There’s a short but stubborn list of excuses that keeps me from turning totally car-free. The foremost reason? I have a dog. (I know, lame!) I also live in a city that’s sick with sprawl and addicted to its gnarly freeways. The public transit here is bogus: urine-soaked buses that go nowhere useful and aren’t ever on time.
There’s hope, however, for my transition to car-free living: I’m relocating to a city with efficient transit and bike lanes galore. I’m preparing to ditch my car altogether when I arrive and get back to being car-free after two years of driving (dreadful, especially following a car-free lifetime).
But, back to the dog: He’s not allowed on most public transit, and there’s a slim chance he’ll pass as a working service dog (unless, by service, they mean slobbering on the bus driver and swatting passengers with a furiously wagging tail). He can run alongside my bike at a snail’s pace for a few blocks, but that’s the extent of his vigor. If I need to tote him to the vet, or anywhere that’s not in walking distance (i.e. a trailhead or a swimming hole—my biggest concern is how we’ll get to the wilderness from the city), how will we manage? Will we woefully give up hikes and fun jaunts about town; summer trips to the lake? I’ve been searching for the solution to my sorry excuse and, doggone it, I think I’ve found it: the dog trailer (coupled with the occasional car rental; ZipCar is pet-friendly, so long as your hairy best friend is caged).
The Wike pet caddy would probably work best for my big dog, or the HunterK9, the Pet EGO ERG Sports Wagon, or the Track’r. There are myriad options for smaller pups, too, like the Snoozer, in which the dog can ride shotgun on the front handlebars or cruise behind. If your dog will stay put and avoid a suicidal leap to the street, there’s also the classic option: a picnic basket tied with a bow, a la the Wicked Witch.
For dogs with more stamina than my beloved, slovenly beast, the Expedition bike attachment clips onto your bike without disturbing your ride or necessitating sudden, dangerous swerves of your handlebars. 
Photo via flickr by Sherlock77.
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I’ve thought about getting a folding bike, partially because there is one other definite advantage, namely that you can always take it on trains and buses. Frequently there are time of day restrictions on a lot of subway/light rail lines, and limits on the number of bikes on commuter rail and especially buses, but folding bikes are always allowed on.
Hi there,
We got a dog wagon for our cocker spaniel for similar reasons. It folds away under the bed when not in use, and it allows us to take our dog to parks that are further than a comfortable walking distance. When we get to the park he loves running at full speed next to our bikes for several laps, before being comfortably chauffeured home again. It’s great, and no need to take the car simply because dogs can’t travel on trams in Melbourne.
This is where we got our trailer (in Australia): http://www.gtmall.com.au/p86/Foldable-Bicycle-Trailer-for-Pet-Carrier-Cargo/product_info.html