Amish bike usage varies among communities. Riding bikes is not a common practice in all of the Amish communities.
While some are cool with using bikes, others say no. It depends on the specific community. There’s no one rule for everyone.
In Lancaster County, they often use bicycles to get around. Many Amish in Florida can be seen riding e-bikes.
Elderly men and women often ride together to the store or visit someone, with many having a cardboard box attached to the back for carrying things.
What Kind of Bicycles Do the Amish Ride?
Older Amish folks usually ride fat-tire single-speed bikes. The younger generation, both guys and gals, go for the cool multi-geared mountain bikes.
Tricycles with baskets on the back are also very popular among the Amish.
They’re especially handy for traveling with kids or making trips to the store, thanks to the added convenience of the basket on the back.
More conservative communities use bikes that don’t have pedals, which are more like a scooter. They’re also easier to maintain compared to bicycles.
Amish kids commonly love riding bikes. It’s a popular activity for them, adding a touch of joy to their daily routines.
Yet, in stricter communities, bikes aren’t common. Some prefer keeping it simple without bikes.
These groups skip bicycles because they don’t want young people competing and getting proud of who wins.
As you can see, it’s a community thing—different strokes for different Amish folks.
As a general rule, the Amish stick to traditional horse-drawn buggies for traveling long distances instead of bicycles.
By the way, rollerblades are more popular among the Amish than you may think.
Why Can’t the Amish Have Bicycles?
The Bible doesn’t say anything against using pedal power. Some Amish, however, seem caught up in their own historical rules.
When bikes were new and expensive, and country roads weren’t great, the Amish skipped using them.
Conservative Amish groups don’t use bikes because they think they make them travel too fast, connecting them too much with the outside world.
⇒ Long Story Short:
- Not all Amish communities use bikes. Some opt for scooters, while others favor tricycles with baskets or e-bikes.