The story of Alice and her e-bike Yuba Kombi Bafang in Rome

We give voice to your stories to share our passion for cargo bikes together! Today we present the story of Alicea super mum who uses a Yuba Kombi for the daily commute with his children through the streets of Rome.

Alice, a super mum on two wheels

Alice lives in Rome. Its city of origin is Venice, where cars do not exist. One moves around by gondola, boat or bicycle. Alice has always travelled by bike, making this healthy habit a way of life. Having moved to Rome more than twelve years ago, the bicycle has remained her favourite means of transport. She has travelled the length and breadth of Rome, when cycle paths were still only a dream, like the one in Monte Ciocci.

In her everyday life, Alice is a dance and pilates teacher, she is also involved in tourism, moving around the historic centre of the eternal city constantly on two wheels. Initially, everyone told her that it was crazy to ride a bike in Rome, too dangerous! In reality, she discovered that it is not only feasible but can be done every day. All you have to do is get confident, always think about safety and never let your guard down.

When Alice became a mother, she had to start using the car again, abandoning the bike for some time. When she got back in the saddle, she started using a standard seat for her child, but she was not comfortable. The load was not distributed well, which overloaded her back and caused her pain. And she didn't feel safe pedalling.

With the arrival of her second child, Alice stopped again but immediately started looking for a bicycle that could help her with her daily tasks, she really missed cycling because it makes her feel good. Not only for the comfort of the two wheels. For Alice, it is also important to consider the minimal environmental impact of the electric bike and the savings in terms of money and time.

How did you get to the Yuba Kombi?

After much research and a tour on Facebook among the various groups dedicated to cargo bikes, asking for advice and information, Alice saw the cargo bike long tail she immediately fell in love. The front-loaded ones are nice, no doubt, but she doesn't like them very much.

La Yuba Kombi is more suited to her style. It allows her to wear the children where she wants, she knows they are behind her and feels safer, being in front and in the front line. She is also a dynamic and sporty bikereminds her of what she could do before.

For her, the bike is a means of transport but also a means of training and physical activity, it is a mix of many wonderful things!

How did you get to know Donno Bikes?

Alice came to Donno Bikes by searching on the internet: there were many models of cargo bikes but once she had chosen the Yuba Kombi, she felt professionally assisted. The bike was configured according to her wishes, arrived at her home, she tried it out and was very satisfied. In particular of her investment, because these bikes cost money anyway. But considering the quality, versatility, durability and total support, it was worth it in every respect.

Alice's projects with Yuba Kombi.

Every day he takes the children to school, the car hardly touches it any more. The route he takes is home-school-home, twice a day: he takes his daughter to ballet, takes both children for ice cream and to the park, always on his bike.

He uses it for most of his trips around the neighbourhood, and the older his children get, the more he will use the Yuba Kombi for real trips around Rome: now the children are small, maybe in spring or in a year's time he might start taking longer and more pleasant walks.

Helping those who are afraid to cycle on the streets of Rome

In the past, Alice has experienced the fear of cyclingespecially when she had just moved to Rome: she didn't know the routes, how dangerous the cars were and what the roads were like.

He puts himself in the shoes of all those people who would actually like to ride a bike but do not have the courage because they consider it dangerous.

A level of volunteering can offer support for those who want to get around by bicycle within the Monte Mario neighbourhood, i.e., if they are on the track, if they are taking their child to school, they would like to propose to those who want company to start cycling to join them.

Are you afraid to cycle alone in Rome? Alice can help you, even for a simple bike ride. When she is out, whoever wants to tag along just contact her, you go out together on the bike and so those who are afraid become familiar.
For example, a mother who wants to approach cycling because she wants to take the children to school, or to go for a walk in the afternoon, asks "Alice are you on the track?"Alice is there, when she is out and about and plans to go out with her Yuba she is available to act as a guide along her usual route, helping those who are still not completely comfortable on the road to begin to conquer this fear of using a bike in traffic.

Alice's other projects with Yuba Kombi: toy libraries, children's tours and taxi bikes.

As far as other activities are concerned, Alice has many interesting activities in mind: organise : organise toy libraries, after-school projects with children to continue what he has always done in his life, working with the youngest and combine various artistic activities including his bicycle. It would be interesting to use the Yuba Kombi bike to organise some tours with childrenor a taxi bikeeven within the neighbourhood itself.

For example: a mother needs someone to drive her children to school or to sports activities and then bring them home? With family-friendly rates Alice is more than available!

It is a way of allowing children to take trips on cycle paths, which tend to be those in his area. In this way, he introduces children to this world, shows them Rome by bike along safe routes, so the parents, who know they are riding on the bike paths, are also more relaxed.

Changing urban mobility in Rome

Alice, as well as many others who live in the capital and who habitually use their bicycles to get around, drop off children, go to the office or even work, strongly believes that Rome can change and finally embrace this new way of moving. Showing how bicycles, still considered mainly as simple fun, can become a real means of habitual transport.

In complete safety, being careful and with mutual respect for those who are on the road every day, eco-mobility in Italy could slowly become more and more established.