It is often spurned by German parents. Nevertheless, many cyclists in this country are still keen on the front seat. Time for a renaissance?
The useful life of front seats is so short that it is hardly worth the expense. After all, the little ones have to be able to sit freely before they can sit in the front seat. Most children have enough strength for this at around nine months. Towards the rear, the service life is limited by the maximum permissible weight of the passenger: 15 kilos. By way of comparison, children up to 22 kilograms are allowed to ride in rear seats. Insecure cyclists are often reluctant to place the seat between themselves and the handlebars.
Depending on their position on the bike, some models may require a slightly extended leg position or reduce the turning angle of the handlebars. According to the German Road Traffic Regulations, the use of front child seats is generally not prohibited in Germany. "However, there is a regulation from the Federal Ministry of Transport that seats may not be attached to swivelling parts of the bike," says Augsburg-based lawyer and traffic law expert Guido Brand. However, as this is not a binding legal standard, the use of seats mounted on the stem is apparently permitted.
The full-length article from issue 3/2012 is available as a free PDF download.
