The human-power minivan

Forget using a gas-guzzling SUV to haul around six kids: one Portland mom has yet to regret a swap she made three years ago from three-ton hunk of metal to a bakfiets, a 100-pound Dutch freight bicycle capable of hauling huge loads, or, in her case, six kids plus groceries.

"I started looking at my life," Emily Finch said, in an interview with BikePortland. "I was living in a giant house and had a nine-person Suburban. I remember thinking, there's no reason I can't walk or bike around town."

After doing some research on Google for a family bike, Finch ordered a custom bakfiets from a local cycling store, and its delivery made quite the scene.

"I was already the town freak," she said. "People thought I'd had a DUI or something. They asked, 'Is that a boat on wheels? Are you going to carry your kids in that?'"

Her usual set-up includes helmets first, then three to four kids in the front cargo bin, one on the child seat and one pedaling the attached bicycle on the back. From the center of the bakfiets, Finch commands the contraption, generating the bulk of propulsion.

Daily trips are typically limited to 20 miles or less, but with hauling upwards of 550 pounds of kids, groceries and bike, no gym membership is needed. Since switching over to the bakfiets in 2009, Finch has dropped 25 pounds.

While comandeering the bakfiets at first was frustrating and downright difficult at times, Finch says seeing the world from a bike has helped her deal with depression, and she looks forward to pedaling around town.

Living in a bike-friendly town has its perks: nearly 36,000 of Portland residents two-wheel it to work on 180 miles of bike lanes and 79 miles of off-street bike paths. According to recent DOT studies, Portland is the only American city that promotes bicycling as a mainstream transportation choice.

Mild winters with little precipitation other than rain means cyclists can enjoy a healthy form of transportation year-round in one of the most environmentally-friendly cities in the world.

With all the talk circulating about establishing bike trails in Storm Lake and surrounding communities in Buena Vista County, Finch's story is certainly something to take note of but is slightly drastic and difficult to replicate during sub-zero temperatures, snow and ice.

Try a more moderate approach: during fair weather this summer, leave the car at home and try a bike for running errands around town.

* Ashley Miller is a member of the Pilot news staff. Reach the columnist at amiller@stormlake pilottribune.com