Ever wanted to cycle with your family but don’t know where to start? Want to join the increasing numbers of people cycling with their children? Well our Family Cycling Library could be for you!
Lewisham Cyclists manage a Family Cycling Library here in Lewisham, similar to one running in Hackney.
We took our inspiration on the project from them and the video below explains how it works.
Lewisham Family Cycling Library has a range of equipment available for hire, to make cycling with your children, however young, possible. This includes a Christiania electric cargo trike with space for up to 4 kids. We also have some children’s rear-mounted and front mounting seats as well as child carrying trailers.
Once you’ve had a 20 minute training session, you can borrow the e-trike for a month. We just require a refundable £100 deposit and to perform a simple ID check before you ride away.
You can arrange a cargotrike loan or to borrow trailers or child seats, by completing the form at this link, or by emailing us directly.
We can also arrange private loan sessions with local schools, community groups, businesses and individual residents in Lewisham. Here we would provide full training on how to use all equipment and also useful advice on how to look after it.
Testimonials
Here are some comments from people who have borrowed equipment from us:
“It was great fun borrowing the e-cargo bike. As a family that cycles a lot already, I was surprised how good it was for journeys that we avoided previously based on distance. So instead of combining different transport modes to get to piano lessons in Crofton Park , we cycled all the way and back (and enjoyed it too). We also did the Bromley Junior parkrun, previously too far for our 5-year old to cycle. It’s a sociable way to travel as I can see the children and talk to them as we ride. I even managed 4 young children in there for Halloween and it worked brilliantly. I am convinced an e-cargo bike is suitable for us as a young family and will be useful for at least the next 5 years (until our children reach secondary age). I could also use the e-trike for business purposes as we run a cafe. We are keen to avoid owning a car/van but do sometimes have to buy heavy items at short notice e.g. milk. The e-trike provides us with an alternative more sustainable option.” Steven J.
“Borrowing the e-trike was an amazing experience. I was a bit apprehensive at first due to the weather and worrying it would be too cold for the children but in the end that made the experience all the better, more exciting. The children absolutely loved it. I was able to get all 3 of my children in the trike and do shopping too with enough space for 4-5 big shopping bags! I started using the trike rather than my car and can now see how our family could use one as our main source of transportation. I felt it was also a means for me to keep fit. I rode the bike everyday to drop my son to school and to do errands. Kept me active ” Kamara
“Loaning the trike was not only great fun, but helped our family decide that we could easily do the school run this way. If I hadn’t had the chance to try it out, had the training session with Tim and Jane, and built up my confidence using it, we would never have gone ahead and bought our own. Which we have now done! And loving it. Thanks, Lewisham Cyclists!” Tom
You can read more about how some of our local families in Lewisham get around with their children on bikes here on our blog or read some of the testimonials at the bottom of this page.