“As to the halachic disposition of this matter,” Rabbi Goldstein notes, “the use of a baby carriage is permitted on Shabbat [within an eruv] as well as on holidays. However, the use of a bicycle should be forbidden for it is used to go long distances. At times, merchandise, books, etc. are placed upon the bicycle in violation of uvdin d’chol and in denigration of Shabbat. A small child’s tricycle, on the other hand, is permitted because it is not made [or used] for the purpose of riding far distances at all.” Even regarding bikes, however, Rabbi Goldstein cautions that there is no need to protest against those who use them since they have supporting opinions upon whom to rely.
At first, I had thought to add, in light of the Kaf HaChayim’s concern for the possibility of a flat tire, that it seemed to me that this concern does not apply to baby carriages or tricycles since their tires are made of solid rubber. However, I have been enlightened that today many of the jogging strollers, and some of the better quality regular strollers, have pneumatic, or air-filled, tires. While they are not generally prone to deflating or being punctured, they may require additional air to be pumped into them on rare occasions. In fact, some of these strollers have a small manual hand pump stored on the body of the stroller.
Which begs the question: Is it permissible to use these strollers on Shabbat or yamim tovim if the tires may require air to be pumped into them via a manual pump? Yet, we see that the hamon am – our brothers and sisters – do use these strollers and do not differentiate from earlier implements that had only solid rubber tires. Perhaps we should abide by what our sages teach us (Berachot 45a): when in doubt, see what the Jewish people at large do. We don’t seek to overburden the people in matters where we can opt for leniency.
(To be continued)