Test: sidecar for bicycles
Author: Suzanne Brink
Article photos: Maarten Hartman
Written on: 27 August 2024
Appearance: The biggest advantage of the sidecar is, of course, its shape. It's simply beautiful. Kees: ‘It evokes all kinds of nostalgic feelings. It reminds me of the old motorbike sidecars. Other people find it very special too when they see it on the road.’
With a sidecar like that, you'll certainly brighten up the cycle path.
Cosy: Another big advantage compared to a bicycle trailer or cargo bike is that your child or dog sits next to you instead of in front of or behind you. Kees: ‘My son Maurits really loved it. A cockpit like that is also very enclosed. It feels intimate, which children like. He also enjoyed pulling the rain cover over himself.
Pietertje the dog was less enthusiastic, but we never taught him to ride a bike. That takes more time.’
Practical: ‘Of course, you're wider with a sidecar. If you have to swerve on a narrow cycle path, the sidecar rides over the verge, but I haven't heard my son complain about that. I think that with a sidecar you're about as wide as a tricycle, whereas a two-wheeled sidecar is more manoeuvrable and narrower. But riding with the sidecar wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. It just takes some getting used to. Attaching and detaching it is a bit of a fiddly job.
The advantage is that you don't need to buy a separate bicycle. You can also attach your sidecar to your electric bicycle and detach it if you want to go out without the sidecar.’
The price: ‘For the price of a sidecar, you can buy at least three bicycle trailers, but an (electric) cargo bike is more expensive. The seat is not particularly luxurious, with no deep cushions. The cost is mainly due to the attractive fibreglass body, and of course it is a small production run.
Another option is to purchase a basic frame and build your own structure on top of it, such as a dog crate. This saves money, but will most likely look less polished.’