History and Safety Policy
Company Profile in Summary
Babybike Nederland bv has been founded in 1992 by Mr Hans Postma (M). The idea for cycling with babies was born in 1990, technically professionalized (turned into a solid quick release system) during 1990-1992, first tested for strength and durability with a famous external test house (TNO) with good results, then marketed and sold in 1993. The Dutch Cyclists Union (enfb) evaluated it at the end of the first marketing year from the point of view of customers' satisfaction. The outcome was spectacular. A response of more than 70%, with an outcome of 98% satisfaction, also from the (50%) parents who had made long cycling tours (lasting more than an hour) with their baby. Most of the additional wishes related to rain protection and springs. These were developed in 1995.
- 1990 First private experience with a baby on the bicycle
- 1991-1992
development of a prototype
- 1992 foundation of the company
- 1993 positive TNO test for strength and durability, first marketing season (using a.o. the Peg Perego Traveler N car seat)
- 1994 Cyclists Union reports 98% customer satisfaction
- 1995 development of springs and shelter
- 1996 Babybike passed ANWB test with good results
- 1994-1996 The Babybike is used and tested for toddlers in practice, and its safety characteristics are compared to ordinary bike seats (10-15 kg)
- Jan. 1997: The company decides to promote the Babybike henceforth also for toddlers, based on a large number of obvious safety advantages during actual use; the term 'bicycle armchair' is introduced to highlight the difference with ordinary bike seats
- 1997 The Peg Per ego car seat is modernized, and made compatible with a Peg Perego stroller (the Pliko)
- 2002 The Babybike is adapted to the new type of car seat from Peg Perego, called 'Primo Viaggio' by adding an extra rack, which also creates the possibility to use it in a more upright position for toddlers between 10 and 15 kg (1-3 years). For the Pliko stroller, Peg Perego develops an extra bassinet, the beautiful Navetta, that won a design award in Italy, the country of good taste and fashion. The Navetta turns the stroller into a pram for the first year, when babies generally are supposed to stay in car seats only for shorter periods.
- 2004 Europe declares a new safety standard for old fashioned bike seats. This new standard doesn't apply to bicycle armchairs. Seats that conform to this standard are juridically 'presumably minimally safe'
- 2005 The Dutch authorities issue a report on ordinary bike seats, saying none of them are safe
- 2006 Promotion and production revitalized, because bicycle armchairs are apparently the only safe means of transporting toddlers and babies on bicycles!
Safety Policy
Whether or not there is an applicable product standard, all products should conform to the GPSD (General product Safety Directive). Passing tests of a product standard merely induces the 'presumption of conformity with the GPSD'. So they are presumably safe. As the bike seat standard was drawn up to warrant only a 'minimum level of safety', homologation (passing tests) means that they are 'presumably minimally safe'.
However, the GPSD requires to warrant 'a high level' of safety, not a minimal level. Besides, producers must take 'actual foreseeable use' into account, as well as the vulnerability of the users.
Compared to ordinary bike seats the Babybike system offers much more protection against spoke entrapment, finger entrapment, falling accidents, head and neck injury when the child falls asleep, and other hazards. According to the scope of the new standard, ordinary bike seats should not be used for tired children, who cannot remain sitting upright. So comparatively the Babybike offers a high level of safety and mobility.
During the many years of experience, no incidents have been brought to our attention, from which we need to draw the conclusion that bicycle armchairs are hazardous. We like to register all our customers, in order to enable the authorities and consumer organizations to inquire (again) with you about our system's safety merits. Further, we invite all our customers to take up contact with us immediately, if any reason for concern might arise.
Our mission is: further improvement, from relative to absolute child safety!
