Taking My Three Kids for a Ride on the EVRYjourney Electric Rickshaw with Hitch Attachment

Why I Load Up the Electric Rickshaw With All Three Kids

There's a version of the school run most parents know by heart. Shoes on, backpacks found, everybody buckled into the car, and then ten minutes of sitting in a drop-off line that barely moves. Some days that's just life. But on the days I can swing it, I'd rather do it a different way, and that's on the EVRYjourney electric rickshaw with the hitch attachment and an extra row of seating on the back.

I'm Dustin, and I've spent about 20 years in the bike and e-bike industry. I've ridden just about every kind of two- and three-wheeled machine you can think of, and I still get a kick out of this one. Not because it's the fastest thing in our lineup. It isn't. It's because of what it lets me do with my family. On this particular day I loaded up all three of my kids and took them out for a loop through the neighborhood, past the school, and up to the park. I filmed the whole thing, so you get the good, the honest, and a couple of moments that didn't go exactly to plan.

Meet my passengers

My crew for the day: my daughter, who's nine, my son Trey, who's seven, and Hudson, who's four and a half. Three kids, three personalities, and three different opinions about how the ride should go. My daughter was up for anything. Hudson was along for the ride the way four-year-olds are, happy as long as something interesting was happening. Trey decided early on that he was going to be shy for the camera. He spent a good chunk of the trip lying down across the back seat, which, as it turns out, shows off one of the nice things about having that extra row. There's room to stretch out.

I mention all that because if you're looking at a rickshaw for your own family, the kids are the whole point. Specs matter, and I'll get into every one I talked about on the ride. But what you're really buying is a way to get everybody out of the house together, in the open air, without strapping them into a car for a trip that's only a mile or two.

What this rickshaw is, and what it isn't

Let me set expectations up front. The rickshaw I rode is the front hub motor version. It comes with one row of passenger seating behind the rider. What makes my setup different is the hitch attachment out back, which lets you add a second row of seating or, if you'd rather, hook up a trailer instead. That's how I fit three kids.

It's a family hauler. It's built to carry people, and it's built to carry weight, with a weight capacity of 500 pounds. It's comfortable, it's stable, and it's a lot of fun. What it isn't is a hill-climbing machine when it's loaded to the brim, and I'm going to be straight with you about that later in this article. I'd rather you know exactly what you're getting before it shows up at your door.

If you're browsing for something that carries more than just you, take a look at our lineup of e-trikes built for passengers. And if you're still deciding whether three wheels are right for you at all, our electric tricycle collection is a good place to compare frames and styles side by side.

Why a rickshaw makes sense with kids

A lot of parents ask me some version of the same question: why not just get a regular e-bike with a child seat, or a trailer? Those are good options for one kid, maybe two. Once you get to three, the math changes. Child seats run out fast. Trailers work, but your kids are behind you, low to the ground, and it's hard to have a conversation with them.

On the rickshaw, the kids sit up on a bench. They can see everything: the neighborhood, the decorations, their friends out playing. And because it's a trike, there's no balancing act when I stop. I can pull over, hop off, and nothing tips. When you've got three little ones on board, that stability isn't a luxury. It's peace of mind.

It's also a different kind of trip. My kids remember the rides. They point things out. They argue about which park to go to. They want to stop and say hi to people. That doesn't happen in the back seat of a car. It's slower, sure, but that's kind of the point. You're out in it together.

The trips it's made for

Think about the trips you make most often with your kids. For a lot of families, it's school, the park, a friend's house, maybe the corner store or the pool. Short hops around the neighborhood. Those are exactly the trips the rickshaw handles best. Getting to school, the park, you name it: that's what this thing is great for, and that's how I use it.

On the day I filmed, school was actually out. It turned out to be parent-teacher conference day, which I didn't fully realize until we rolled past and saw classroom doors open. But we ride this route every so often, and it's the same path I'd take on a normal school morning. So you'll see what the school run really looks like on a rickshaw: sidewalks, turns, a couple of hills, and kids who change their minds halfway through.

Once the kids were loaded up, I took a minute to walk through the setup on camera. I want to do the same here, because every one of these features plays a real role when you're hauling a family around.

The hitch attachment and the extra row

The rickshaw comes standard with one row of passenger seating. The hitch attachment on the back is what opens up your options. You can attach the extra row seat to it, which is what I did, or you can attach a trailer back there instead.

The extra row is how I fit all three kids. With two rows, everyone has a seat and there's room to spread out. Trey proved that by lying down across the back row for most of the ride. That's not how I'd recommend riding, and I'd rather my kids sit up, but it tells you there's real space back there rather than a cramped perch.

If you don't need the extra seat, the trailer option makes a lot of sense. Maybe you only have one or two kids, or you're heading to the beach or the pool. You keep the one row that comes with the rickshaw and hook up a trailer for the beach stuff, the pool stuff, whatever it may be. Coolers, towels, umbrellas, boogie boards. A family ride turns into a family outing with all the gear, and nobody has to hold anything on their lap.

That flexibility is what I like most about the hitch design. You're not locked into one configuration. Your needs on a Tuesday school morning are different from your needs on a Saturday beach day, and the hitch lets the rickshaw change with you. If hauling gear is a big part of how you'd use a trike, it's worth browsing our electric cargo trikes too, just to see the different ways we approach carrying stuff.

Storage under the seats

There's storage under the seats as well. I didn't make a big deal of it on camera, but it's one of those things you end up using every single ride. Backpacks, jackets, a water bottle, snacks, a ball for the park. When you've got kids, there's always stuff, and having a place to stash it means it isn't sliding around or ending up on the sidewalk.

500 pounds of weight capacity

The weight capacity is 500 pounds. That number matters a lot on a rickshaw, because you're not just carrying yourself. Add up the rider, every passenger, and whatever's in storage, and it climbs faster than you'd think.

For reference, I'm 230 pounds. Add a nine-year-old, a seven-year-old, and a four-and-a-half-year-old, and you can see we're putting this thing to work. That's the whole reason I'm upfront about hills in the next section: a full load is a full load, and physics doesn't care how much fun you're having. If weight capacity is at the top of your list, we've grouped our electric trikes with a high weight capacity in one place so you can compare.

Top speed, and why you won't hit it fully loaded

Top speed is up to 20 miles per hour. But I want to be really clear on this one: if you've got the full load on here, you're not going to hit 20 miles an hour. That top number is what the rickshaw can do. What it does with three kids and a 230-pound dad on board is a different story.

And with kids on the back, you don't want to be chasing the top speed anyway. A relaxed pace is safer, it's easier on everybody, and it gives the kids a chance to actually look around. I'll take a calm cruise over a white-knuckle ride every time when my family's on board.

Throttle or pedal assist: your choice

You've got two ways to get going. There's a throttle right on the handlebar you can use if you don't want to pedal. Or you've got five levels of pedal assistance, so the motor helps you as you pedal, from a light boost up to a lot of help.

I use both, depending on the moment. Pulling away from a stop with three kids on board, the throttle is handy for getting the weight moving. Once I'm rolling on flat ground, pedal assist feels natural and lets me set the pace smoothly. If you like the idea of having that twist-and-go option, have a look at our electric tricycles with throttle control.

Seven gears

On top of the motor, you've got seven gears. Don't underestimate them. When people hear "electric," they sometimes assume gears don't matter anymore. On a loaded rickshaw, they matter a lot. I'll show you exactly how I used them on the hills, but the short version is this: the gears are going to be your friend when you're climbing.

Turn signals

We do have turn signals on here, which I pointed out right before crossing a street. When you're riding something this size with kids on board, you want the people around you to know exactly what you're about to do. Signals take the guesswork out of it for drivers and pedestrians, and that makes everyone a little safer.

Putting it all together

Line all of this up and you get a machine that's been thought through for family use. Seating that grows with your family. A place for the stuff. A capacity that handles real loads. Two ways to power it. Gears for the tough spots. Signals so you're seen. None of these features is flashy on its own, but together they're the difference between a novelty you ride twice and something you actually use every week.

This is the part of the ride where I want to be the most honest with you, because it's the part that matters most when you're deciding whether this rickshaw fits your neighborhood.

Big hills are a challenge on this version

Not long into the ride, we came up on a big hill, and I'll be honest: on this version, getting up big hills like that is going to be challenging. Remember, I'm 230 pounds, I've got three kids on board, and the weight capacity is 500 pounds. We're carrying a real load, and you feel it on a climb.

That doesn't mean it can't climb. It means you manage your expectations and use the tools the rickshaw gives you. We're not going to be flying up these hills. But we do get up.

How I use the gears on a climb

A little later we hit another hill, and this is where the seven gears earn their keep. As we approached it, I shifted down, first into three, then down into two. The lower gears make each pedal stroke easier, so I can keep contributing alongside the motor instead of grinding to a crawl. And we made it up. Once we were back on flat ground, I shifted back up.

Here's my approach if you're new to this:

• Shift down before the hill gets steep, not halfway up. Shifting early keeps your momentum and keeps everything smooth.
• Keep pedaling steadily. The motor is helping, but your legs in a low gear add real push when the load is heavy.
• Don't expect speed. Expect progress. A slow, steady climb with a full load is a successful climb.
• Shift back up once you level off, so you're not spinning your legs on the flats.

Later on, heading to the second park, we had to start off from a stop on a hill with a lot of weight on board. Same story: I shifted the gears down and we got rolling. The gears really are your friend on these hills, and the more you ride, the more natural shifting becomes.

If your daily routes are mostly flat or gently rolling, this version is going to feel great. If you live somewhere with a lot of big, steep climbs and you plan to carry a full load regularly, think carefully about your routes and talk to us before you buy. We'd much rather help you pick the right setup than have you fighting every hill.

Navigating the sidewalks

One of the things I wanted to show on this ride was how easy it is to get around on sidewalks, trails, and paths. On a few stretches I chose the sidewalk for safety, especially where we couldn't get over to the right bike lane. With three kids on the back, I'm going to pick the safer option every time. Rules about sidewalk riding vary from place to place, so check what's allowed where you live, and wherever you ride, keep your speed down and give pedestrians plenty of room.

Getting onto the sidewalk is actually pretty easy. I just cut right in. We passed a few neighbors along the way, including some folks out planting grass, and taking it slow made it easy to share the space. I did my best not to roll over anybody's fresh lawn.

Why the hitch ball makes steering easier

This is the detail that surprises people the most. Because the extra seat connects with a hitch ball, it rotates just like the hitch on a car. When I turn, the back section pivots and follows along behind me rather than fighting the turn. That makes the whole setup pretty easy to steer, even with the extra length.

When we came to a tighter spot, I pointed out that it was a little snug, but with the hitch ball it was no problem. The rear section tracked right in behind me.

Narrow turns take a little practice

I'm not going to tell you there's zero learning curve. At one point I had to swing out to set up for a turn, and once you get the hang of the narrow turns, they're not too difficult. The key word there is "once." Give yourself some practice runs, ideally without passengers, in an empty parking lot or a quiet street before you take the kids out. Learn how wide you need to swing, how the back end follows, and how the whole thing feels at walking pace.

A few tips I'd pass along:

• Take turns a little slow. I said it to the kids on the ride, and it applies to the rider too. Slow turns are smooth turns.
• Look where you want to go, and set up wide when a turn is tight.
• Remember the extra length behind you when you're clearing posts, poles, and curbs.

Extra mirrors for peace of mind

One thing I decided to add to my own rickshaw is a set of extra mirrors. I've got some angled to look behind me at the road, and others set up just to keep an eye on the kids in the back. It's a simple addition, but it makes me feel a lot safer. I can glance over and see if someone's leaning out, whether Trey has decided to lie down again, or whether Hudson has dropped something, all without turning around and taking my eyes off where I'm going.

If you'll be carrying kids regularly, I'd recommend something similar. Being able to see your passengers at a glance is one of those small things that makes every ride more relaxed, for you and for them.

Specs and tips are one thing. The best way to understand what owning a family rickshaw is like is to ride along. So here's how our afternoon actually went.

Chasing the last of the decorations

We set off through the neighborhood planning to swing by a house that always goes all out with a clown display for the season. Turns out we were a little late. We rolled past the clown house and it was all down, apart from a couple of skeletons still hanging on. The haunted house a little further along? Maybe a few bits left, maybe not. Somebody still had a spiderweb up, too. Everyone had moved on.

That was fine. The kids got a kick out of spotting what was left, and we decided right there that the next big rickshaw outing is going to be a Christmas decorations tour. That's one of the things I love about this rickshaw: the ride itself becomes the activity. You don't need a destination. A loop around the block to look at decorations is a whole event for a kid sitting up on that bench.

Trey, meanwhile, was missing most of it. "Trey, you're really missing it, dude." He stayed lying down in the back row while his brother and sister looked around. Kids are kids.

Sharing the road

Along the way we passed neighbors working on their yards, people out walking, and at one point a police car, which got the kids' attention immediately. Riding something like this, you're very visible, and people tend to wave and smile. It's a friendly way to get around, and it's a good reminder to ride courteously: slow down around people, give them room, and use your signals.

Rolling past the school

Our route took us right past the school. On a regular school day, this is where we'd be doing drop-off. Actually, we'd be coming from the other direction, but it's the same path. We do this every so often, and it's easily one of the best uses of the rickshaw.

On this day, school was out. I wondered out loud whether the teachers were in, and sure enough, it was conference day. A couple of my kids' classroom doors were open, and the kids wanted to know if we should stop and say hi. The Y was there too, which caught Trey's attention right away. It's those little moments that make the school route feel like part of your community rather than just a commute.

If you're thinking about using a rickshaw for the school run, here's what I'd keep in mind:

• Ride your route on a weekend first. Learn where the hills are, where the sidewalk cuts are, and where the tight turns sit.
• Leave a few extra minutes. You won't be racing, and you'll want time to park and get everyone off safely.
• Use the under-seat storage for backpacks so nobody's holding them on their lap.
• Expect to be the most popular parent at drop-off. Kids love this thing.

When the kids change their minds

Every parent knows a plan is only a suggestion once kids are involved. Partway through, Trey decided he didn't want to keep going. Okay. We'll make a loop, stay on the sidewalk, and head home. Then we got to the playground and the conversation changed again. What about the other park up the road? Pirate Park. There were tears at one point, there was some negotiating, and then there was a decision. We were going to Pirate Park.

I'm including that on purpose. If you watch the video, you'll see it isn't a polished commercial. It's a dad with three kids, figuring it out as he goes. And that's exactly what a family rickshaw is for. Because it's so easy to stop, turn around, or change direction, you can roll with whatever the kids throw at you. Nobody has to climb out of a car seat. You just adjust and keep riding.

Getting to Pirate Park

Getting to the second park meant starting off on a hill with a full load, so I shifted down and we got moving. I stayed on the sidewalk for that stretch because we couldn't get over to the right bike lane, and with all three kids aboard, that was the safer call. A little more climbing, a little more shifting, and we were there.

When we pulled in, I had to figure out the best way to get onto the sidewalk and park. I'd planned to pull up in one spot and ended up rethinking it. That's part of riding something bigger than a bike: you learn to scope out your entry and exit points before you commit. Then came a quick pit stop. Anyone who wanted to get off could get off, and anyone who wanted to stay on could stay on. Everybody got to choose, and everybody was happy. That's a win.

What the ride taught me (again)

Looking back on the whole loop, the takeaway is simple. It wasn't fast and it wasn't perfect, and that's the point. We were outside together, the kids saw their neighborhood up close, they got to wave at people and look for skeletons and argue about parks, and nobody spent the afternoon staring out a car window.

If you've got more than two kids, or you just want to bring passengers along, the extra seat attachment turns the rickshaw into something the whole family can share. My kids love it. It's a lot of fun. And it's the kind of fun that happens a few minutes from your front door.

The rickshaw I rode with my kids is one version in our rickshaw lineup. Depending on where you live and how much you plan to carry, another version might suit you better. Here's how I think about the options.

The 750-watt front hub rickshaw

This is the one from our ride: a 750-watt front hub motor, a throttle, five levels of pedal assist, seven gears, a 500-pound weight capacity, and the hitch attachment for an extra row of seating or a trailer. It's a great all-around family rickshaw for flat or gently rolling neighborhoods. Where it works hardest is a big hill with a full load, which is exactly what I showed you on camera.

The 1000-watt mid drive rickshaw

We also have a mid drive version with a 1000-watt motor. On those big hills, the 1000-watt mid drive will do even better. If you want to be able to take heavier weight, or your regular routes include real climbs, this is the one I'd point you toward first.

In general terms, a mid drive sits in the middle of the bike and works through the drivetrain, so it pairs naturally with shifting. When you drop into a low gear on a hill, the motor benefits from that lower gear right along with your legs. That's a big part of why a mid drive feels so strong on climbs.

The dual motor rickshaw

When I filmed this ride, our dual motor rickshaw was about to launch. It pairs two 750-watt motors, so you've got power coming from more than one place. Like the mid drive, it's built for riders who want more muscle for heavier loads and hillier routes.

The recumbent rickshaw

We have a recumbent version too. If you prefer a reclined, laid-back seating position for the rider, it's worth a close look, and you can see how that riding position works across our recumbent electric trikes.

The hitch works across the lineup

Here's something that makes the decision easier: all of these rickshaws have the option of attaching the extra row seat to the hitch, or attaching a trailer back there instead. So whichever motor and seating style you choose, you can still grow into a second row of passengers or haul the beach gear. You're choosing the power and ride position that fit you, not giving up flexibility.

How I'd choose

When families call us about rickshaws, I usually walk them through a few questions:

• How many passengers will you carry most of the time? One row handles your everyday rides. If you regularly need room for more than two kids, plan on the hitch seat.
• What does your terrain look like? Flat to gently rolling, the 750-watt front hub is a great fit. Big, frequent hills with a full load point toward the 1000-watt mid drive or the dual motor.
• How heavy will the total load be? Add up yourself, your passengers, and your gear. If you're close to the limit often, more motor makes every ride more comfortable.
• Do you need gear space more than seats? If so, the trailer on the hitch may serve you better than a second row.
• How do you like to sit? If an upright position isn't comfortable for you, the recumbent rickshaw is worth trying.

There's no single right answer. The right rickshaw is the one that matches your family, your neighborhood, and the trips you actually take. And if you're stuck between two, that's exactly what a test ride or a quick call with our team is for.

Before you buy: test rides, warranty, and our rider community

A rickshaw is a big purchase, and it's a big piece of equipment. I want you to feel completely confident before and after you buy, so here's how we make that easier.

A 30-day test ride

We offer a 30-day test ride on your e-bike. If you don't love it in the first 30 days, send it back. No questions asked, and no money out of your pocket. Ride it on your school route, take it to the park, load up the kids, and find out how it fits your real life. That's the only test that really counts.

A one-year warranty, parts and labor

We also warranty everything for one year. If anything goes wrong in the first year, we'll take care of it, parts and labor. When you're relying on something to carry your kids around town, knowing we'll stand behind it matters.

Come test ride in person

If you'd like to try before you buy, come see us. We're in San Clemente, California, and you can visit our store and test ride any of our e-bikes and e-trikes before you purchase. Sitting on a rickshaw, feeling how the throttle responds, and taking a few turns around the lot will tell you a lot. If you're not sure which model or size fits you best, you can also start with our get fitted page.

Talk to us

If you have any questions about the rickshaw, the hitch seat, the trailer setup, or which motor makes sense for your hills, reach out to our team. You can email theteam@sixthreezero.mom or call us at (310) 982-2877. Real people, honest answers.

Join the community before you buy

One of my favorite pieces of advice: join our community before you purchase. We have a Facebook group where sixthreezero riders hang out, and it's a great place to talk to existing owners and make sure you're making the right choice. Ask the parents who ride rickshaws how they handle their hills, their school runs, and their kids. Then, once you have yours, post in the group and make some friends.

And finally, download our pedaling app to track your rides and compete on the leaderboard. Rickshaw miles with three kids on board count, and they're some of the best miles you'll ever ride.

My final thoughts

That's the EVRYjourney rickshaw with the additional seat attachment, ridden the way it's meant to be ridden: with a full load of kids, a few hills, some sidewalks, a couple of tight turns, and plans that changed halfway through. It isn't a race machine, and with a full load it won't fly up big hills. What it does is get your family out the door together, and it makes the everyday trips feel like an outing.

Thanks for riding along with me and my kids. Remember, it's your journey. Enjoy the ride.