Urban Arrow Tales: Family Wygaerts on the move
In the Urban Arrow Tales series, we portray families going through their daily adventures with the Family cargo bike. These real Urban Arrow families discover every day how their cargo bike makes family life not only more practical, but also much more fun. In this second edition, we introduce to you: Caroline Wygaerts, her husband and their too cute twin daughters.
Who are you?
We are Caroline Wygaerts (33) and Frédric Van Loon (36), living in the heart of Antwerp, embracing the vibrant city life. Caroline is a lecturer at a university and also works as a freelance interior stylist, while Frédric has been dedicated to a brewery for many years. We are married and proud parents to our twin daughters, Joséphine and Othilie (2.5 years), who are set to become big sisters in the spring of 2025. We purchased our Urban Arrow Family bike in December 2022, and we genuinely can’t imagine life without it!
When did you first go for a ride with the girls?
When the girls were six months old, in the midst of winter, we placed two toddler seats side by side in our new Urban Arrow Family, and our cycling adventures with them began.
What do you remember about your first cargo bike adventure as a family?
It felt like a breath of fresh air to get around quickly and smoothly with the twins. Living in a city, using the car isn’t always convenient, and on rainy days, we often didn’t feel like making the stroller completely rainproof. With the cargo bike, we could suddenly get anywhere in no time, hardly bothered by the cooler weather or rain, thanks to the rain cover. The girls loved it right away!
How has the cargo bike changed your daily routine?
We are much more flexible now, saying “yes” more quickly to spontaneous activities, and we hardly use our car in the city anymore. Grocery shopping? Urban Arrow. Dropping off the kids? Urban Arrow. A quick trip into the city to shop? Urban Arrow. An extra plus is that all your purchases fit easily next to the kids in the bike. Want to take a friend to the zoo? No problem, thanks to the extra bench in front. It simply makes life so much easier; we spend much more time outdoors and go on adventures more often.
What are the biggest advantages you’ve experienced since using the Urban Arrow cargo bike?
Time savings, but above all: more time outdoors! The bike ride itself is already a fun activity, even for the kids. The car stays at home much more often.
What is the most fun or memorable moment you’ve had with the cargo bike so far?
This summer, we took the cargo bike with us on vacation to the beach. Suddenly, the morning trip to the bakery was no longer a chore, but a cheerful bike ride with warm croissants in hand for Joséphine and Othilie. Want to grab a quick drink with friends at a beach a bit further away? “We’ll be there in 5 minutes.” It’s wonderful—this is something we’ll do every summer from now on!
Are there any accessories or modifications you’ve made to make the cargo bike even more handy?
We have the extra bench in front, which is great for when friends come along, and we also love the luggage net: cookies, a towel, a water bottle—you can quickly grab everything you need. I would also like to get the floormat so our bags don’t rattle around in the cargo area, and of course the rain cover, because, well… Belgium.
Do you have any tips for families considering getting a cargo bike?
Don’t save on extras like accessories as they make the cargo bike even more comfortable than it already is. We only bought ours when the girls were a few months old because two Maxi-Cosi seats don’t fit, but if you have just one baby, we would get it right from birth. Or just order it for yourself; shopping or running errands with this bike is truly a pleasure—no more bags hanging from your handlebars, and you can get anywhere in a flash. I now often take that detour past the flower or cheese shop. We also personalized our bike with some stickers, so we can spot it more quickly in the city or at a bike parking area.
Which spots in Antwerp would you recommend for a nice family cargo bike ride?
A great spot for kids is Nives, which has a public playground right by the terrace. It’s perfect for the kids while you enjoy a delicious breakfast or lunch. We also find the zoo a very enjoyable cycling destination because, in addition to many exotic animals, there are fun playgrounds and delicious ice creams in the summer!
As a family, we absolutely love having a nice breakfast in the morning sun. In Antwerp’s Zuid district, there are plenty of great options: Revista and Pilar are some of our favorites, and afterwards, you can take a lovely walk along the Scheldt.
Another highlight is a ride to PAKT, where you can enjoy great coffee at Caffenation. You’ll feel just like you’re in Brooklyn (NY), and the kids can run around and play since the area is car-free!
‘Our Urban Arrow cargo bike simply makes life so much easier, we spend much more time outdoors and go on adventures more often.‘
