Quote:
Originally Posted by zonerboy
Ii've never ridden one , but it worries me when I see them being ridden around The Villages. I think they have a visibility problem. Not so much when they're with a bunch of "regular" bikes. No problem there. But when I'm driving around and come across a single rider, they're not as noticeable. I am on the look out for golf carts and regular bikes and pedestrians, but recumbents seem to be below where my eyes are looking.
Be careful out there!
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I hear this all the time, and I have found it to be not the case. Most drivers see what is on the roads, including pavement markings, unless they are somehow distracted. The fact that these vehicles are so different looking from others gets them more attention. In fact, I have never even had a close call with a car with more than 15,000 miles on my trike. On the other hand, I had many close calls when I rode my regular bike, with drivers often buzzing me intentionally. With my trike, drivers typically move into the next lane (wonder if they think I'm in a wheelchair?).
There are some situations that require more caution, such as when riding through roundabouts. Also, in densely populated cities (e.g. NYC) I would not ride a trike alongside other vehicles, as I'd be below eye level. I wouldn't ride a trike or a bike in the downtown areas of such cities, at all.