Use of trailgators in London

PBo

Hi all.

I'm looking for opinions as to the safety of trailgators for use on the roads in London.

Let me give you some background:
I lived in north London when my son was born and from age 1 he used a rear bike seat. We travelled predominately on back roads, cycle lanes, parks etc.

We moved to Sheffield 3 years ago and carried on a similar pattern of use.
He's now 5 and outgrew his seat, so now has his own bike, for which we purchased a Trailgator. He can't ride it on his own yet, but we continued to use the bikes and trailgator on similar roads. Occasionally we'd use busier roads but only when necessary for short spells. In all the time of using both child transport methods I personally have never had a close shave - on the contrary I find that drivers seem to give more room.

Anyway, we have moved back to north London and I want to continue to take my son out on the Trailgator. However my wife is much more worried about it back here. I have the tfl cycle maps, plus I have been a long time London cyclist so also have my own knowledge of good routes etc. I'm not planning to cycle into Oxford street or anything, just trips around wood green/ ally pally/crouch end/Hornsey/ finsbury park areas. I am a very confident, experienced cyclist, used to commuting in London.

I would like to hear other people's opinions on this- pros and cons- so I can show them to my wife, either to reassure or to come up with a compromise.

Thanks.

baudman

:?

Is she worried about you riding them too? Or just your son?

It's natural parental instinct to want to keep your kids safe. I agree with your statements, and I've seen the same myself - drivers do give you more clearance when there's a child obviously visible. If she's not there with you, it's something she can't 'control' and so it's natural to worry more.

On the other hand, there's always a chance something may happen. But I don't live my life in fear, and the stats back it up that you're safer on a bicycle than you are as a pedestrian.

FWIW, I semi-often ride with my 5yo on the trailgator. We do avoid the busiest/narrowest roads, but otherwise, we'll go pretty-much anywhere I regularly ride. Having said that, we often to favour off-street bike paths so she can ride unattached - thus the benefit of the TrailGator.

PBo

not worried about me, just the little 'un!

interesting that you too perceive that you actually get more room...

thanks for the reply.

wyadvd

yes i dont ride around in London, but run my daughter the 3 or 4 miles from where I live in kent to her school sometimes. By enlarge most motorists are hyper careful around us. I was going though sandwich town the other day though ( 20 is plenty zone) and a merc came up behind me on a one way single track stretch and just honked his horn. I gave some less than helpful gesticulations over my daughters head, and he just honked his horn continuously for the next 500 m. then overtook us on a blind bend. all in a quiet market town with narrow roads, with peds all around. what is wrong with some people? thankfully a minority.

Mr Will

I've been pondering a similar dilemma recently as my 3 year old daughter has just got a new bike and I am planning on buying a trailgator to take her on a few longer rides.

For London roads though, I think I'll stick with carrying her in a trailer (possibly with a miniature bike rack on the back!). Maybe my opinion will change after I have taken her out with the trailgator a few times, but she seems a lot more vulnerable compared to the trailer, which is more visible, surrounds her with a metal cage, won't fall over and she can't fall off! The tiniest clip from a car or even a big pot-hole bouncing her off the bike has so much potential to do harm, I just wouldn't risk it in traffic.