Pedal powered family transport?

[davepartridge]

Hi all,

Background: we're a busy family with me, my wife, two girls, and we also foster so frequently have additional children with us. We have a 7-seater car but lots of our journeys are one parent running the girls around town (30mph roads) to various clubs (about 2 miles each way). The girls are 10 and 8 but small and light (currently!).

I'd like to explore the option of some sort of electrically-assisted tricycle or quadricycle that could be used for around town journeys to reduce our reliance on the car. Ideally this would be covered in some way so it could be used in all weathers. If the passengers can assist with pedalling that is fine by me.

I've had a look around but have struggled to find anything particularly suitable. I've seen a couple of things on Alibaba but they're not EAPC-approved so would need registering and insuring, which I understand can be difficult.

Does anyone have any suggestions for what is out there?

Thanks,

Davae

 

[AGS]

Have you considered a side car for one of the girls and a pillion for the other?

Although this one is 750w for the US market. And isn’t a budget option. It could be made a bit more UK legal by dialling back the controller and removing the throttle and a 250w sticker on the motor.

And another problem is the side car is on the wrong side for the UK.

So maybe look for a European version if you can find one and your bank balance is big enough.

 

[Nealh]

With any large bike one has to think of the security and storage first most.

 

[AGS]

And also the one I posted is huge and ok for US side roads, but UK roads are another kettle of fish. Especially with kids on board.

 

[matthewslack]

A family near me with fairly young / small children X 2 are doing well with a Tern GSD with Bosch CargoLine motor.

But big children would work less well.

 

[AGS]

European e-bikes are so boring.

There is definitely a cultural difference between Europe and the US. In Europe we focus much more on function rather than form.

And in the US the trend is to completely ignore the law and make bikes as powerful as possible.

 

[Bogmonster666]

I can't think of much that fits the requirements, for such short distances, assuming not enormous hills, an appropriately geared 250w nominal motor and some human help would be sufficient. However, I can't find much.

These folks have some interesting options although not sure if they do e assisted anything?

Tandems & Multi-seat - Get Cycling - Inclusive Cycling Products

Our range of tandems and multi-seat cycles are available for all ages, budgets, cycling ability and purposes. Our team will help you find the right tandem.

www.getcycling.org.uk

 

[AGS]

This one is cool, it even has a steering wheel. It would need a mid drive motor though. Shame it’s left hand drive.

Berg Gran Tour Racer - Get Cycling

Four wheels, four people: two pedallers, two passengers. 100% fun. This great quadricycle offers fun for four. Due to its great looks and low-maintenance design, it’s a popular choice for multi-user environments like campsites, parks, schools and leisure centres. The rear seat positions are...

www.getcycling.org.uk

 

[guerney]

Convert a cycle rickshaw? Insurance would still be difficult, and you won't be able to transport all the kids at once.

cycle rickshaw for sale | eBay

Find great deals on eBay for cycle rickshaw. Shop with confidence.

www.ebay.co.uk

£450
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/155107967493

With a roof, from somewhere in Harrow:

Rickshaw pedicab electric trike cargo bike, taxi, coffee bike, Veluba Bike | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Rickshaw pedicab electric trike cargo bike, taxi, coffee bike, Veluba Bike at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products.

www.ebay.co.uk

Used pedicab:

Rickshaw Pedicab Velotaxi for sale | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Rickshaw Pedicab Velotaxi for sale at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products.

www.ebay.co.uk

From abroad:

 

[saneagle]

Maxpro are completely legal. They're used a lot in London. They have very powerful 250w motors that are more than adequate to power the thing around. Get one with their Revodrive motor that is a special cargo bike motor that drives the rear axle directly.

EcoTaxi | Europe's most fauvorite pedicab rickshaw

Manufactured for 15 years Ecotaxi is the most recognised and well regarded rickshaw among operator and riders alike.

www.maxpromobility.com

These people have been making pedicabs since 2004. Their pedicabs are fully- developed professional machines. Beware of cheaper solutions, many of which don't have rear differentials, so are difficult and unsafe to steer, and even if they do have them, they're cheap things that soon fail.

 

[davepartridge]

Thanks all - as I thought, the UK market is very underdeveloped for this sort of thing, which is a shame because it could make a real impact on reducing use of cars for short journeys.

Something like this (https://www.motrike.com/product-item/velotaxi/) looks ideal to me but it has a 1,000 Watt motor so would have to be registered and insured which I think will be challenging. I think something similar is used by Veluba in London (https://veluba.com/) but they appear to have a version with a 250 Watt motor so are legally compliant.

 

[flecc]

Thanks all - as I thought, the UK market is very underdeveloped for this sort of thing, which is a shame because it could make a real impact on reducing use of cars for short journeys.

Something like this (https://www.motrike.com/product-item/velotaxi/) looks ideal to me but it has a 1,000 Watt motor so would have to be registered and insured which I think will be challenging. I think something similar is used by Veluba in London (https://veluba.com/) but they appear to have a version with a 250 Watt motor so are legally compliant.

The Maxpro machines that Saneagle recommended are your best bet here and they do make a version with passenger weather protection, shown below. Electric assist versions of pedicabs are far from cheap though, a Maxpro typically from £6000.

 

[davepartridge]

The Maxpro machines that Saneagle recommended are your best bet here and they do make a version with passenger weather protection, shown below. Electric assist versions of pedicabs are far from cheap though, a Maxpro typically from £6000.

Thanks - I shall do some digging but price point is likely to be a barrier. I could get a second hand cheap electric car for less than that and charge it from my solar panels, but it wouldn't keep me as fit!

 

[flecc]

I could get a second hand cheap electric car for less than that and charge it from my solar panels, but it wouldn't keep me as fit!

Agreed, or even save the £6k for running your existing car!

Your problem is needing to carry two or more, for just one a tag-along add on half bike attached to any e-bike is ideal and gets the passenger helping too.

LINK
.

 

[guerney]

https://freedomforkids.co.uk/shop/special-needs-bikes-trailers-cycling-seats-disabled-children/igo-all-weather-canopy-bike-trailers/

FunTrain | 4 seat tandem bike by Van Raam | Van Raam

The FunTrain by Van Raam is a trailer with which you can extend the side by side bike Fun2Go and cycle with 4 persons. Want to know more? Read here!

www.vanraam.com

 

[guerney]

Agreed, or even save the £6k for running your existing car!

Your problem is needing to carry two or more, for just one a tag-along add on half bike attached to any e-bike is ideal and gets the passenger helping too.

LINK
.

One of those attached to a tandem? Or a sturdy DIY bike trailer like yours made using aluminium ladders perhaps, but with seats? Insurance would still probably be a problem.

 

[Bogmonster666]

Imagine how popular I would be cycling this up Cheddar Gorge on a sunny Sunday afternoon with my chums. Drivers sometimes toot their horns and wave at the cyclists on the Gorge, and are especially delighted when there is a group of them in a close knit formation creeping their way up the hill.



I'm sure we would get plenty of cheerful words of encouragement.

 

[StuartsProjects]

I would be cycling this up Cheddar Gorge on a sunny Sunday afternoon with my chums.

You should go climbing there, not cycling, much more fun, better views.



The route is Coronation Street.

 

[Bogmonster666]

You should go climbing there, not cycling, much more fun, better views.

Is that you?

I have climbed in Cheddar Gorge but rarely climb now. It was never my favourite place to climb. I have done a fair bit of caving in Cheddar Gorge (no, not the show caves). Unfortunately most of the caves in Cheddar currently have no access agreement which is very disappointing

Having lost my head for heights a bit, if I must be on a rope, it's underground where you can turn your lamp down and not see har far it is to fall. Strange that if you can't see the drop it isn't as scarry.

There is this little gem in reservoir hole ( not me in the photo but have been there ):



I rarely cycle in Cheddar Gorge, too busy, to many idiot drivers, not the nicest route up/down the Mendip's. For those in the area, the route up the hill past Tynings Farm is much more pleasant to cycle.

 

[StuartsProjects]

Is that you?

Nah, no cameras around when I did it.

 

[flecc]

One of those attached to a tandem? Or a sturdy DIY bike trailer like yours made using aluminium ladders perhaps, but with seats? Insurance would still probably be a problem.

There has been the odd tag-along tandem at times, for two different size kids, the last one without pedals. Another variant tag-along has an additional front carry-only seat for a toddler, mounted on the linking tube just over any rear carrier position.
.