U District, Let’s Go interviewed Bjorn and Julianne Simpson, two local U District residents, who make it a regular practice to ride their bicycles with their two small children to the U District Farmers Market. Find out how they make it work.

How long you both have been bicycling, and were there any first dates on your bicycles?

“We were both avid cyclists before we met” Said Bjorn. “I’ve always loved bikes. My dad also loved cycling and would sometimes commute on his bike, in a time and place where that was extremely unusual. An old boss of mine was my other big role model. He commuted 17 miles each way, rain or shine, which at first I thought was just completely crazy. But it made an impression and I started commuting a day or two during the summer, and eventually I was doing the same thing. But indeed, bikes have also always been important for my wife & me as a couple, and yes one of our earliest outings was a bike ride along the Burke-Gilman trail. We also got engaged in the middle of a 3-week biking/camping trip.”

That is awesome! It seems like bicycling is a huge part of your lives. Is it your main form of transportation?

“Yes, but we do have a car and certainly use it sometimes. We try to get around on bikes as much as possible, have bicycling be the default. That’s easier in the summertime, but we do both bike commute year-round. We try to get visitors to join us on bikes when they come, we have enough extra bikes and helmets, but that’s a tough sell sometimes! I’m certainly not anti-car, we both just like bikes and we’ve had the good fortune to be able to make choices in neighborhood and jobs and day cares to make bikes work for us.”

I imagine now with e-bikes, that might be an easier sell. Okay, let’s get to it, how do you manage your weekly trips to the Farmers Market?

“We usually do the farmers market on Saturday mornings and a trip to PCC in the afternoon, and that usually takes care of the week’s shopping. On a rainy, cold day I certainly might drive to PCC instead of biking. I hate trying to park a car at the farmers market though, biking almost always makes parking a breeze.”

Do you have any tips for people that might want to try it out?

“Having a bike with fenders and a rack for bags is super helpful. Pick a destination, somewhere fun, and research a safe route, Google bike directions are usually very good, or the SDOT bike map. Know how to change a tire, and keep a spare tube, pump and tools with you.”

Great advice. Let’s talk about the little one for a moment. How old are your children and how does that work?

“Our kids are Goldie who’s three and a half and Conor who’s one. Bikes are just a normal part of life for them, it’s how they’ve grown up. Goldie has a balance bike and she loves it, and she’s pretty amazing on it. She often rides her own bike to the farmers market and then comes home with me on the cargo bike, and we drag her bike home with us.”

Do you have any words of wisdom for other families that are considering making bicycling a family affair?

“Snacks and let them help pick the route. Good rain gear and lots of layers in the wintertime. Connecting mittens to jackets so they can’t fall off in the middle of a ride.”

Good call! How do you manage bicycling with sensitive fruits and vegetables? Do you have any suggestions for helping to ensure that your strawberries arrive home safely?

“Still working on this one actually, we got a lot of bruised pears home last year. Our bike has a basket where we try to put fragile things. I’m thinking of bringing plastic bins with towels to cushion bruisable items.”

Thank you for taking the time to share your story with us. Is there anything else you want to share with our readers?

“Getting somewhere under your own power is so empowering. You get a sense of accomplishment just getting around. I’ve been yelled at by drivers for being a bad parent and subjecting my children to the risks of cycling with them (another benefit of cycling–a thick skin). Cycling is actually less dangerous than driving. People are injured or killed on bikes, of course, but driving is so much more dangerous. We’re just used to the risks of driving, we’ve accepted them and don’t really think about them. But there’s so much more than just the danger of being hit on your bike between points A and B. Cycling is also much less stressful for me. Being out in the fresh air, getting some exercise, enjoying the the slower pace which lets me take in more of the experience of travel. It’s also so much more personal, by which I mean it’s so much easier to see other travelers as people. Life is better on a bike. ”

A special thanks to the Simpson family for sharing their story with us. Do you want to get started riding a bicycle? Check out our free commute planning services and let us help you find a great bicycle route.

Find us at the U District Farmers Market on May 12, from 10:00 a.m. – noon. We’re sharing a table with Council member Johnson. This month, for Bike Everywhere Month, were helping people connect with Bike Index to help ensure you have a plan in the event your bicycle gets stolen. Stop by the market and get your materials and a free bike spoke card.

Check out our other post in our farmers market series.