Mom in style: Red high-heeled wedges, purse in the front child seat; the back seat, her daughter
Photo credit: Emily Dumler
I must admit: my fervent enthusiasm for the bicycle-way-of-life comes from my own perspective. I do not (yet) have children, and I rarely transport anyone but myself – save for a ‘double-bike’ if a friend has a flat tire or left their bike at the wrong location. And fairly, I often get the comment from friends (who are parents) who state, “That’s nice, but wait until you have kids.”
Certainly, I sympathize with such sentiments; having one or several children adds an extra complication to the cycle-friendly lifestyle I simply take for granted. Interestingly though, this thought pattern often doesn’t resonate with the Dutch. While traveling with children takes a bit more thought, it is just as common – or more common – in the city to see parents drop their children at school by bike than by car; or run errands with kids, pets and groceries in a bakfiets (carrier-bike). Infants are willingly strapped into ‘booster seats’ on the handlebar and daycare providers have 8-seater carrier-wagon cycles to take children out for a moving-recess. Who needs a playground or a car when everything is close by and children enjoy the fresh-air transportation and exploration?
Of course, there are other reasons that facilitate a family-friendly cycling behaviour: urban planning tactics that facilitate safe cycling paths, air quality conditions, limited elevation change, relatively short distances and moderate temperatures. With such provisions, parents and children not only survive by adopting the bicycle as their main transport method bicycle, they thrive. After 2 years in the Netherlands and 3 years in Scandinavia before, it continues to fascinate and encourage me to see that this is possible. And, I’m not the only one… this cycling mentality is a photographer’s dream. A friend of mine recently visited Amsterdam & Groningen and took the most beautiful photos of the lifecycle by bicycle: from young love, to pregnant women to mothers with one or more children on the same two-wheels. Perhaps someday, this will be a more common scene in other cities with similar geography and planning: here’s hoping.
Dutch love – by bike
Photo credit: Emily Dumler
6 months pregnant & walking the dog – by bike of course
Photo credit: Emily Dumler
This is a ‘fold-away’ bike – easy to carry on the train or up the stairs. Once unfolded it easily accompanies a mother, daughter and pet through central Amsterdam
Photo credit: Emily Dumler
Family outing to the outdoor organic market: two kids, one mom and many a canal bridge to cross in Amsterdam’s Jordaan neighbourhood
Photo credit: Emily Dumler
Upgrading: The Dutch version of a station wagon
Photo credit: Emily Dumler
All the photographs in this post were taken by Emily Dumler.
