“Go Mama, go Mama, go!” My two-year-old was cheering from the back of the bike as I huffed and puffed up a steep hill, his six-month-old brother strapped into a front seat and a backpack full of our gear for the day — computer, diapers, lunches — pulling me down. My thighs were burning, my heart pounding, and yet I had to laugh. This was motherhood and bicycle commuting colliding. That moment was both hilarious and humbling.
I had been commuting by bike for years, proudly pedaling my steel-framed road bike through rain, wind, and traffic. But with two kids and a full load, I was hitting my physical limit. Something had to give.
Cycling has long been part of my identity. I met my husband volunteering with Bike East Bay (then the East Bay Bicycle Coalition), and biking wasn’t just how we got from A to B — it was a lifestyle. Riding brought us joy, health, and a deep sense of community. It gave us freedom. But those early parenting years were physically intense, and the logistics of hauling two tiny humans, their gear, and the day’s essentials started to make my beloved road bike feel like an anchor. We wanted to remain a one-car family, but our setup wasn’t sustainable.
That Christmas, Santa delivered a miracle: a beautiful Xtracycle E-Swoop, which I quickly dubbed the “minivan of bikes.” It was sleek, sturdy, and — most importantly — electric. (It also fit both me at 5 feet tall and my husband at 6 feet.) From the very first ride, I felt the difference. I could now carry both kids, a full week’s groceries, and yes, even 12 rolls of toilet paper without breaking a sweat. The steepest hills in Berkeley and Oakland no longer intimidated me. Suddenly, what had felt like a daily challenge became a joyride.
The Xtracycle transformed our routines. Morning drop-offs were smoother, errands quicker, commuting times slashed — and we no longer had to play Tetris with car seats and boosters. We’d zip to the park as a family, often picking up friends or extra kids along the way. On weekends, we started participating in a monthly kids’ bike parade. It's one of my favorite traditions: We strap our children’s bikes onto ours, ride over as a family, and join a sea of young cyclists wobbling joyfully through the neighborhood. With the e-bike’s power boost, I could ride ahead and block intersections, keeping the route safe for our youngest riders. Our youngest — child number three — who had been sitting on the back of my bike for the past four years, recently made her maiden ride at the kids’ bike parade, and I couldn’t have been prouder.
Now that we have three children and they’ve grown (and gotten heavier!), our biking setup has evolved. I now ride a Tern HSD, a slightly more compact but still powerful e-bike. My husband and I each take a bike and split the kid load. We’ve found our rhythm again — our daily lives revolve around zipping from school to errands to judo, all without touching the gas pedal. On most days, our car just sits in the driveway, unused.
Of course, there are trade-offs. I sometimes miss the simplicity of hopping on a regular bike without worrying about battery life or remembering to charge it. And yes, the upfront cost of an e-bike can be daunting. But mostly, I feel lucky that these bikes exist — and that there are now so many models to fit different needs and budgets. When I think about how much we've saved on gas, car maintenance, insurance, and time — not to mention the reduced stress — it’s worth every penny. Plus, the benefits to my mental and physical health are huge. I’m outside, moving my body (e-biking can still be hard if you resist riding in Turbo mode all the time), spending time with my kids, and staying connected to my community.
E-bikes break down so many barriers. Whether it’s climbing hills, carrying cargo, recovering from an injury, or simply keeping up with a busy family life, they make biking accessible to more people. I’ve seen older adults, parents with toddlers, and folks who never thought they could bike start riding again because of the confidence an electric boost provides.
There’s also something empowering about choosing a bike over a car. It’s a small rebellion against traffic, pollution, and the idea that life has to be rushed and noisy. On a bike, life slows down just enough — you notice things. You make a spontaneous stop for ice cream. You talk to your kids. You never get a parking ticket. You feel the wind shift before the rain comes.
Now, when I pull up to the grocery store and snag the prime “parking spot” right by the door, I can’t help but smile — it’s one of the quiet perks of traveling by bike. People often ask about my ride, and I love how quickly curiosity turns into excitement when they see how easy and fun commuting this way can be.
We’re still riding strong — two e-bikes, three kids, and one (mostly) happy family navigating the ups and downs of life with an electric boost. To anyone considering the switch: get curious. Test ride. Ask questions. You don’t need to be an athlete or a gearhead to make it work. You just need to be willing to try.
And if you hear a tiny voice behind you yelling, “Go Mama go!” — you’ll know exactly how I got here.
Anat Razon O'Suilleabhain is a solar energy professional who loves getting around by bike. She’s raising three kids in Oakland with her fantastic husband, Liam, and also loves to cook, garden, and sleep whenever she gets the chance. This column reflects the opinions of the writer.
Topics Social Good Fitness Tech
