Ah, the dreaded school morning, when getting your kids out the door is a Herculean effort. Sometimes it feels like getting them to eat breakfast, brush teeth, and get dressed is harder than moving a rock uphill. But never—not once—since we got an e-bike have our kids not wanted to hop on and zoom off to school. 

E-biking has exploded in popularity in recent years, from commuter bikes to mountain bikes, road cycles to cargo haulers. When we got our e-bike this fall to take our youngest to school, my wife and I instantly became believers and have been championing the benefits ever since. 

The first perk is simply how much our kids love it. I picture it like riding on the back of a motorcycle: the wind in their hair, the feeling of being part of the elements. It’s much faster than a regular bike, meaning more fun. It’s also more intimate time spent with mom or dad, making it special—like doing something fun together rather than riding in the back of a car. They love going up and down big hills and watching house decorations change with the seasons. 

As parents, we see the values of starting the day outside. Exposure to sunlight (even on cloudy or rainy days) has well-documented benefits. Biking rather than driving helps level-set the morning and brings a sense of grounding and calm before stepping into a classroom. It also helps our kids burn some energy. 

E-biking calms our nerves, too. We aren’t fighting traffic in the same way, and there’s no waiting in a drop-off or pickup line. It’s genuinely fun for us, keeping us on our toes and giving the morning a sense of adventure, rather than the usual grind through town.

There are obvious drawbacks and challenges too. Biking on roads can be dangerous depending on whether there are designated bike lanes or sidewalks. We ride almost exclusively on sidewalks, so it never feels sketchy. Committing to riding every day means being exposed to bad weather, so yes, raingear and puffy jackets are essential. But the kids don’t mind—the benefits of the ride outweigh the rain and cold. Slick roads just mean going slow when it’s wet, but it’s never felt unmanageable.

The bike itself is imperative, and there are a ton of good choices in the Seattle area. Rad Power Bikes is based here; we’ve been rocking the RadWagon 4 with the RadWagon Caboose (bars that help protect the kids in case of a fall, and something to hold on to). Amped Adventure in Lake Forest Park has every Aventon bike available for test rides, another solid brand for hauling kids. Electric & Folding Bikes Northwest is a small Ballard shop with a great selection and strong service.

The biggest initial challenge was getting used to hauling two kids without the bike feeling unstable, especially for my wife, who is much lighter than me. When big brother goes to and from school, little brother always comes along (he isn’t in school yet). Their combined weight is about 90 lbs—a lot to maneuver. My wife found that using the throttle helped her get momentum without the boys tipping over, and once they are moving, they are good to go. For that reason, we highly recommend a bike with a throttle, which is not something all e-bikes have. 

Do some parents and teachers think we are crazy for e-biking to school every day? Probably. That’s fine, because our lives have gotten better since making the switch. Our kids love it (we love it!), it starts the day on the right foot, and it takes out the hassle and fatigue of driving everywhere. If you’ve ever struggled with the morning routine, an e-bike might just be what the doctor ordered.