How to Carry Children on a Cargo Bike (UK Family Guide)
“How do I carry my child on a cargo bike?”
It’s one of the first questions we’re asked when families start exploring cargo bikes — and it’s a good one.
Depending on the type of cargo bike, children can sit in a front bucket, on a rear rack, in a mounted child seat, or in a purpose-built bench with harnesses. Some bikes carry one child comfortably. Others are designed for two. Some feel almost identically to a normal bike. Others are purpose-built around family transport.
In this blog, we break down exactly how carrying children works across the four cargo bike brands we stock at Velo Domestique — Benno, Omnium, Urban Arrow and Bullitt — and explain:
Where children sit on each bike
How many children each model can carry
Which age ranges each setup suits best
How the ride feel differs between styles
Rather than reviewing every cargo bike on the market, we’re focusing on the bikes we know inside out from years of setting them up for families.
By reading this, you’ll have a clear picture of how each option works — and which one might fit your family best.
Benno – The Easiest Place to Start
Explore our Benno range here:
www.velodomestique.co.uk/benno-bikes
If you’re new to the idea of carrying children by bike, Benno is often the most approachable starting point.
Benno bikes sit in what’s known as the mid-tail cargo bike category. They’re slightly longer than a standard bike, but crucially not so long that they feel cumbersome or intimidating. Across their range range — and especially on the popular Benno Boost — Benno bikes feel familiar, even for riders who wouldn’t describe themselves as super confident cyclists.
One of the key differences with the Boost is its 24-inch wheels. Many competing mid-tail cargo bikes use smaller 20-inch wheels, but the 24-inch setup makes the Benno noticeably smoother over rough surfaces, more stable when steering and much closer to riding a ‘normal’ bike making it more enjoyable to ride. When facing real-world challenges whilst riding in the UK — potholes, uneven roads, kerbs — that makes a genuine difference.
You can configure the rear to carry:
Two child seats (for younger children)
Two seat pads (for older children)
Or one of each — ideal for siblings of different ages
That flexibility means the bike grows naturally with your family. It doesn’t suddenly become redundant when your child outgrows a seat — it simply evolves.
All Benno bikes are electric and powered by Bosch motors, with different specifications to suit different budgets. Even the entry-level Boost is more than capable for regular school or nursery drop-offs, shopping trips and everyday errands.
Compact, capable and easy to live with — Benno is often the first cargo bike families feel confident saying yes to.
Omnium – The Most Natural Ride
Explore our Omnium range here:
www.velodomestique.co.uk/omnium
When it comes to ride feel, Omnium bikes consistently surprise people.
On paper, they look different to traditional cargo bikes. In practice, they’re probably the easiest cargo bikes on the market to ride. Within 100–200 metres of first riding an Omnium, most people understand how they handle. They feel agile, intuitive and very much like a normal bike — just with more carrying capacity.
For younger children (roughly ages one to four), Omnium uses a front rack–mounted child seat bracket, allowing you to equip a Thule Yepp seat or similar. The seat can be fitted and removed easily depending on how you’re using the bike that day.
The front rack carries one child, but you can also fit a rear rack-mounted child seat, meaning two children can be carried at the same time if needed.
A super helpful feature on any child carrying cargo bike is the dual kickstand, which on an Omnium comes as standard. When you’re loading and unloading a child from the front, that stability is very useful.
For slightly older children, Omnium produces small batches of front rack seats, designed for children who’ve outgrown a traditional bicycle child seat — typically up to around eight years old.
It’s worth noting: only the Omnium Cargo and Omnium Mini-Max models can accept a front rack child seat. The Omnium Mini and upcoming Omnium Nano cannot accommodate a front-rack-mounted child seat.
If you want a cargo bike manageable in size (the Omnium Mini-Max is not much longer than a full suspension mountain bike), extremely versatile and incredibly agile and natural to ride, Omnium is hard to beat.
Urban Arrow – Purpose-Built for Carrying Children
Urban Arrow is a Dutch cargo bike brand designed predomenantly around carrying children.
The Urban Arrow Family model is built from the outset for this job. The moulded front bucket seat comfortably fits two children side by side, and integrated seatbelts come as standard.
Of all the cargo bikes we offer, this is the most ready-to-go child solution. You don’t need to configure or adapt it to make it suitable for children — it already is.
There are optional accessories, most notably the excellent rain cover, but even without extras the Urban Arrow works immediately as a family transporter.
In terms of ride feel, it’s a classic front-loading (long-john style) cargo bike. Compared to the Bullitt, steering is slightly slower and less nimble. However, every Urban Arrow comes equipped with a Bosch motor, which provides consistent assistance and makes maintaining a steady speed effortless.
The double kickstand adds stability when stopping, loading or unloading children — a small detail that makes daily use feel calm and controlled.
If your priority is space, simplicity and a child-first design, Urban Arrow is often the most straightforward option.
Bullitt – Flexible, Rider-Focused and Fun
Explore our Bullitt range here:
www.velodomestique.co.uk/bullitt-bike
We’ve stocked Bullitt cargo bikes from Larry vs Harry for almost ten years, and they remain one of the most rider-focused long-john cargo bikes available.
At their core, Bullitts are designed to let you load whatever you need into the front — including children — and ride.
Of all the front-loading cargo bikes we sell, the Bullitt is arguably the most fun and engaging to ride. It feels light, responsive and well balanced. All models use Shimano groupsets, and there are options at different price points in both electric and non-electric versions.
If you’re regularly carrying children, we generally recommend the electric Bullitt. Motor support helps smooth out slow-speed wobble, makes starting and stopping easier, and reduces effort when carrying precious cargo. That said, non-electric versions are available if you prefer a simpler setup.
Bullitt offers several child-specific accessories:
Folding Double Seat - Allows two children to sit side by side. Best suited to one child or two younger children.
BBX Side Panel Kit - Plastic side panels with waterproof cover. Can be partially folded down so children can sit with their heads out the top.
Canopy - Well-made, with clear windows. The front panel folds up and it acts as a container for the seats.
New Twin Bucket Seat - Two individual seats with five-point harnesses. Suits slightly older children (around five or six). Compatible with canopy but not with the BBX kit.
Like the others, the Bullitt comes with a double kickstand as standard.
If you value ride feel, flexibility and the ability to adapt the bike as your children grow, the Bullitt is an excellent choice.
So Which Cargo Bike Is Right for You?
There isn’t one “best” cargo bike for carrying children.
There’s the one that suits:
Your confidence on a bike
Your storage space at home
Your children’s ages
Your daily routine
Want the most ready-to-go family setup? Urban Arrow.
Want the most natural, intuitive ride? Omnium.
Want something compact and unintimidating? Benno.
Want a flexible, rider-focused front-loader? Bullitt.
The good news is this: all four are proven, safe and capable family tools. After the first few minutes of riding, something shifts. It stops feeling unusual — and just becomes normal.
Book a Test Ride
If you’re considering carrying children on a cargo bike, the best thing you can do is try one.
We offer relaxed, no-pressure test rides so you can feel how each bike handles, understand the differences, and decide what works for your family.
Book a test ride here:
www.velodomestique.co.uk/contact
Or pop into the shop and have a chat — we’re always happy to talk it through.