Veloportation issue

You can feel September is crawling around the corner. More often we talk about Alyosha starting his school, what we need to prepare, what he needs to learn - yes, they are going to assess his knowledge there before classes even begin. But there is also a logistical issue, we still haven't figured out a way to cycle him over to the school.

Jen has to take Alyosha to school in the morning and pick him up in the afternoon with all three kids on the pedal power alone. Alyosha is capable of bicycling on his own there, but on the way back gradual descent with plenty of major intersections and stop signs makes it somewhat risky adventure - what if he fails to stop... When I bike with him on that route I usually bend to my side and grab his handle bar as we approach intersections or go uphill, but Jen, with two other kids on board, wouldn't be able to do it.

We decided to take a look at the inventory of what we have and check out some options for veloportation in our case.
We live downtown and school is about a mile away from us.

Here is our inventory right now:

• Mama's bike - Norco-Yorkville-ladies - nice and "minty" city bike
• Trailer - old shaken double capacity multi-purpose trailer
• Trail-gator - a long bar that hooks up Alyosha's bike to an adult bike by lifting up front wheel of the kid's bike
• Mama - one determined metro-mum
• Alyosha - a 5,4 years old bike loving dude
• Luka - a 2,8 years old can't-be-trusted-when-alone-with-his-little-brother metro-son
• Niki - a 6 months old no-choice-kinda-have-to-tag-along metro-baby

Solution #1:
Alyosha (5,4 y.o.) goes on the back rack of Mama's bike
Luka (2,8 y.o.) and Niki (6 months) go to the trailer
Pros: cheap solution, requires only purchase of a car seat for Niki. Easy to hook up trailer, unhook and store. Easy to operate with all three of the kids on board.
Cons: weak v-brakes will be under stress a lot and unreliable during wet weather, especially on the way back. Thin wheels will not make it with Mama and Alyosha on the back. A need to redesign the trailer, most likely permanently, to fit in the car seat for Niki.

Solution #2:
Tricycle with big basket on the front axle.
Alyosha goes on the back of the tricycle.
Luka and Niki go to the basket, custom modified to fit car seat and another child.
Pros: children are in front (well most of them anyway) and mother can see them. Tricycle folds in a half making it possible to park outside of the apartment building.
Cons: Expensive. Can't be used without the basket. Requires training and careful operation.



Solution #3:
Pedicab.
Alyosha, Luka and Niki go in the back cushioned seat.
Pros: safe. comfortable. easy. Can make money by working as a cab (for Papa).
Cons: expensive. big. problem with storage.



Solution #4:
Cargobike.
Alyosha goes on the back rack.
Luka and Niki sit in the front box.
Pros: It is a bike - the riding principle is just like on a regular bike. Kids (majority) are in the front. Unlike in tricycle, the weight is positioned lower to the ground and not on the front axle, making it easier to turn.
Cons: expensive. Long. Storage problems.



Solution #5:
Custom made.
We met with Ryan Hashagen who operates custom bike shop in Portland and he is interested in making something else for us. We will go to a few other places, check out different solutions, weigh them and may be come up with our own design.

We welcome your input with any relevant ideas.