(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland)
The Yuba Mundo, a longtail cargo bike popular in the Portland area, has been recalled by the manufacturer due to a safety hazard. According to a recall notice posted by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, passengers riding on the back of the Mundo (especially children) can get their feet caught in the wheel. Yuba is aware of two such incidents and they are now providing free skirt guards (wheelcovers) to all their dealers.
Here’s the flyer posted by Yuba:
The Mundo debuted in Portland in May 2008 and has found a solid market here due to its very stable handling even with heavy loads (I tested the Mundo in June 2006). Joe Bike, a retailer with shops on SE Hawthorne and SE Cesar Chavez Blvd, is the largest Yuba Mundo dealer in the world. Joe Bike owner Joe Doebele posted a message on Twitter about the recall on Sunday.
“It used to be common knowledge among kids (and parents) that you keep your feet out of the spokes when you’re getting a ride, but it seems like this common sense has been lost in America,” Doebele shared this morning via email. Doebele urges all Mundo owners to stop into his shop for a set of wheelcovers. The covers prevent feet from getting caught in the spokes. “Skirt guards should be used not just on the Mundo but on any longtail bike that carries kids.”
Many Mundo owners (like the family in the photo below) have large cargo bags attached to the rear rack which prevent feet from getting caught.
You can read more about the recall and learn what to do if your bike is impacted at YubaBikes.com.