“I can take you if you don’t have a car. You don’t have to cycle there.” My daughters’ football trainer looks at me with astonishment and some confusion. I’ve just told him that I will take my children to the F-Youth tournament at the weekend on my bike.

His reaction makes me smile, as it is something that I have encountered often recently. In the rural region in which I live, many people cannot imagine using a bike in everyday life.

Two years ago, after living in Munich and Göttingen for a few years, we moved to the more rural Upper Palatinate region of Germany. While it has now become normal to transport children on a cargo bike on routine everyday journeys in bigger towns and cities, it is still very much a rarity here.

I am considered quite exotic with my Riese & Müller Multitinker.

Cargo bikes belong in the countryside

Cycling actually plays a major role in our region. With two major manufacturers in the district, the bike industry represents an important economic factor, as does cycle tourism in our region, with its low mountains, abundant forests and lakes. At the weekend, the cycle paths are busy with a high share of e-bikes.

However, the picture changes during the working week: parent taxis cause traffic jams in front of schools and daycare centres every morning. Conventional bikes or e-bikes are rarely seen, and cargo bikes not at all. Cars are the first choice for routine everyday journeys here.

However, cargo bikes have unbelievable benefits in rural areas over their urban use. The distances are so short that you can reach many important day-to-day destinations within a radius of five to a maximum of ten kilometres. Parking is so much more relaxed than in bigger towns and cities. Most houses have a garage with plenty of space to park a cargo bike – as long as it’s not occupied by a car. Alternatively, the bike can fit into a summer house or shed. Traffic is much less busy, making cycling more relaxing and, as there are fewer traffic lights, there are fewer trying start-stop sections.

What is more – at least there is in our area – there is very well-developed cycling infrastructure with wide cycle paths. And in the town and villages, the space on and beside the road is much less restricted and fought over than it is in city centres. I just say it how I see it: cargo bikes are destined for rural life.

But the Multitinker is extremely comfortable to ride. Its low centre of gravity and its small, wide Schwalbe tires provide for stable and manoeuvrable riding behaviour – even when fully loaded and on gravel tracks.

Its Bosch Performance Line CX motor, combined with Enviolo gears, provides for smooth or powerful assistance, as required. I ride most trips in Auto mode, where the motor adapts automatically to my riding style and provides appropriate assistance. This means there is no longer a need to change riding modes, and even Auto mode itself can be configured via app. It therefore rides comfortably at between 20 and 25 km/h on everyday trips.

Dad creates a windbreak

When we head off, we are cycling into a strong, surprisingly cold headwind. In spite of this, the children happily sit on the extended carrier of the Multitinker. We carry food and equipment in our trailer. The trailer coupling is attached to the frame of the Multitinker.

I regard our trip as a kind of division of labour: I pedal to get us there and back to let them play sport. They then exert themselves on the football field. That way, everyone gets their exercise. After a few minutes, we leave the town and are heading west along the cycle path. The wind really picks up on the open road and I quickly become chilled.

But for their part, my passengers seem to be less bothered. “Dad, you are taking all the wind”, is their answer when I ask them if they feel too cold. It’s then that it dawns on me that I have left our outer jackets at home. It’s too late to turn back. But we will surely find a solution if it gets cooler on the return trip in the evening.

Starting out is unusual

Time flies by. We reach the next bigger village in under 25 minutes and have already completed half of the route. We stop off for a quick drink in the village.

I now feel extremely safe when riding with the two children. That wasn’t the case six months ago. The first few metres were unfamiliar. I felt that I needed the entire width of the road to start off, as I was constantly weaving around.

And any sudden movement by the children startled me. However, we are now used to each other and the children are actively involved with the cycling. “Look over your shoulder, indicating left, nothing coming?” I call out. “Yesssss! You can turn, Dad”, they both shout back.

Football: the reason for the cargo bike

Our route now leads us past fields of grain and we try to guess what kind it might me. You can clearly tell the difference between rye, barley and wheat even from the bike. Or maybe it’s spelt after all?

I don’t have much time to think about it, because we reach our destination in around 50 minutes. There are already lots of cars around the football pitch – the parking situation is quite tight. But for our part, we cycle right up to the entrance and park our “vehicle”.

Actually, football was the main reason for discussing the topic of cargo bikes, and specifically the Multitinker. Up to now, we have managed to do all trips with our trailer. But our daughter has grown too big for it. However, it is not an option for her to ride herself to our local football pitch, some three kilometres away, as she is then totally exhausted after training.

However, as I can carry children over seven years of age on the carrier of the Multitinker, and there is even room for two children, the “vehicle” closes a key gap in car-free family mobility. And I also benefit from it, as I can also carry my large training bag on the bike with ease when I cycle to my training session without the children.

Cool bike stirs up conversations

Something that I had not realised at first is that I had quickly become the “talk of the town”. Wherever I go, I am approached by people asking for information about the “cool bike”. Passers-by or oncoming cyclists regularly chat to me. A trip to the baker’s on a Saturday morning can sometimes take half an hour or longer.

Their interest surprises me, but it confirms my conviction that cargo bikes have a lot of potential specifically in rural areas. And, time and time again, I have to answer questions even during the football tournament. People are amused when I tell them that the bike even has a Busch & Müller main beam. But this feature makes perfect sense for cross-country trips in autumn and winter.

As Riese & Müller now also offers a weather protection, the bike is now a practical alternative to the car throughout the year. However, something that I observe time and time again is that the entry-level price for the bike is a deterrent for people. But unlike the cost of a second car, I regard it as a sensible investment.

And the possibility of renting the bike from €100 per month for up to two years, which Riese & Müller also offers with its Bike Abo, or leasing it through an employer, which is often another option, has received a positive response. Perhaps a loan system like this might be the impetus for more people to make the change and look for alternative means of transport.