These are great options for a competent cyclist to transport children, elderly people, people with limited mobility, or those who otherwise might not be able to enjoy cycling.

Benefits

Economic & Lifestyle Opportunities

"Some possibilities...

grocery shopping or delivery
moving to a new home
critical mass bike ride
transport bicycles
mobile renewable energy
gardening
trash/recycling pickup
newspaper delivery
bicycle rickshaw service
ice cream cart
dumpster diving
ambulance in cities
operating supply chains at protests and actions
moving food/waste/tools on a farm
foraging..." - Pedal People: Community Bike Cart Design

Problems

A trailer can increase your overall weight, and may become unwieldy or even dangerous when going around corners or braking. Always make sure you can safely stop and start before going on the road or uneven terrain.

Resources

DIY Trailer Instructions

We have not tried to build all of these trailers ourselves, so use common sense and do adequate research before trying a project yourself. Always use protective gear and try to work with a knowledgeable person if you haven't done this type of work before yourself.

International Bicycle Fund Cargo Trailer: Assembly Instructions (abridged)

Safety

Safety first! Generally speaking, bikes and their relatives are safer than traveling by vehicle, as speeds are slower, and weights are lower. However all that goes away when riding with or through traffic. This section focuses on some basics of safety.

Helmets On!

Helmets save lives! Even if you think you are a "good rider", that doesn't protect you from dangerous drivers who don't follow road laws or unexpected situations such as icy roads.

If you feel uncomfortable about buying plastic products, consider supporting ocean cleanups buy buying helmets made from ocean-harvested plastic.

Ocean Plastic Products

BikeTips to keep your kid safe on two wheels.

Learn Your Region's Hand Signals!

Hand signals vary from country to country, so make sure you know your local signals, and learn foreign safety signs or signals any time you expect to cycle abroad.

Bright At Night

Lights and reflective equipment can boost your visibility, but wearing bright, visible clothing can also help. Always try to avoid wearing black or other dark clothes if you think you'll be cycling near or after dark.

Studies have found riders massively over-estimate how visible they are by many yards or meters, while vehicles only tend to notice riders when they are a few feet away from the head lights.

Kids in Bike Trailers

Babies in bike trailers exposed to higher levels of pollutants than their parents, study findsBabies and children sitting in bicycle trailers breathe in more polluted air than the adults riding the bikes that pull them—but trailer covers can help halve air pollution levels, according to research from the University of Surrey.

Pro: These are a great way to bring young kids along on a ride, even if they are too heavy for a seat attached to the bike itself. Kids get a great view of their neighborhood, and the seat is low enough that (once old enough) they can climb in themselves. The cover can protect children, pets, shopping, tools, or other cargo from rain and other unpleasant elements. The cover can also reduce road pollution reaching the child.

Con: Children closer to the road can end up breathing more pollutants than parents or kids higher on the bike (scientists were surprised to learn that kids in cars are also exposed to road pollution while waiting in traffic).

Solution: Try to ride on low-traffic roads, or better yet, away from roadways; for example along bike trails and in greenways or greenbelts. Traveling with the hood down and secure may also help protect children's lungs.

Organizations

International

Community Bike Cart Design

North America

Canada

Parachute is Canada's national charity dedicated to injury prevention.

Companies

Europe

UK

Carry Freedom "We create innovative high quality solutions tailored for people living in the real world. We have a dream, a dream of moving things without wasting resources using human pedal power. Every journey with a trailer is a journey without a car. By making “stuff carrying by bike” easy, we encourage more cycle journeys. Our trailers are frequently the last step for people to stop depending on their car."

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Bikes Trailers

Introduction