Another Trick
 

I saw a new car free trick when I was away last week. A guy went shopping on his bike and bought a whole shopping cart full of stuff. He had no rack or trailer so he pedaled home, steering with one hand and pulling the shopping cart behind with the other hand. He seemed so casual about it that I got the impression he had had lots of practice. The location had no hills so he didn't have to pull very had to keep the shopping cart moving. Those of you who live in flat lands might find this useful some time.

that seems awfully hard to do

yeah, holding one bike and riding another is hard enough!

Is the pavement very smooth where you saw the person towing a shopping cart? I'm guessing it would have to be, as the cart's wheels are small with hard tires, and any hole or ripple in the street could be a bit jarring.

It's an interesting idea, I have to admit. A shopping cart can be wheeled right up to your door, making unloading far easier. Using a car for shopping, you'd have to leave it in the driveway or parking lot upon your return, then lug the bags the extra distance.

Wonder how one of those two-wheeled ol' lady shopping carts would pull behind a cycle?

I was in Pasadena Ca. the other day on
my bent and saw a guy doing the same
thing with the greatest of ease. I was
amazed, and impressed and immediately
saw that as a TREND that would take hold
in the future when gas goes over $6 or $10
a gallon. I salute creative souls like that,
and you gotta admit they are in fit condition
and have decent balance and coordination
to pedal with one hand and pull the cart
with the other, not to mention the STRENGTH
in their arms and shoulders.

Where I am, the shopping carts have this thing on the wheels that cause them to lock up whenever one tries to leave the parking lot with them.

Yes it was in Florida where it is flat and the town keeps the pavement very smooth. He was pedaling toward a busy multilane road with a smooth shoulder as wide as the bike lanes in DC. When you pull a shopping cart from the front it seems to follow pretty easily. My local stores have those locking things on the shopping cart wheels or barriers so you can't take them from the store plus the neighborhood has hills so I can't try this at home.

"Where I am, the shopping carts have this thing on the wheels that cause them to lock up whenever one tries to leave the parking lot with them."

That's not uncommon. Shopping carts are extremely expensive. Removing them from store premises (ie out of the parking lot) would prolly be considered theft by a court of law.

I think I'll keep my trailer. It does away with the shopping cart entirely, as I just detatch it from the bike, wheel it into the store, and use it as a cart.

This idea seems like more trouble than it's worth and can't possibly be very safe. Just make/buy a trailer of some sort and be done with it if you really need to carry a bunch of stuff that won't fit in panniers or the like.

Good for this guy, but I don't see myself ever doing this when there are so many other (better) options.

It'll probably get him 90 days.

If I were to try the trick I'd tell the manager and return the cart promptly. I would do the same if I were to walk the cart home. I agree with other posters, that it would be better to make other arrangements if you need to carry large loads regularly.

Yep. Around these parts it's an easy way to get arrested.

Ask the people at Publix or Winn Dixie about it, they will probably consider it stealing

Are you sure he was pulling the shopping cart? Wasn't he pushing it instead? :)

http://www.kittylitterspitbox.com/ca...arker-cart.jpg
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=128682

now thats a cool setup!

I have enough trouble just driving a cart around the store, without taking it out in the street. Usually three wheels want to go shopping with me, and the fourth is always trying to get back out the parking lot with his friends.