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I think that pretty much sums it up. I have a normal Hamax mounted up front on my cargo bike facing backwards and it's amazing how many drivers start a close pass, clearly make eye contact with my child and think twice and back out. I think it helps that I am a huge vehicle as well, and drivers tend to feel more threatened by that.
I'd wondered what effect a 'child on board' flag would have. In the driving fraternity, there's a general hatred towards people with them in the back window and there are plenty of drivers who carry out punishment passes on them out of principle. My main worry would be that by displaying any kind of vulnerability like that on a bike encourages the kind of driver who feels like if they teach enough lessons to weak looking cyclists they might eventually stop them cycling. I know my logic sounds a bit twisted there but, seriously, that is how a lot of people think.
But I should clarify that 99.9% of the time I have a great time on the road with my little-un onboard.
Jonny69-
I did wonder whether the flag would have much impact, and if that impact would be positive. Tbh, I'm pretty sure the only reason it has reduced close passes is because it's a physical object and most car drivers would be more worried about damaging their cars than they would be keen to punishment pass a cyclist. I have thought about tipping it with a spiky spike just to ensure that anyone who does come too close ends up with a lovely scratch in their paintwork as a reward, but that's probs going a little bit too far down vindictive street.
Eejit
My main concern with the front mounted child seat is that no bastard who is driving up behind you can see you have a child on board (for some weird reason, I believe that car drivers will be less likely to close pass you if they can see a kid, but maybe I've got too much faith in people). After one too many close passes (which I found very upsetting and caused me to become extremely angry and quite confrontational which is really not what you need when you have a child on the bike) I fitted a dorky 'child on board' flag to the seat stay, which can be popped out when on the roads. This seems to have done the trick. But is very dorky.