All in the Family: Molly O’Meara Sheehan

This freelance writer, author and mother of twins handles New York commuting, errands and family fun on her custom-made-cargo trike.

Q: Why did you start riding a cargo bike?

I thought biking would be the most fun way to take my then three-year-old twin boys to preschool, instead of managing two kids and their scooters on crowded buses and subway platforms.

Q: When did you begin using a cargo bike?

I ordered my custom cargo trike in October 2011 and I rode it to school for the first time on January 31.

Q: Where did you buy your cargo bike?

George Bliss of Hudson Urban Bicycles made my cargo trike. He did a great job, so it was worth the wait.

Q: What inspired you to invest in a cargo bike?

Biking makes me happy and I want my children to remember me smiling. I used to fear biking here; however, the city has improved its bicycle infrastructure in the past decade. When I take my children to school, I go a few blocks out of our way to use a protected path with river views.

Q: How has using a cargo bike affected your life and/ or business?

I feel more connected to my friends and neighbors, as I see them by chance on the street more often now. My husband, sons and I also feel more connected to the city, as we have spent so many weekends exploring new neighborhoods by bike.

Q: What makes cargo biking unique?

Like many New Yorkers, I am seduced by storage space. I have so much of it on my trike that I regularly keep a blanket in one of the bins beneath the boys’ seats in case we might want to have a picnic. I am delighted by how easily my trike transports my two sons, their backpacks and their scooters or bikes.