New E-Bike Fits Whole Family, Replaces Car Trips

Getting kids to school without a car just became a whole lot easier.

Xtracycle, a pioneer in cargo bikes, launched the Swoop ASM this month. It's designed to carry up to four people and aims to eliminate the hassles that keep families from ditching car trips for bike rides.

The bike fits riders from 4'10" to 6'5" and can haul three kids plus an adult. It reaches speeds up to 28 mph with electric pedal assist, making it faster than most family cargo bikes on the market.

What makes this bike special is how it removes the intimidation factor. The Shimano system automatically shifts gears based on speed and terrain. It even downshifts when you stop so you start in an easy gear with kids on board.

Parents who've wrestled with manual gears while balancing squirmy children will appreciate this feature. It's like switching from a stick shift to an automatic transmission, letting riders focus on safety instead of mechanics.

The 630Wh battery provides up to 60 miles of range. Four-piston hydraulic brakes and front suspension handle the weight of a full family load. A dropper seat post lets riders lower the saddle at stops to balance kids, then pop it back up for comfortable pedaling.

Here's where Xtracycle stands out: everything comes included. Most cargo bike companies sell a base model, then charge extra for essential accessories like kid seats, racks, footrests, and lights. The Swoop ASM includes all of it for $4,499 (currently $3,999 with a launch discount).

The company also provides free shipping and professional assembly. For families who don't want to spend a weekend building a complicated bike in their driveway, that's a major selling point.

The Ripple Effect

This bike represents something bigger than clever engineering. It shows how family transportation is evolving beyond the assumption that every household needs multiple cars.

As cities add bike lanes and climate concerns grow, families are looking for practical alternatives. But cargo bikes only work if they're genuinely easy to use. The Swoop ASM addresses real pain points: fitting different-sized riders, managing gears with passengers, and knowing what accessories to buy.

Xtracycle backs the bike with a lifetime frame warranty and in-house customer support. They're not just selling a product but committing to help families make this transportation shift work long-term.

For the growing number of families rethinking their second or third car, this bike offers a ready-to-roll solution that might actually stick.