How to effectively hitch a bicycle with a scooter?

Question

Background: I was getting back home from school one day but noticed the front tire of my cycle was deflated. The nearby shops were closed that day, and I had to walk nearly than two kilometers to get to the nearest cycle pump. The last time this happened, I manually walked that distance. But this time, one of my friends - having a scooter - offered me help.

Situation: My friend rode his scooter slowly, while I sat on the backseat of the scooter. The scooter is like this:

I held onto my cycle through the middle of its handle ("middle" = that part from where a rod extends downwards into the front tire). My left hand gripped the cycle handle at about my waist level height when sitting.

Problem: within thirty seconds of his starting to ride, my balance completely corrupted. He didn't stop the scooter and my cycle's front tire started spiraling. Ultimately, my left foot got entangled in the front spokes of the tire. The front tire did a 180 deg spin, the cycle fell (and I twisted my leg, but somehow saved myself from falling over my bicycle). I obviously want to avoid this from happening again.

My question: What is the most effective method to hitch my bicycle in this situation?

Answer 1

No, no, no. Just no.

Two kilometers is only a half-hour walk. That's hardly a big deal. Why risk injuring or even killing yourself to save what can't be more than 15 minutes by the time you've called your friend and they've come to get you.

Alternatively, fixing a puncture "in the wild" just needs a spare inner tube, tyre levers and a pump. That takes up very little space – you can get very small pumps, such as this one (random product link; not an endorsement). If you have a locker at school, you could leave the things there, rather than carrying them back and forth. This is what I carry around with me in case I puncture, with a ruler for scale. Total weight is 205g and that's with an aluminium pump instead of a weight-weenie carbon one. If your wheels aren't quick-release, you'll need a spanner/wrench, too.

Alternatively, take the wheel off your bike and use your friend's scooter to carry just the wheel to a place where you can repair it.

Answer 2

When done by a rider on a bike moving a second bicycle, this is called ghost riding and it can be easy or very hard depending on the two bikes and their riding characteristics.

Normally the rider would steer, brake and perhaps gear change with one hand, and have their other hand on the middle of the tow-bike's handlebars.

Braking is done slowly and gently. Your tow-hand will get very sore after a short time.

The tow bike will follow a different path when turning, so you have to be careful to not hang up.

One minor advantage is that you can trackstand easily at the red lights.

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In your case it might have worked better to lift the front wheel clear of the ground and clear of the motorbike's hot exhaust.

If the bike was rideable, you could have used a short tow rope, tied to the scooted while the bicycle rider holds it in one hand for ease of release (ie, not tied to anything.) An inner tube works well for this.

But the real solution is to go prepared with tools and spares, as per the accepted answers.