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@Lolo I agree! My use of "essential" is too strong a word. I see plenty of kids in/on bikes without covers and you're right it's not essential. But at times it saves a lot of faff and keeps kids and their belongings dry.
thebrenthamtaffy
@Lolo
It's a common comment in the UK (alongside you can't use a child seat when it rains / it's cold) but if you look at what's common practice in other parts of the world you'll see that is really not the case. I live in Denmark and there's a handful of us cargo bike owners at my kid's nursery, the vast majority of parents however bring their kids in a Yepp seat (so fairly exposed to the elements), rain hail or shine. OK maybe not hail. The nursery owns a few Christiania bikes too and they are open top.
One thing to mention is kids are wrapped up in balaclavas and waterproof insulated coveralls in winter whenever they're outside (which is a lot) anyway.
I'm not dismissing the idea of a canopy, I just want to point out they're not a must.