Hit the road
With construction complete, proceed to the finishing stage. First, give the entire project a light sanding. I decided to leave my cart natural, since it will be sheltered in the garage most of the time. Other options include a penetrating-oil finish or a film-forming spar varnish. When the finish is dry, you can apply strips of adhesive-backed reflective tape to the bumper blocks. Use a strong cord and a tight knot, or plastic wire ties, to ensure the cart doesn't come loose as you travel down the road.
The end of the hitch bar should be lashed directly against the bike seat retainer bolt to eliminate any play in the connection. You could also try connecting the cart using a quick-release fitting normally found on compressor hoses.
Now you can take a spin with your cargo in tow!
Car-free living
Once you build your cart, you've opened yourself up to leaving your car at home and using your bike a lot more to get around.
At the cottage, it's a convenient way to carry towels and toys to the beach. Or you can load up some refreshments to go on a picnic. Back home, enjoy the fresh air while you make a trip to the corner store. Got a young entrepreneur in the family? The cart is perfect for delivering papers and flyers to earn extra cash.
While most people won't turn in their car keys completely, there are some car-free zones across the country that will welcome you and your bike cart with open arms. Calgary, Montreal, Ottawa, Regina and Toronto are just some of the cities that boast these bike-friendly areas.
Mackinac Island, located in Lake Huron, prohibits the use of any motorized vehicles. (The only exceptions are emergency vehicles and snowmobiles in the winter.) Homemade bike carts similar to this project are popular with the 550 people who call the island their year-round home.
Read more in Home Reno & Design and Outdoor
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