u/mygul23

Hey BikeLA!

I’m helping a friend shop for a used bike setup so she can start riding around town with her 14-month-old, and I'd love your take on the best frame styles or models to look out for.

Here’s her setup/situation:

• Rider: ~5'9"
• Use Case: Casual neighborhood riding, running quick errands, and taking her toddler out for fun rides. Lives near Ballona Creek bike path.
• Budget: Trying to keep the whole setup (bike + child seat + toddler helmet) under $400 total (flexible, but I'm thinking of gifting her the bike).
• Key Needs: Needs to safely mount a rear child seat (like a Thule Yepp or Burley Dash). Since swinging a leg over a rear kid seat is pretty much impossible, a low step-through frame feels like a must for easy mounting/dismounting while balancing extra weight.

I've been scanning Facebook Marketplace, but I’d love to hear from anyone here who does kid-hauling around LA:

1. Are there specific models you recommend keeping an eye out for in the $100–$180 used range? (e.g., Trek Verve Lowstep, Specialized Roll, Electra Townie, etc.)
2. Any specific child seat mounting advice or local bike shop recommendations on the Westside/Central LA for quick safety checks?

Appreciate any tips or advice. Thanks!