a trailer to take my 2 kids out. Previously I used a babyseat on the back of my bike but with the addition of #2 I needed somewhere for both kids to sit.

    Last week I cycled from Roslin to Dobbies which we all enjoyed but I wasn't so happy having them so far down and behind me for the small section of road we were on (from Straiton Pond to Drum Farm roundabout). Cars can go up to 60 down that road and a few were uncomfortably close.

    Are there any things you use to encourage drivers to give your trailer space? One friend recommended a foam pool noodle tied onto the back. I've also seen big flags (though I'm not sure about how much drag they'd cause).

    Other than lighting us up like Christmas trees is there anything that works better to encourage space?

    thanks in advance.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  2. SRD
    Moderator

    Sorry to hear you had a bad experience. I always found that cars gave the trailer a VERY wide berth. In fact, I often advise people to put a trailer on just to get some more road space - eg if cycling with kids. Sounds like you were on a busier road than we normally were though.

    I doubt that they didn't see it, they just presumably don't know how to overtake safely.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  3. fimm
    Member

    Frivolous suggestion:
    Sit the older child in the off-side seat and present them with a "lance" made out of a pole with a card head. Encourage them to wave it vigorously out into the traffic.

    More serious suggestion:
    The flags that some recumbent users have can't produce much drag, I would have thought? Again trying to angle it out a bit so that you look even wider than you are?

    Posted 7 years ago #

  4. Lezzles
    Member

    Thanks both - when I attached the babyseat to the back of my bike cars definitely gave me a wider berth. Particularly when there was a gesticulating child in the back. So I found it pretty crappy that the trailer didn't have the same reaction.

    I've bought a massive flag and might get some more of the LED lights from Decathlon that can attach onto the poles.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  5. Frenchy
    Member

    I can't help much with trailer advice, but if you use Gilmerton Station Road frequently, I'd consider detouring along Gilmerton Dykes Road/Ravenscroft Gardens/Drum Street. This adds a half mile, some climbing and a not-particularly-pleasant right turn onto Drum St, but is a much quieter route.

    Another problem is the lack of a connection between the Roslin-Gilmerton cycle route and the Penicuik-Eskbank cycle route. Not sure there's much that can be done to fix that (without getting laughed out of Midlothian Council's finance meeting, anyway).

    The good news is that the Gilmerton-Shawfair cycle route is on its way, and will include a ramp to access it from Drum Street.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  6. Lezzles
    Member

    That would be brilliant if the link did open up soon - we'd like to get to Musselburgh for ice-cream and currently the only route I can work out from Roslin (without doing the glen) is to cycle to Dobbies, then through Dalkeith Country Park onto the cycle route 1 past Dalkeith High School. I think I'd have earned my ice-cream by then.

    Posted 7 years ago #

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