Five things we love about everyday family life with a bike

"Dad, look at the pattern!" It's still cold in the morning and there's a haze over the rooftops of the city. Our daughter notices the beautiful pattern of the waves on the canal and asks why the water makes these movements. We can explain that the surface of the water is fighting against the wind all the time and has to dodge all kinds of influences, but of course that's not enough for her. She has noticed it because we pass this place every day. Either by bike or on foot. A few weeks ago, the water was so low that we were able to discover sunken bicycles in the muddy, slimy bottom. Just a few weeks earlier, the surface was icy and we saw the tracks of seagulls and ducks. We would probably have missed all this if we had been driving.

in 2019, as a family with young children, we made the decision to completely do without our own car and instead rely on bicycles in our everyday lives. Not just out of ideology, but because having our own car was less and less useful to us than it was a burden. And even if it is a challenge at times, we love this way of life.

We particularly like these five things:

We enjoy being outside so often and for so long. The warm sun tickles our skin in summer, we fight the rain and wind in fall, feel the cold winter air and then experience the spirit of nature's awakening in spring - it all has its own special charm. We perceive these changes much more intensely, learn to accept the weather as it is and can even enjoy it. And: we humans need brightness. Light makes us happy. Even on the darkest rainy day, we have more lumens outside than in the brightest enclosed space. And a car is ultimately nothing more than a closed room.

Everyday journeys become relaxation. Everyday journeys are rarely relaxing, because most people just want to get somewhere as quickly as possible. For us, the journey is also the destination. Whether we walk or cycle, we expose ourselves as little as possible to the stress of road traffic. We take shortcuts through alleyways and gardens, take detours through the park and stop spontaneously to admire the beauty around us. Impossible with a car! And we only have to sacrifice a few extra minutes for these moments. ...but is it really a sacrifice?

Our children get a better sense of their surroundings and nature. They memorize paths that they can walk or drive themselves, automatically get lots of impressions and help shape our paths. Every city offers opportunities to discover and experience small things without having to make a big trip. It is often our children who draw our attention to a special bird on the canal or the tulips by the wayside. And then we have the opportunity to talk to them about it and spend more active time.

The routes are easier to plan. Depending on the length of the route, it would sometimes be quicker by car than by bike. But we always know in advance how long we will need for certain routes, because there are no traffic jams on the cycle path and even headwinds don't bother us thanks to electric assistance. What's more, there's no need to search for a parking space, because in most cases we can even park right outside the door.

Even if we didn't do any sport, we get exercise every day. This is a huge contribution to our health and well-being. Especially with children, we are active and on our feet all day anyway. But thanks to the daily distances we cover under our own steam, we get more exercise than if we were to drive and visit a gym twice a week to compensate. This also gives us more time to do things we enjoy. ...like sport, for example :D

Of course, it's not practical for everyone to cycle or walk all of their daily journeys and it depends a lot on where you live and what your living situation is like. But here are a few tips and points that might make it easier for you to leave the car at home more often:

1. Ask yourself which journeys are necessary in your everyday life and whether some could be shortened or eliminated completely.

2. Several smaller purchases spread out over the week can easily be done on foot or by bike, as opposed to one large purchase per week.

3. Car sharing can replace owning a car in many cases, as you can rent a car that suits your needs.

4. An e-bike or e-cargo bike makes routes plannable and you can take any amount with you. It definitely lowers the inhibition threshold for using a bike instead of a car.

5. Good clothing takes the fear out of rainy weather and cold days. Warm, breathable clothing helps you to feel comfortable on your bike even when you would rather have stayed indoors. And even on particularly hot days, a shirt made of merino wool or functional material will help you feel fresh for longer.

Try it out for a while, the change of perspective is worth it! Spring is starting now, thebesttime for cycling and being outdoors. Here's to another year without a car!

Text and pictures: Radelbande