Bike Trailer V. Bike Seat

[Hannah]

Hi Everyone, My little guy is now old enough to ride in trailers or bike seats.  The commute to his daycare is 7.5 miles, and I will need to do it 3-4X per week (depending on my husband's schedule).

I am wondering if I should go with a trailer or a rear bike seat.

Are there strong opinions either way? Factors I am trying to weigh are safety, ease of ride (I am a slow accelerator), and "future expansion" (we are hoping to have more kids in a few years).

[JoyBlogette]

We went with the trailer as I found it to be more flexible (still works for bigger kids not quite ready to ride on their own) and we got a double so it can accomodate 2 kiddos (even though we only have one now).  He'll still wear a helmet in the trailer and I feel like this makes it a safer option since he has sort of "double" protection with the trailer+helmet.

That said, my parents used the bike seats for us as kids and they worked great.

Trailer will also be more expensive if that is a factor.

[ephillipsme]

My kids are older now but we went with the trailer.  A bit more flexible in it's usage and has space to carry the extra items for the kids.  We bought a Burley on Craigslist and sold it for the same price 6 years later.  There are deals out there, and a used one in good shape still holds it value.  Sometime i wish i still had the trailer as it was useful for light cargo as well.

[MidwestGal]

Strictly for safety I would go with the trailer.  Not only can it haul groceries on store trips, but less-than-aware drivers have to really TRY to NOT SEE a brightly colored trailer with a red safety flag waving out on top/behind it.  And whether or not you have groceries or the child inside, they may generally assume that the cargo is a kid, thereby giving you more space on the road.  It is heavier (slower) and more expensive, but doubly useful.

[GuitarStv]

I like trailers better.  The kid is closer to the ground, and strapped in pretty well . . . which seems safer to me.  With a bike seat there's a long fall for the kid if you should take a tumble, and having the weight up high is inherently less stable for your bike.  Plus, a trailer is handy for picking up groceries.

[Ottawa]

I like trailers better.  The kid is closer to the ground, and strapped in pretty well . . . which seems safer to me.  With a bike seat there's a long fall for the kid if you should take a tumble, and having the weight up high is inherently less stable for your bike.  Plus, a trailer is handy for picking up groceries.

Yes!  Although....I've rolled the trailer a couple times.  That 5 point harness and kid helmet comes in really handy though!

[bogart]

I researched this when my kid was little and the sense I got was that trailers are safer, because you remove (or at least vastly reduce) the risks associated with toppling.  The smaller profile of the bike seat seemed handy and maybe marginally less (two-vehicle) accident prone, but as far as I could tell from the literature, there's not really much benefit from that (you're not more likely to be involved in an accident with a car because you have a trailer).

[gillstone]

Go with the trailer, even when they outgrow it you can still use it to haul groceries.

[scottydog]

+1 for getting a trailer

We went through this decision about 5 years ago and chose the trailer.  We have one friend who was particularly adamant that most kids' bike injuries happen when the bike is stationary, not in traffic (e.g. when a bike topples over with a kid in the seat) and the trailer eliminates that risk.  We went with the chariot brand (purchased brand new, in our pre-mustachian days, while feeling rich from a severance package payout), which has attachments for jogging, biking, hiking, and cross-country skiing.  What really struck me was a youtube video of kids happily giggling away in an upside-down trailer just after it crashed at the bottom of a ski hill.  The 5-point harness is great.  The trailer also seems more comfortable when the kids are sleeping; it's definitely more comfortable than our cargo bike.

We also bought a double trailer when we only had one kid.  Since then we've had 2 more children, and the extra volume is very handy for grocery runs too.  Plus the bigger trailer gives extra air resistance for training. :-)  Any time you ride without the trailer, it's as if someone put a power boost on your bike.

Of course, we've since upgraded to a cargo bike that's big enough to carry all 3 kids.  While I love the cargo bike, I must admit that it wasn't a very mustachian purchase.  I still use the trailer, in jogging mode, when the snowbanks get too high for me to comfortable take the kids in the cargo bike.

[PindyStache]

I don't disagree with anything said, but I've actually been bike commuting with a little one for 2 years now and vastly prefer a seat (mine is mounted between seatpost & handlebars--EZ Ride).

The big plus is being able to interact. I truly miss not being able to discuss various animals, trees, trucks, people, etc. when I'm not biking with my son. With a trailer it is very difficult to hear one another. I agree it is probably less safe, but in my own non-scientific estimation it's not that different as long as you don't leave the kid perched up on the seat without holding onto the bike yourself.

The seat is also much more efficient to bike with. I don't notice much of a difference with the seat, while with the trailer it clearly takes much more effort to pull. I do use it for groceries and in rainy/snowy weather for day care. I bike enough miles that I'm not looking for additional air resistance training! :)

Not that it is the primary concern here, but the seats are also less expensive than trailers. I bought my seat for $60 and an additional mounting bar for $20 to put on my wife's bike so she can carry the seat too. Even bought used off CL, our trailer was $160.

[Hannah]

Thanks everyone! With the exception of Mr. PindyStache it seems like everyone is in favor of a trailer for safety and grocery purchases (we live so close to an Aldi that this isn't really an added benefit right now, but I guess its nice to consider other POV). My friends are going to lend us a functional trailer that I will use for a few weeks to see if I can handle the ride. Two weeks from now I will either be well on my way to jacked legs or searching the interwebs for a child seat.

[Undecided]

Thanks everyone! With the exception of Mr. PindyStache it seems like everyone is in favor of a trailer for safety and grocery purchases (we live so close to an Aldi that this isn't really an added benefit right now, but I guess its nice to consider other POV). My friends are going to lend us a functional trailer that I will use for a few weeks to see if I can handle the ride. Two weeks from now I will either be well on my way to jacked legs or searching the interwebs for a child seat.

I'll quote from another thread on this:

We had trouble fitting seats on any of our bikes. I recommend a trailer. Our kids (who are big for their age) started riding in a trailer at about 10 months. They love it.

I've used both. They have different purposes at my house. A short, easy ride with the chair means easy "conversation" with the passenger that isn't possible with the trailer. But the trailer is great for nap-worthy rides.

[EngineerMum]

It sounds like it won't be relevant to the OP, but I'll mention it in case it's helpful. When I drop my 2 year old off at day care, it's on the way to my own work. I wouldn't mind riding the 1/2 mile or so with the trailer, but it would be annoying to do the rest of the 16 km trip dragging it along. Whereas an empty bike seat has a negligible effect.
On the flipside - the awkward carrying of baby bag + my backpack is challenging.
Net effect, I'm using the baby seat, DH (who works from home) has the carriage hitch on his bike.

[greaper007]

Trailer.   

1. Safer

2. Keeps the kids out of the elements

3. It has a longer lifespan.    Even when the kids outgrow it, it makes a killer grocery or cargo carrier.  (Long distance touring with your current bike).

Look for sales at the end of the summer.   I picked up a schwinn bike trailer for $40 at Target about 4 years ago.   It's not the greatest quality but heavy duty duct tape has fixed the majority of its problems.

[lackofstache]

A seat is much better when kids are real young, IMO. Quality time where you can interact with one another, see the same things & address problems immediately is worthwhile. The beauty is you can get them cheap/used on craigslist, use it for a coupla years & then sell for close to the same amount. Trailers suck, especially over 7.5 miles. Regardless of the bike that's pulling the trailer, you notice it much more than seat. We've got a Burley trailer, we got it cheap & only use it in the rain or snow. To those espousing a lack of safety in seats, I think they're kidding themselves, a fabric net is no more protective than a plastic seat.

At this point I ride a Yuba Mundo most of the time when I've got both our children. We all enjoy it more than a trailer or car.

[La Bibliotecaria Feroz]

I just got a double trailer and I really like. It has a nice amount of cargo space behind the kids for the diaper bag, and I could also fit, say, my gym bag or a picnic lunch. I find that I can still interact with them, at least on quiet trails. Awkward to maneuver, though.

[SisterX]

The big plus is being able to interact. I truly miss not being able to discuss various animals, trees, trucks, people, etc. when I'm not biking with my son. With a trailer it is very difficult to hear one another.

I disagree.  We've got a trailer that I've been "driving" my 7 month old around in for about 2 months now.  She loves it, and I get serenaded around town with "Wah wah wah wah blem ah" and then spitting.  :)  She's a huuuuge fan of spitting noises right now, and it makes me laugh so I think that encourages her.  But my child doesn't interact very much when she's taking in the world, either.  Even on walks when she's strapped to my chest in the Ergo, she likes to see my face but mostly just sucks on the pacifier and silently examines the world.  She saves the chatting for when we're home.  :)

Love the trailer.  So easy to go grocery shopping, go to the farmer's market, etc.  However, I use bike trails rather than riding in traffic, so if you're in traffic a lot you might feel differently.  Also, I live in a fairly small town so our need to go very far is seriously limited.  I think the longest single ride with the trailer was 6 miles round-trip.

[bogart]

To those espousing a lack of safety in seats, I think they're kidding themselves, a fabric net is no more protective than a plastic seat.

Sure, but a seat is a good bit higher to topple from.  It's not the protection I was interested in (I would agree that neither offers any to speak of), it was the risk of getting whacked (bounced, dropped) in the first place.

[GuitarStv]

To those espousing a lack of safety in seats, I think they're kidding themselves, a fabric net is no more protective than a plastic seat.

Sure, but a seat is a good bit higher to topple from.  It's not the protection I was interested in (I would agree that neither offers any to speak of), it was the risk of getting whacked (bounced, dropped) in the first place.

If I flip the bike on it's side my trailer doesn't flip.  If I do manage to flip the trailer on it's side, our baby is suspended from the thee point harness and won't smash into the ground as the frame of the trailer it pretty sturdy.  Couple that with the fact that the kid is much lower, so will be falling a significantly shorter distance and that makes trailers much safer than bike seats.

[Undecided]

To those espousing a lack of safety in seats, I think they're kidding themselves, a fabric net is no more protective than a plastic seat.

Sure, but a seat is a good bit higher to topple from.  It's not the protection I was interested in (I would agree that neither offers any to speak of), it was the risk of getting whacked (bounced, dropped) in the first place.

If I flip the bike on it's side my trailer doesn't flip.  If I do manage to flip the trailer on it's side, our baby is suspended from the thee point harness and won't smash into the ground as the frame of the trailer it pretty sturdy.  Couple that with the fact that the kid is much lower, so will be falling a significantly shorter distance and that makes trailers much safer than bike seats.

But my one-sided conjecture proves that seats are safer! Car bumpers are generally at a height to smash directly into bike trailers. Threats to trailers aren't as easily seen by the riding parent. Which is all to say, none of what anyone has said here is at all convincing about safety. I use both, a lot, and continue to think each has its purpose and is reasonably safe when used properly.

[bogart]

But my one-sided conjecture proves that seats are safer! Car bumpers are generally at a height to smash directly into bike trailers. Threats to trailers aren't as easily seen by the riding parent. Which is all to say, none of what anyone has said here is at all convincing about safety. I use both, a lot, and continue to think each has its purpose and is reasonably safe when used properly.

Efforts to study the topic systematically have appeared in peer-reviewed publications:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=bike+trailer+child+seat+safety .

[Undecided]

But my one-sided conjecture proves that seats are safer! Car bumpers are generally at a height to smash directly into bike trailers. Threats to trailers aren't as easily seen by the riding parent. Which is all to say, none of what anyone has said here is at all convincing about safety. I use both, a lot, and continue to think each has its purpose and is reasonably safe when used properly.

Efforts to study the topic systematically have appeared in peer-reviewed publications:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=bike+trailer+child+seat+safety .

This review of 16-22 year old data doesn't suggest that the study considered relative mileage. They don't seem to even consider relative number of each in use. Absent that, I don't see this as systematic or useful. I doubt there will be any good information before my kids are done with both.

[bogart]

This review of 16-22 year old data doesn't suggest that the study considered relative mileage. They don't seem to even consider relative number of each in use. Absent that, I don't see this as systematic or useful. I doubt there will be any good information before my kids are done with both.

Yes, fair enough :)

[Hannah]

I'm glad that the bike seat people spoke up. Pulling a trailer (even one way and with a relatively small baby) is very difficult for me. I am planning to see if a bike seat will work for my bike this weekend.

Per some of the concerns regarding most injuries happening while not riding, my husband has agreed to create, "the safest freaking kickstand that this world has ever seen"

[PindyStache]

My personal approach is just to never leave the kid in the bike seat without standing there, holding on myself (or biking of course). They try and grab the handle bars, ring the bell, shift gears, reach the pedals, bounce back & forth, etc. and I wouldn't want to rely even on "the safest freaking kickstand that this world has ever seen."

This has led on multiple occasions to me taking them back out of the bike seat, taking care of a forgotten item (close the door, get my own helmet, get my phone, etc.), then putting them back in.

[Undecided]

My personal approach is just to never leave the kid in the bike seat without standing there, holding on myself (or biking of course). They try and grab the handle bars, ring the bell, shift gears, reach the pedals, bounce back & forth, etc. and I wouldn't want to rely even on "the safest freaking kickstand that this world has ever seen."

This has led on multiple occasions to me taking them back out of the bike seat, taking care of a forgotten item (close the door, get my own helmet, get my phone, etc.), then putting them back in.

Yep, that's part of my "when used properly" standard, for sure. Like anything else, doing it many, many times cuts down on the frequency of missed steps in the process.

[Hannah]

To clarify, I'm not intending to leave him in there unattended, but I might need two hands to buckle or unbuckle, and I want to be able to do that steadily.

[MayDay]

We had a chariot and loved it for two kids.  But man, it is hevy to pull, and huge.  I just sold it on CL because mine ride trail-a-bikes now.  If I want a trailer for cargo I will pick up a cheap one, not a nice chariot!

 If we were to have a third at this point I would do the bike seat for sure.  I just have no interest in lugging a trailer ever again in my life!