We build a future where families move freely through Chicago without relying on cars for every trip. Our front‑loading cargo bikes replace everyday car trips: school runs, grocery hauls, practices, and park days. Together we can reduce traffic danger while making city life simpler and more connected.
Enable families to replace car trips with safe, joyful, everyday biking.
Grow a supportive network of parents and kids who ride, share routes, and look out for one another.
Cut congestion and emissions with practical, durable bikes that outlast trends.
Chicago is growing. To support that growth, our transportation must become safer and more sustainable. A well‑designed cargo bike can replace many family car trips: commuting to school, shopping for groceries, and getting to activities—without adding dangerous car traffic to our streets.
Building a community around families that bike is central to our business. We believe the more people who can get around safely without a car, the better it is for neighborhood businesses and for the city we share.
I founded Bugbear Bikes after navigating Chicago with my two kids exclusively by bike and public transportation since moving here in 2019. Those daily miles confirmed that families can thrive in the city without a car, if we have the right tools and support. That’s what Bugbear Bikes exists to provide.
Our neighborhoods are evolving, and local leaders are building modern bike infrastructure that makes streets safer and more convenient for everyone. Still, some see bikes as a nuisance or a threat—“the boogeyman” of the street. We embraced that idea with humor: the bugbear is a stubborn creature, and right now, persistence is what Chicago needs. We can’t cap our city’s potential by how many cars fit through our neighborhoods.
Group rides, kid‑carry tips, and neighborhood meetups.
More biking means more foot traffic for local shops.
Fewer short car trips, cleaner air, calmer blocks.