down a car, up a bike

In 1975 my dad and three of us buddies left from Detroit, Michigan on a year long journey that would end in La Paz, Bolivia totaling more than 8,000 miles of road trekked.

I've grown up with his stories of this trip- in fact I can probably tell many of his own stories by memory! A few years ago he biked coast to coast 2 separate times as well as several bike trips throughout the country. So biking is essentially in my blood...

Ironically I didn't have a bike for much of my childhood- we lived in the country- but off a busy road and our road was very hilly- so I didn't have a bike. When David and I got married I got a little used bike I'd tool around in from time to time. When we were living in Detroit my dad and I bought a bike a bike from his dear friend after the tragic passing of his wife. That bike has been one of my favorite things! First we bought a bike seat to put on the bike so I could haul Bentley around,





and later we bought the Burley so I could bike with both boys. By the time Lily was born I could put her in the bike seat and haul the Burley with the boys. What a load!







There is something really freeing about biking around. You get a better sense of your community- if you take similar routes you begin to meet people. You learn the roads well and you get to enjoy the fresh air! Also biking is a good way to get some exercise- and we all can use more exercise!




When we decided to move to Tucson we started dreaming of how we could bike more and drive less. Luckily David's new job is under 2 miles from the house so he can bike daily. We sold our corolla before we left Detroit to simplify our trip! On our long road trip this summer we saw several cargo bikes with kids on the back... the one I really liked was the Yuba Mundo. When we arrived in Tucson we found a local dealer of Yuba's who had one all ready to go- so we bought it!

The bike seemed like such a great idea and the best way to get kids around! I was so excited to give it a try. We got it home and put one kid on the back- I road up and down the road without a problem. So we lifted up the other two I went to go for a ride and quickly realized it was going to be harder than I thought! The bike almost fell over, but luckily I caught it. So David hopped on to give a try and the same thing happened. He said, "We've seen people do this- I know we can do it!" Once he got the hang of it he gave me back the bike and encouraged me to give it another try. I knew we had just dropped a pretty penny to buy the thing that I wanted so bad- so in all my stubbornness I got back up- shaking and terrified- I road 6 houses away and quickly came back. "That's a wrap! Let's try tomorrow," I said.

The next day we went for a 3 mile ride. It did not go flawlessly. Most people were super encouraging and kind, but there were a few not happy people we were in the way or at one point I literally froze before I could cross the street and all these cars were angrily waiting for me to move. It was a people pleaser's worst nightmare! But we made it home.


Now I've ridden the yuba with the three kids over 100 miles and it's tipped over once- my fault- at a stop sign- the kids shifted and I wasn't ready- no one was hurt and they popped right back on in true Crawford style. Though the experience did jostle me for a day or two.

All this said I thought I'd share the reason I ride a bike with three kids in tow....

I ride my bike to save the planet. 

As a Christian and as a citizen of this world I think it is important to take care of the earth. We are doing that by owning 1 less car, biking more, using less energy by hanging our laundry instead of owning a dryer, using less water in the desert, and we plan to buy solar panels for our home. 

I ride my bike to save money. 

1. It doesn't need gas.

2. It saves on wear and tear. 

3. I don't have to go to the gym

4. parking is free

5. It doesn't cost the same to maintain a bike as it does a car.

I ride my bike to save my health.

1. Riding my bike as a way of life is a better way to stay healthy because it's already built into my daily routine, it doesn't require me to go out and find a time to work out- it's just integrated into my daily life. 

2. It keeps my heart healthy and happy. Heart disease is the number 1 killer in this country. I want to live as healthy as I can. 

3. You work all of your muscles if you're incorporating hills into your ride. You get toner and have more energy!

4. It's easy on joints. 

5. I am showing the kids that it's important to live an active lifestyle that saves them and saves their planet.

I ride my bike because it's fun.

No pressure, no worries if biking isn't your thing or you can't do it right now- but if you can- I'd encourage you to get on a bike and start moving! I'm sure you'll be glad you did. :)