How has owning an Urban Arrow changed your life?

We live in Alameda, CA, which is a small, flat island with a relatively mild climate year round: the PERFECT location for a family cargo bike. I chose my UA over my car most days while taking my 7 year old to elementary school and my 5 year old to Nature School. I ride it to our local farmer's market and fill up the front with fresh eggs, bread and delicious produce. I easily zip to the post office or to the coffee shop to meet a friend and always get the best parking right in front, almost always paired with people stopping to ask questions about my bike :)

My oldest son is special needs and cannot move independently. With a few tweaks, the Urban Arrow has given us so much freedom, finally allowing us to go out on biking adventures all together as a family of five. He loves the wind in his hair and the vibrations of the bike. It's such a wonderful thing to be able to see him experience that joy.

My younger boys (age 5 & 7) have recently gained the confidence to ride their own bikes along side my UA but still choose to pile in from time to time. I am able to tow their bikes when they get tired and prefer to be chauffeured around town :) Just the other day, we biked all together across the island to a brewery to meet friends (10 miles round trip). Each one of my kids took a turn in my bike at some point. I love having the space to accommodate all of them!

If you have children, what do they think/say about riding in the Urban Arrow?

All three of my boys (5, 7, 9) LOVE our UA. My 5 year old will literally wave to strangers as we ride by like he is in a parade LOL. My 7 year old, who is an avid reader, will bring books to read. And my 9 year old who is special needs enjoys the wind in his face and the vibration of the bike.

Do you reach for your Urban Arrow more often than your car keys?

Yes! Luckily our weather is mild here and our island has a max speed limit of 25MPH so honestly most days it makes MORE sense to ride the bike - I'll get there in just about the same amount of time (in turbo mode I average about 20MPH) AND I never have to search for parking!

How do you use your Urban Arrow? Commuting, errands, weekend adventures... tell us about it!

I use it for school drop offs and pick ups, going to the farmer's market, errands, meeting friends for coffee, and taking my special needs son on bike rides he otherwise would never get to enjoy.

What do you usually carry in your Urban Arrow?

An extra blanket if they boys get chilly, my sunhat for when I arrive at my destination, & my water bottle!

What is the largest or heaviest item you've transported with your Urban Arrow?

My son's adaptive special needs stroller! (17.1 KG!)

What are your thoughts about the role of cycling and e-cargo bikes in a more sustainable future?

So important! Our little island town is really making an effort to create safer bike lanes and access across the island. With three small kids, it's very important that I feel it is safe for all of us to be out on our bikes. I've added a lot of eye-catching reflective pieces to my UA to increase visibility. I love that most days, it makes more sense for me to ride my UA vs. driving my car - especially with a child who otherwise needs a wheelchair accessible vehicle!

What has been your greatest or most memorable adventure with your Urban Arrow?

Perhaps the adventure I went on to get it! I knew I wanted an Urban Arrow but at the time couldn't afford a one new. I created an alert on Craigslist and FB Marketplace with a very wide radius (like 500 miles!). Then I waited. There were very few used UAs being sold at the time since there were still relatively new in the states. But I was patient. A few popped up that were sold before I could even reach out. But then I saw an ad for one for sale in LA (370 miles away!). I reached out quickly and luckily - despite the large number of responses she received - the questions I asked and the knowledge of UA bikes I conveyed in my message made me stand out. The sweet mom who was relocating her family abroad was so touched by my desire to get a UA for my special needs son, she was willing to hold the bike for me a week while I coordinated a trip down to LA to pick it up. I did the long drive solo, rented a uHaul, picked up the UA and then roadtripped back home with one of my best friends from college. We sang show tunes for 7 straight hours with my UA securely tied down in the uHaul behind us. It was an epic journey that was met with such an exuberant homecoming! All of my boys were so excited to take it for a test spin as soon as we unloaded it from the trailer.

Anything else you would like to share about your Urban Arrow or your experience with it?

I love how it is such a great conversation starter. People walk up to me all the time and ask me about it or comment on how cool it is!