Urban Arrow Tales: Family Uzunbacak on the move

Who are you?

I am Melisa Uzunbacak (30), working as a structural engineer. Together with my husband, our son Ata, and our dog Badem, I live in Antwerp South. We have been proud users of our Urban Arrow since April 2025.

I am a real city person and have lived in Antwerp almost my entire life. After a major new-build project, we lived in Edegem for a year and a half, but no matter how beautiful our house was there: my heart remained in the city. Everything that is important to us takes place here: family, friends, work, and our favorite spots. When I discovered I was pregnant with Ata, that longing for the city only grew stronger. Shortly before his birth, we moved back to Antwerp South, and it immediately felt like coming home.

What was the main reason you decided to purchase an Urban Arrow cargo bike?

Actually, our lifestyle. We do almost everything in the city and wanted to be less dependent on the car. When we lived in Edegem, we had to take the car for everything, and that felt very unnatural to me.

After our return to Antwerp, and with Ata here now, we wanted to find a practical way to move around as a family. We were looking for something that would allow us to get around quickly, flexibly, and above all, cozily. The Urban Arrow quickly turned out to be the perfect match. Looking back, the bike has brought us even more than we had anticipated.

When did you first go out with Ata and Badem? And what do you remember about this first cargo bike adventure?

That was shortly after we bought the Urban Arrow; Ata was about ten months old at the time. I mainly remember how fun it was right away. Ata was looking around curiously, Badem was trying to understand everything, and we were mostly curious about how it would all go.

What stayed with me the most were the reactions of the people around us. We saw smiles everywhere. A baby and a dog sitting cozily next to each other in a cargo bike: it makes people spontaneously happy. It felt right for us immediately, too. Back then, we already realized that this bike was going to bring us a lot of beautiful moments.

What is it like to have a dog in the cargo bike?

In the beginning, Badem found it a bit strange. She didn't quite understand what that big cargo bike was exactly and why she had to sit in it. But fortunately, that didn't last long! She got used to the box surprisingly quickly, and today, she is probably the biggest fan of all.

When we are about to leave, she is often already waiting next to the Urban Arrow in the garage. If there is a choice between the car and the cargo bike, she makes it very clear where her preference lies. Together with Ata, she has now formed a great duo. They sit cozily next to each other and both seem to enjoy the ride equally.

How has the cargo bike changed your daily routine, and what are the biggest benefits?

Much more than we had expected beforehand! We use it for groceries, to go to the park, to visit family, to grab a coffee, or just to go for a ride through the city. The biggest difference is that everything has become much more spontaneous. We never have to think about parking or traffic anymore. We just jump on the bike and leave. What used to be a commute now often feels like an outing in itself.

The practical advantage in Antwerp is, of course, enormous: we are often faster with the cargo bike than with the car, and parking problems simply don't exist anymore. But for me, the greatest added value lies in the feeling of happiness. I get genuinely happy seeing Ata and Badem together in the box. The Urban Arrow has not only saved us time, but it has also brought us a lot of beautiful memories.

What always goes with you in the cargo bike, and do you have specific accessories?

Our camera and tripod are permanent passengers! We love making videos of our outings and sharing them on social media. In addition, there are usually snacks, water bottles, toys, and all kinds of stuff that you, as a parent, know will come in handy sooner or later.

We haven't made any adjustments to the bike itself, but we have purchased almost all the accessories by now. We use the raincover very often, and the extra bench also comes in handy regularly when Ata wants to bring a friend along. They are all accessories that truly make our daily life easier. The nice thing is that we didn't buy the accessories 'just in case': we effectively use all of them in our daily lives.

Do you have any tips for families considering a cargo bike?

Just do it! We haven't regretted our purchase for a single second. Of course, you look at the practical side first, but in the end, you get so much more in return. It is one of the best investments we have made as a family.

Which fun spots in Antwerp and the surrounding area would you recommend to other families?

We love cycling to the Zuidpark and the Harmoniepark to relax for a bit. Along the way, we like to stop for a coffee at Andy's or Nives. For a delicious matcha, we usually go to Daily Dose.

And a permanent favorite is The Barn in the South district. That is an organic, zero-waste supermarket where we can literally just ride inside with our cargo bike! Those are the kind of small things that make life with a cargo bike in the city so much fun. You notice that the bike truly becomes a part of your lifestyle, and not just a way to get from point A to point B.